History

Breakfast conversations hosted at the Peaceful World Center at the Red Vic have been bringing people together since 1977. When our founder wanted to ensure that the ideals of community and togetherness projected by the peace movement of the 1960’s did not fade as the nation’s attention shifted from the war in Vietnam to the economy, she started hosting informal meetings to connect San Franciscans with each other and the many visitors the city receives throughout the year. The meetings began as a fairly localized forum with the intent of drawing bridges across the interpersonal gap that culture and geography can create. By joining small group conversations, we create an opportunity to lower perceived barriers and promote friendship and understanding between traditionally disconnected communities. The Peaceful World Foundation grew out of a desire to spread the Peaceful World Conversation format across the globe.

The Red Victorian was constructed as the Jefferson Hotel in 1904, serving as a country resort for San Francisco residents eager to take in some of the fresh air promised by the then developing Golden Gate Park. The building remained a quiet park side hotel for decades. It would take a whole lot more than a simple to change of ownership to create what the Red Vic has become today. In 1967 the Sumer of Love exploded on the scene. The building was dubbed the "Jeffrey Haight" and was used as a "crash pad" by the hippies. Everybody was talking about love in the late 60s. The counterculture and the anti-war movements were coming together and the Haight-Ashbury was the center of a whole new universe.

The values of love and understanding that sprouted from that brief period when ideals won out over self interest, are what inspired Sami Sunchild to create the Peaceful World Center at the Red Vic and Peaceful World Foundation. She acquired, painted and named the building in 1977, dedicating it to peace, ecology and global friendship. Since then she has diligently worked to make it what it is today. From the humble conversations to a global network of welcoming venues dedicated to promoting friendship, understanding and peace.