With wars going on around the world, people gathered last Sunday during International Peace Day to ask for another way to live.

"On Friday (Leonia High School) had its fall pep rally and that’s exactly what I want today to be," Social Studies teacher Kevin Stinson said. "We want to join together to bring more peace."

The community’s ceremony started at the high school’s Martin Luther King Peace Park and continued with a march to the United Methodist Church.

Stinson said that the parents of a local resident killed in the Sept. 11 attacks were in attendance.

"Nineteen men with plane tickets and box cutters changed the world as we know it," Stinson said. "Why can’t we try to make another change?"

He said he teaches his students about past horrors because that’s the only way to make sure they’re not repeated.

"It’s more than just talking about peace," Stinson said. "It’s inspired action that changes the world."

A former student, Ahmed Hassan, came up to Stinson a few years ago to ask how he could make a difference. After a trip to the Middle East, the All-County basketball player was inspired to raise money to help the children there.

"As the star basketball player he could have been the king of the school but he wanted to stand outside with a can to collect donations," Stinson said.

Hassan started Points4Peace to collect donations for every point he scored during the season. As he broke the incredible mark of 2,000 points for his high school career, Hassan raised more than $5,000.

He split the money between charities, including the Darfur crisis and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. He also gave money to help build a peace pole at the high school. The pole has a message for peace in 12 languages.

"We have such a diverse school and community," Stinson said. "Many times I wonder why can’t the rest of the world be like our school?"