Community Invited To Celebrate The Life Of Mattie J.T. Stepanek

ROCKVILLE, MD —In a short amount of time, Mattie J.T. Stepanek had a considerable impact not just on those who knew him and loved him, but on people around the world. To honor Stepanek who passed away in June, the community is invited to celebrate his birthday, life and legacy on Saturday, July 13, from 1 to 8 p.m. at an event called Peace Day.

Stephanek was known as a teen poet and peace activist. The aptly named special event will be held at King Farm Village Green, 800 Pleasant Drive, and will feature cake, a moon bounce, community conversation, face painting, arts and crafts, and entertainment. Live performances will include The Black & Tan Band, David Roth and The Zamdancers.

The outdoor street fair will be held from 1-5 p.m., rain or shine. A happy-hour dance party will continue from 5-8 p.m. inside Botanero Restaurant.

The mayor and council will declare July 13, by proclamation, Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peace Day in Rockville.

BIOGRAPHY
• Born Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek on July 17, 1990, Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a respected poet and award-winning peace activist by the time he died, three weeks before his 14th birthday.
• Mattie began creating and sharing Heartsongs at age of 3. He explained that Heartsongs are “gifts that reflect each person’s unique reason for being.”
• Mattie published six collections of his “Heartsongs” poetry books and one collection of “Just Peace” essays and email correspondence with former President Jimmy Carter. All seven of Mattie’s books became “New York Times” Bestsellers and touched millions of lives around the world.
• He was a frequent guest on shows such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Larry King Live” and “Good Morning America.”
• In 2014, a congressional resolution was passed to declare July 17 (Mattie’s birthday) as “National Peace Day” to honor Mattie’s life and peace legacy.
• He died on June 22, 2004, due to complications of dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease.
• In 2007, “Just Peace: A Message of Hope,” a collection of correspondence between Mattie and Carter, won the Independent Publisher Book Awards gold medal for outstanding book of the year in the peacemaker category.