The Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution came together Saturday to celebrate the 18th annual African Diaspora conference.

The purpose of this event was to award those who have helped the organization with conflict issues in Africa and within the community, Ernest Uwazie, the center’s director and a criminal justice professor, said.

The center honored people who have helped the organization stand strong, said Toni Tinker, a graduate student majoring in multicultural education.

Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, was invited but canceled his trip because of health reasons.

Tinker, who organized the event, said she was pleased to help year after year knowing that what she does promotes peace in the world.

Tinker said that CAPCR is here to make people within the community and abroad aware of African conflicts that many people do not think about.

“We really want people to know what’s happening in Africa, Nigeria and South Africa; bringing people together to talk about these issues of peace resolution and conflict will help to get our point across,” Tinker said.

Wilmot Mitchell, graduate accounting major, emigrated five years ago from Liberia. Since then, Mitchell has been active with CAPCR.

Mitchell met Uwazie in Liberia. When he left to attend Sac State, Uwazie contacted him to continue working what he had started in his country.

Mitchell said the center has helped him learn how to mediate conflicts.

Karina Yepez can be reached at [email protected].