September 11th Peace and Unity Project


Franklin Marshall and friends at Aptos Academy who created the Peace and Unity mural on display in the United Nations. Enlarged Photo

In response to the tragic events in New York City on September 11, 2001, the Peace and Unity Project was formed. Over 200 peace-themed murals painted by children from all over the United States were sent to the United Nations for display. Franklin Marshall, executive director of Children’s Learning Museum, joined with the children and staff of Aptos Academy to create one of only four murals produced in northern California.

Along with the mural, Children’s Learning Museum sponsored a greeting card distribution to children and families in the wake of the New York City disaster. School children from over thirty local schools drew pictures, wrote messages, and decorated over 13,000 greeting cards which were generously donated by local businesses. Mr. Marshall and Festa the Cat traveled to New York and personally distributed the cards to children and families at the Child and Family Counseling Program of South Nassau Communities Hospital. The hospital dedicated a room for the cards, naming it "The Santa Cruz Room".

While in New York, Mr. Marshall met with Dr. Larry M. Hawk, the President of the ASPCA. The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in America, New York has led the way in educating the public about spay and neutering of pets. Children’s Learning Museum hopes to work together with the ASPCA to create a national center for spay and neutering in the future. A portion of all museum greeting card sales supports the spay and neutering of adopted cats at local shelters.