The Benedictine Sisters are proud to announce that Erie native and activist Art Leopold is their 2025 Prophet of Peace Awardee. Art has been a healing presence and prophetic witness for peace and justice for more than thirty years, involved in leadership, advocacy, organization, and hands-on efforts to create a more just city and world. RSVP to attend award prayer and reception on Sunday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the monastery chapel.
About Art Leopold: An Erie native, Art Leopold and his wife, Susan, have two children, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Art earned his degree in Computer Science and Business from Gannon University. Over the course of a 30-year career, he became known as a technology evangelist—serving as Vice President at Erie Computer and Stargate and later as Western Pennsylvania District Manager for Open Range, where he helped expand internet and communication services across the region for rural communities. Outside his career, Art enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching sports, reading, listening to music, and exploring regional parks. Art’s commitment to justice and peace began during the Vietnam War era and has remained a lifelong passion. His peace and justice advocacy includes:
- Nearly thirty years of participation in race dialogues and interfaith groups, including serving as Chairperson of CARE—Citizens Against Racism in Erie.
- Early member of Erie County United, advocating for fair wages, women’s rights, voting rights, tenant protections, and broader civic engagement.
- Member of the AmeriMasala Festival crew, organizing multicultural and multiracial arts events under CARE.
- Active in the Unitarian Universalist Social Justice group, addressing mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline. Helped pass Erie’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance and cofounded the Erie Small Bail Fund.
- Long time advocate for the creation of Erie County Community College.
- Member of the Erie NAACP, promoting economic and racial justice.
- Prime advocate for Diverse Erie, the county’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.
- Member of Connect Urban Erie, empowering residents to build a safe, thriving, and just city.
- Member of OWOAOR—Our Water, Our Air, Our Rights—defending environmental justice and opposing pollution and fracking.
- Founding member of HECA—Hold Erie Coke Accountable—working with the community and DEP to ensure accountability, cleanup and responsible future use of the site.
- Former member of One Table Erie and its Welcome Table subgroup, building bridges of peace and unity, and supporting immigrant rights.
- Member of the task force that helped establish the City of Erie’s Environmental Advisory Council, in partnership with PennFuture and fellow environmentalists.
- Member of ERJPI—Erie Racial Justice Policy Initiative—advocating for enforcement of city and county ordinances to support Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
- Frequent speaker before city and county councils, and contributor of letters and opinion pieces on justice issues.
- Supporter of campaigns including Save Our Public Library, Ceasefire PA (against gun violence), Fair Districts PA, Infinite Erie’s Sustainability Work group, and teacher recruitment and retention—because children have rights too. Formed work group to update and reform the Erie Police Department to help build greater trust with the community.
- Advocate for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, and participant in numerous Silent Peace Walks.
- Recipient of several recognition awards for leadership and participation including for the School-to-Prison Pipeline project and the effort to decriminalize marijuana.
About the Prophet of Peace Award: The Benedictine Sisters of Erie Prophet of Peace Award is given each year to an individual or group that embodies some aspect of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie and Oblates Corporate Commitment to be "a healing presence and a prophetic witness for peace and justice and to climate conscious living. We will decrease harmful patterns of consumerism and work with others to create systemic change needed to meaningfully address the climate crisis."
