At The Peace Center of Connecticut, we believe everyone has the potential to make a positive impact for Peace in our State and in our Communities.
Our 5th annual Peace Heroes awards will honor and celebrate individuals who without desire for praise selflessly dedicate themselves to ensure peace is possible in the lives of those they serve on a daily basis.
We want to thank everyone who nominated a candidate and supports Peace. This year we are honored to present the following individuals with our 2022 Peace Hero Award: Jorge Cruz of New Britain CT, Kathy Craig of Torrington CT, Maritza Soto-Gomez of East Hartford, CT, Paul Mangels of Milford, CT, John DellaVentura of Guilford, CT and Wendy Black-Nasta of Middletown, CT.
Iran Nazario
Founder/CEO
Iran is the Founder/President/CEO of the Peace Center of Connecticut (PCOC). Incorporated in January 2017. He is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization.
The PCOC offers Youth and Adult Leadership Development, Community Engagement and Support, Community Awareness, Consulting and Resource Sharing.
As a foster child in the custody of DCF he faced challenges and obstacles. For most of his childhood and in to his early twenties immersing himself in to the violent street culture of gang membership and prison. He repurposed his life to helping other youth overcome their challenges, serving the community and building networks that would help prevent violence throughout the City of Hartford, CT and throughout the country.
Iran Nazario has worked in the program management, gang prevention, youth outreach, engagement and community support field for 30 years. He is an expert in Gang Prevention and Mediation with a proven impact on the management of staff and programs as well as one of the first individuals to tap into the formerly incarcerated as a resource to bring peace to his community. He has trained and presented for youth service agencies, court support services, schools, and many others on a local and national level.
Working in partnership with the Hartford, CT Police Department in June of 2015 Iran was “Badged” by the department to serve as a community/law enforcement partner. In this role Iran is to serve as an intermediary in city wide crisis situations under President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.
Recipient of numerous recognition's including the 2013 “100 Men of Color Award”, 2014 “ Meet the Peacemaker Award”, 2015 “50 Most Influential Latino Award”, 2016 Senator Eric D. Coleman “Community Service Award”, and in 2017 named as “Pivotal Faces of Change”, Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Award winner, appointed as the International Peace Ambassador for the NYC Peace Museum, 2019 City of Hartford Hispanic Heritage Community Service Award and the 2020 CT Hall of Change Award honoring formerly incarcerated individuals who have made a substantial contribution in society and have had a long standing positive impact in the community.
He serves on Wethersfield, CT Social Justice Steering Committee with a focus of engaging in professional learning that advances cultural responsiveness and racial equity as leverage points for action driven outcomes through community engagement and support. He is also appointed to the CT Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) for the State of Connecticut to support and guide the standards that enhance the professionalism of Connecticut Law Enforcement agencies through voluntary compliance with contemporary, internationally recognized standards of excellence.
He continues his role as an intermediary and community advocate aiding the formerly incarcerated to successfully rejoin and integrate into their communities. He continues his pursuit of Peace for the community where he grew up. The Peace Center of Connecticut will serve as a symbol of hope for Hartford and communities across New England well beyond his years.