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Toni Mathis, right, receives the Susan Merrill Constance Kozel Award from her daughter Angel Mathis at Monday’s Peace & Justice Center 22nd Annual Dinner held at Wilkes University’s Henry Student Center in Wilkes-Barre.

WILKES-BARRE — Over 100 area residents filled Wilkes University’s grand ballroom Tuesday resolute in their commitment to peace and justice.

The 22nd annual dinner of the Peace & Justice Center provided opportunity for attendees to honor Toni Mathis and Peggy Felton with the center’s 2015 Susan Merrill Constance Kozel award, recognizing them for their work, ideals and commitment to making their community and their world more peaceful and just.

Mathis, acting director at the Charles T. Adams Active Adult Center, said three priorities have directed her efforts: God, family and others.

The second oldest of a family of nine girls and four boys, Mathis credited her parents with instilling a sense of responsibility and community.

“Although we didn’t have a lot, my mother always made room for others around our family table,” she said. “She was always babysitting for another family or feeding them.”

She credits her father who she said was “very strict” with her sense of responsibility and family.

The current secretary of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP, a member of the Public Transportation Advisory Council of Luzerne County, a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley and trained in conflict resolution, Mathis still finds time for family.

“I always make time for family,” said the mother of two and grandmother of three. “That’s what’s really important.”

Felton also embodies both pragmatism and spirituality.

The current chair of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP Membership and Youth Works Committee, she believes communication is essential to diversity.

Doing historical research, she realized people were uncomfortable with sharing items that reflected painful realities of the African American experience.

“I told them I wanted them to share those things with me,” she said. “We need to have an understanding of our complete history.”

In the process, Felton said she increased her circle of friends.

She is also grateful for her opportunity to work with young people, preparing them for future leadership.

“When we meet with our youth, they stay around after the meeting fellowship and network,” she said. “That is how we know we are succeeding in our efforts. They want to be around us.”

The Center’s Rodrigo “Rod” Gereda credited recipients and attendees with selfless spirits, putting the needs of others before their own.

Gereda said the four young recipients of the Students for Peace Award insisted on receiving the award together, a reflection of unity and humility.

The Rev. James Calderone, in offering an inspirational and unique invocation, used the words of “How I got Over.”

Calderone shared the history of hymn, written in a time of adversity and discrimination.

“Thank God for being so good. God’s been good to me,” he said, to which attendees responded with an enthusiastic “Amen.”

Member David Doty lauded the Peace Center for it efforts in conflict resolution and promotion of non-violence.

“We are especially proud of our peace camp which we hold every June,” said Doty.

The center also provides conflict resolution for everything from a neighbor-to-neighbor dispute to resolving problems within a friendship.

“The Peace Center,” said Doty, standing amid the lights and decor of the beautiful ballroom, “is the best kept secret in the Wyoming Valley.”