Take Our Pledge for Peace & Safety
A Stand for Nonviolence & Peace
At I THRIVE, we carry a deep commitment to peace and to learning from the most defining chapters of our shared human history. For I THRIVE's creator, Heather Curtis MD, this journey is also personal. Heather is the great grand-niece of Corporal Clyde C. Brown, who, along with two of his peers, were the first men shot down at Pearl Harbor. This loss rippled through time and history, marking the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II.
Clyde's service and sacrifice is part of a legacy that reminds us of the price of conflict and the resilience that shaped the Allied victory over Axis forces. Yet, the devastating events that closed this chapter of history—including mass genocide and atomic bombings—changed the world forever, leaving us with both the weight of history and a duty to seek a different path forward.
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With the I THRIVE pledge, we stand to honor this history and all the lives lost or harmed during World War II and its aftermath by seeking peace and understanding over violence. We commit to learning from the past, acknowledging both its triumphs and lessons, and to working toward a peaceful world for the welfare of our human family and world community.​
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I THRIVE & THE KINTSUKUROI PROJECT
Reclaim Your Narrative. Reclaim Your Life.
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Kintsukuroi (“the golden mend”) is a Japanese art that involves mending broken pottery with gold and honoring the piece as more beautiful for having once been broken.
While a survivor of violence, mental illness, or trauma is never broken, their worldview must often be rebuilt.
Survivors of trauma who visit this site are invited to recognize themselves in the light of Kintsukuroi, as unique individuals, human art if you will, who have rebuilt themselves as ever more beautiful.
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Corporal Clyde C. Brown, (left; 1941 U.S. 251st Coastal Artillary photo) is the great granduncle of I THRIVE's creator, Heather Curtis MD (right; Acropolis Museum 2021).
I THRIVE's creator is the great grandniece of Corporal Clyde C. Brown. He and his peers Sgt. Henry C. Blackwell and Sgt.Warren D. Rasmussen were the first U.S. airmen shot down at Pearl Harbor. World War II continued as did racial barriers in the United States and beyond reinforced by the conflict.
I THRIVE supports equal rights and believes that all survivors deserve to heal.
The metaphor of Kintsukuroi was mindfully chosen by I THRIVE's creator to serve as both a symbol of her appreciation of eastern wisdom traditions and their role in her healing as well as a symbol of her family's commitment to truth, peace, inclusion, and the healing of a traumatized world.
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Check out our survivor resources in the tabs at the top of the page to learn more and stay tuned for the latest news and projects hosted by I THRIVE and the Kintsukuroi Project.
I THRIVE
Check out a list of I THRIVE's projects & initiatives dedicated to peace and nonviolence:
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Kintsukuroi Project:
Challenges stigma and inspires post-traumatic growth including global survivor advocacy, veteran service, Integrative Medicine, and safe practices in psychedelic science.
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Tribute to Psychology Leaders and World History Reflection:
Honoring psychology pioneers and learning from history through our social media campaigns and interventions.
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Looking Glass Project:
Peaceful protest, performance art, and nonviolent resistance aimed at revealing community dangers and institutional failings, prompting ethical reform, addressing psychedelic harms, and ensuring safe study in Utah.
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Art Therapy, Information, & Healing Interventions:
Therapeutic support tools rooted in the belief that a peaceful world is a healed world.
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Abolition of Atomic Weapons:
Advocating for the elimination of atomic weapons in honor of Heather Curtis MD’s family legacy and the service of her great grand-uncle, Corporal Clyde Brown in WWII. Ensuring that the lessons of history guide future generations toward diplomacy.
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Standing for Peaceable Resolution and Restorative Justice:
Committed to promoting nonviolent conflict resolution and practices that support healing and reconciliation.
America Honors Her Service Men & Women
Pearl Harbor Legends Added to the 'Wall of Heroes' December 5, 2024
On December 5, 2024, I THRIVE's creator had the privilege to attend a private ceremony during which Corporal Clyde C. Brown, Sergeant Henry Blackwell Jr., Sergeant Warren D. Rasmussen, Private First Class John Iantorno, and Staff Sergeant Anthony Iantorno were honored at the Pearl Harbor Hickam Joint Base Museum by being added to the Wall of Heroes. This tribute commemorates their service and sacrifice, preserving their legacy as a reminder of their courage and dedication for generations to come.
Continue reading below to see the photos and informational plaques on display at Pearl Harbor Hickam Joint Base museum regarding these 5 American heroes from the 251st Coast Artillary.
Pearl Harbor Hickam Joint Base Museum 'Wall of Heroes'
On December 5, 2024 Corporal Clyde C. Brown, Sergeant Henry Blackwell Jr., Sergeant Warren D. Rasmussen, Private First Class John Iantorno, and Staff Sergeant Anthony Iantorno were added to the 'Wall of Heroes' at Pearl Harbor Hickam Joint Base Museum.
Renewing Our Commitment to Peace & Global Remembrance in 2026
After I THRIVE's creator Dr. Heather Curtis MD was invited to Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam to honor her great-granduncle, Corporal Clyde Brown, as his name was added to the Wall of Heroes in December 2024, we studied the American entry into World War II. We then dedicated 2025 to honoring our veterans and service men and women.
In January 2026, Heather traveled in to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa to witness the other side of that same war — honoring the lives lost and reflecting on the human cost of violence and silence. Experiencing these sites in Hawai‘i and Japan offered a powerful reminder that remembrance is not only about honoring the past, but learning from it.
Our Peace Pilgrimage & Commitment to Global Remembrance
In 2026, I THRIVE’s creator, Heather Curtis, MD, traveled to Japan to deepen our Peace Pledge and strengthen our commitment against atomic warfare. This followed her 2024 visit to Hawai‘i, where she honored her great grand-uncle at Pearl Harbor — first standing in the history of American loss in the Pacific.
In Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa, she bore witness to the immense civilian suffering and long-term human cost of war. Standing in both American and Japanese histories reinforces I THRIVE’s belief that reconciliation is possible — and that peace must be built intentionally.
Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsukuroi — repairing broken pottery with gold — our mission embraces the transformation of wounds into wisdom. Below, we share reflections on what was witnessed and learned, and how these lessons guide our work in survivor advocacy, global mental health, and peace-centered accountability.
Hiroshima
In January 2026, I THRIVE’s creator, Heather Curtis, MD, visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome — standing where, at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, a single bomb altered human history.
Inside the Peace Memorial Museum, the devastation becomes personal: melted glass, burned clothing, stopped watches, and testimonies of survivors (hibakusha) who have since dedicated their lives to nuclear abolition. What struck me most was the tone — not vengeance, but remembrance and a call to peace.
Having visited Pearl Harbor the year before to honor my great-grand-uncle’s service, witnessing Hiroshima allowed me to stand in both histories. American loss and Japanese loss are not mutually exclusive. Both are real. Both demand remembrance.
Hiroshima reinforces I THRIVE’s Peace Pledge: that survivor testimony matters, that the human cost of violence must be acknowledged, and that the prevention of atomic warfare is a moral imperative for our generation.
Nagasaki
In January 2026, I THRIVE’s creator, Heather Curtis, MD, visited Nagasaki — the site of the second atomic bombing on August 9, 1945. Walking through Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum, I was struck by the layered history of the city: a long-standing center of Japanese Christianity, international trade, and cultural exchange — all profoundly altered in a single moment.
At Urakami Cathedral, once the largest Christian church in East Asia and nearly destroyed by the blast, the intersection of faith and suffering was palpable. The exhibits in the museum echo Hiroshima’s artifacts — burned rosaries, shattered statues, and personal testimonies — but with an added quiet grief: this was the second use of atomic force, after the world already understood its power.
Nagasaki deepens I THRIVE’s Peace Pledge by reminding us that resilience does not erase loss. Healing requires acknowledgment, moral reflection, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring such devastation is never repeated.
Okinawa
In January 2026, I THRIVE’s creator, Heather Curtis, MD, traveled to Okinawa to visit sites connected to the Battle of Okinawa (April–June 1945), one of the deadliest conflicts of the Pacific War. Walking through the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and reading the names engraved on the Cornerstone of Peace — civilians, Japanese soldiers, and American service members alike — I was confronted by the immense civilian toll of war.
Unlike Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Okinawa represents prolonged ground combat: families caught between armies, mass displacement, and coerced civilian deaths. The landscape itself — cliffs, caves, and coastal memorials — carries memory.
Okinawa deepens our Peace Pledge by highlighting that war’s devastation is not only sudden and atomic, but also slow, intimate, and borne disproportionately by civilians. It reinforces I THRIVE’s commitment to prevention, accountability, and the protection of human life across borders.
‘Operation Making History’ by Hanalani Schools’ Students, Acrylic on Plywood
Part of Hanalani Schools’ STEAM project, Operation Making History! this artwork honors WWII and highlights the USS Missouri as a symbol of strength and reconciliation.
Photographed by I THRIVE’s creator on December 8, 2024, during a tour of the USS Missouri, commemorating those lost on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor.
The Evolution of American, Japanese, & World Relations After WWII
The conflict between the United States and Japan in World War II originated from Japan’s imperial ambitions in Asia and the Pacific. Seeking to expand its territory and secure access to resources, Japan’s aggression clashed with U.S. interests in the region. Tensions escalated when the U.S. imposed economic sanctions and an oil embargo in response to Japan’s occupation of French Indochina. Feeling cornered, Japan launched the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, propelling the U.S. into World War II.
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The United States joined the Allied Powers—Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and China—against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war’s moral stakes were underscored by atrocities like the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany systematically murdered six million Jews and millions of others. World War II ended in 1945 after the Allied victories in Europe and the Pacific, including the U.S.’s use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which forced Japan’s surrender. These events reshaped global relations and left a legacy of devastation and change.
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After the war, U.S.-Japan relations transformed dramatically. Under American occupation, Japan adopted a new constitution, renounced war, and rebuilt its economy. Over time, Japan became one of America’s strongest allies, driven by shared economic and security interests. This partnership fostered advancements in technology, trade, and cultural exchange, making Japan a key trading partner and a stabilizing force in the Pacific.
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The legacy of World War II continues to influence the modern world. Institutions like the United Nations were created to prevent future global conflicts, while debates over nuclear proliferation and war reparations reflect ongoing lessons from the war. The deep alliance between the U.S. and Japan today exemplifies reconciliation and the potential for former adversaries to build a future rooted in peace, cooperation, and shared progress.
Satyagraha: Nonviolent Resistance & Activism in Action
Satyagraha is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed by Mahatma Gandhi. The term comes from the Sanskrit words “satya,” meaning truth, and “agraha,” meaning insistence or holding firmly to. It involves the pursuit of truth and justice through peaceful means, including civil disobedience, noncooperation, and other forms of protest, without resorting to violence. The goal of satyagraha is to appeal to the conscience of the oppressor and to bring about social or political change through moral conviction and self-sacrifice. It’s a powerful method that has inspired numerous movements for civil rights and social justice around the world. ​
Beyond Our Commitment to Peace is Our Commitment to Safety
At I THRIVE we've taken our commitment to campus, community, and psychedelic safety to the world. Check out our social media to stay up to date on our posts and projects and don't forget to take our pledge for peace and safety!
Campus & Community Safety in Utah During the Psychedelic Medicine Renaissance
Safety is a fundamental human right, embedded in the fabric of our U.S. Constitution, where protections are provided to support the life, liberty, and security of every individual. This essential right extends beyond borders, recognized globally as a universal human right by both the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The UN emphasizes safety as critical to human dignity, while the WHO views it as a cornerstone of public health, essential for the well-being and flourishing of all people.​
A Stand For Campus, Community, & Psychedelic Safety
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At I THRIVE, we believe campuses should be places of growth and learning, free from harm and abuse. When issues arise, they must be handled with equity, respect, and support for those involved. Our stand for campus safety is grounded in my experiences witnessing the impact of harm on campus communities, driving our commitment to fostering a culture of trust and accountability where students, staff, and faculty feel safe and valued.
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In our broader communities, trust in institutions is essential. Community members should feel confident that schools, hospitals, law enforcement, courts, and local organizations are dedicated to safety and transparency. By standing for accountability and integrity, we create environments where individuals feel supported and protected.
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With the promise of healing in the emerging psychedelic sciences, ethical and responsible practice is more crucial than ever. My experiences witnessing harm in this field reinforce our stand for safety, as we uphold the ethics of psychiatry to ensure psychedelics remain a force for healing, not harm.
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We invite you to stand with us for campus, community, and psychedelic safety. Take the pledge below, and join us in creating spaces rooted in trust, responsibility, and well-being.
I THRIVE
Check out a list of I THRIVE's projects & initiatives dedicated to campus, community, & psychedelic safety:
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Campus Safety Advocacy & Pledge:
A commitment to fostering secure, inclusive environments on educational campuses. Past advocacy has included resident physican treatment at UALD 2019.
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Collaboration with Ethics Committees & Divisions of Professional Licensing:
Working with multidisciplinary committees to uphold safety protocols in psychedelic science & mental health practice.
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Community Safety Initiatives: Campaigns and advocacy focused on enhancing safety, support, transparency and awareness in local communities.
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Psychedelic Safety Advocacy:
Promoting best practices, ethical standards, and safety measures in psychedelic research and therapies. Advocating for regulation & regulatory body involvement at all points of psychedelic medicine evaluation.
Public Awareness Campaigns:
Engaging in educational outreach and learning from local tragedy to increase understanding of the importance of safety in community and therapeutic contexts.
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Challenging Stigma and Advocating for University Neutrality:
Changing the culture to create safe spaces where survivors feel empowered to come forward and be believed. Advocating for fair treatment of survivors when coming forward in university settings.
I THRIVE & The Kintsukuroi Project
We Are Stronger Together
Take the I THRIVE Pledge
Send us an email to info@i-thrive.org along with your personal commitment to peace, campus, community, & psychedelic safety.
Work toward a safer America & a safer world community.
Take the I THRIVE Pledge on Social Media
With the I THRIVE pledge, we pledge to carry forward a legacy of peace, to remember those who came before us, and to strive for a world where safety, justice, and mutual respect are the foundation of our future.​
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Together, let’s honor this history by working toward lasting peace, campus, community, and psychedelic safety. Follow us on instagram @The_Kintsukuroi_Project to take the I THRIVE Pledge.
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To take the pledge, simply tag @The_Kintsukuroi_Project in a post on instagram along with your personal commitment to peace and building a safer campus and world community.
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Be sure to use the hashtag #ITHRIVEpledge on facebook & instagram.
