About eight years ago, I was asked by the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to help a community group develop the Philando Castile Peace Garden. (My firm works with a range of organizations to inform and shape projects that contribute to the betterment of society.)

It was roughly a year after Philando Castile, a 32-year-old Saint Paul Public Schools employee, was killed in a policeinvolved shooting on July 6, 2016. He took his last breath on Larpenteur Avenue, just west of the north entrance to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, within view of the U of M’s St. Paul campus and the Bell Museum.

All I knew about Philando was what dominated news reports. But I was eager to assist a project that wanted to turn tragedy into introspection and enlightenment with “a contemplative gathering space for peace, justice, and healing.”

Too often when tragedy strikes, anger, helplessness, hopelessness, stress, and anxiety prevail, but this group wanted to create a space for navigating the aftermath of tragedies, and to foster a more thoughtful future around issues related to policing and Black men.

Initially, I was paid for my help, but I became so involved that I’ve offered pro bono services for this venture over the past seven years.

A pivotal moment for me came in meeting Valerie Castile, Philando’s mother. She has a contagious passion for preserving Philando’s history and life legacy, and shaping policies and education related to police actions. A Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund for police officers began in 2018 through her efforts.

Her wisdom and advocacy inspires personal growth around heartbreak and teaches resilience, openness, and self-determination. It reminds me of the University’s service commitment that I took to heart while I was at the U of M as both a student and worker.

This garden helps Minnesota residents and the world learn more about police shootings, and serves as a platform for public policies such as the training fund; an annual candlelight vigil and community barbeque each July 6-7 in memory of Philando; and advocacy for social change.

I believe the peace garden strengthens communities and advances social justice through its very existence. The community and the University are fortunate to have it in the neighborhood to preserve history, allow collective acknowledgement of a life that ended too soon, and provide a quiet space to consider historical struggles, engage, interact, and learn.

You can learn more at philandocastile-peacegarden.org.

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