Melvin Giles: A Legacy of Peace, Love, and Living History

Melvin Giles, 66, was a peace activist, urban gardener, animal and organ donation advocate, and importantly, a bridge-builder in the Rondo community. Through his gentle yet powerful acts—from gardening and peace poles to blowing bubbles—he spread lasting joy, healing, and unity across Saint Paul.

July 3, 2025 — Melvin Giles, longtime peace advocate, community organizer, and beloved family man, passed away on Tuesday. But to say Melvin has "left us" doesn’t feel quite right. His presence felt in the blooming of community gardens, the glowing of solar-powered peace poles, and the deep roots of the Giles family legacy is very much still here.

"He is love," said his niece, Angel Giles-Jordan. "And he will always be love on this earth."

That sentiment echoes through the words of family members who shared their stories and reflections in the days following his passing. Each of them — Melvin's brother Metric, his niece Angel, and his nephew Anura — painted a portrait of a man whose life was a mix of joy, purpose and humility.

The Uncle Who Showed Up

To his family, Melvin was a guiding light — always present, always available, always encouraging. "Uncle dad," Angel called him, a term that captures how seamlessly he stepped into nurturing roles. "He would text spontaneously, drop off green tomatoes, or show up just to check in," she said.

"You don’t really have to know Uncle Melvin to love him — but if you did know him, you knew you were loved."

Melvin’s influence extended to Angel's own children and grandchildren, demonstrating how his legacy spans generations. At the most recent Community Peace Celebration, when one of Angel's sons hesitated to share food with an elder, it was Melvin who gently insisted, "That’s your elder. You’re going to let them have a piece."

A Natural Leader, A Born Communicator

Melvin’s older brother, Metric Giles, described him as "the best communicator I’ve ever known." While Metric considered himself a quiet type, he admired Melvin’s gift for words — how he could uplift, connect, and inspire anyone, anywhere. Even in his youth, Melvin was a protector, the kind of boy who would stand up to bullies to defend a friend.

His peaceful spirit didn’t mean passivity; it meant strength with compassion. Metric recalls his brother saying, “I don’t have to fight all the time. I can do it in a different way.”

In college at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Melvin founded a community newspaper called "Everyday People", a name that reflects his lifelong mission: to connect people, elevate their voices, and bring them together in shared humanity.

Builder of Peace — One Pole, One Garden, One Celebration at a Time

Among Melvin's most visible legacies are his solar-powered Peace Poles. A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol. Collaborating with students at the Imhotep Science Academy run by his nephew Anura, he

Solar panels charge the Peace Pole batteries during the day that then power a light that illuminates the phrases of peace at night.

helped design a 15.5-foot Peace Pole now installed at the Western Sculpture Park in Saint Paul — a symbol of light and peace that shines, literally, through the night.

Anura recalled how unique Melvin’s vision was: “Most Peace Poles are just carved in wood, and you can’t see them at night. But Melvin wanted peace you could see, even in the dark.”  

These soloar Peace Poles carry the inscription “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in eight languages —English, Spanish, Karen, Hmong, Somali, Oromo, Arabic, and Dakota. These languages were recommended in community engagement events at the Park by local residents.

Melvin’s work with the annual Community Peace Celebration, now in its 29th year, was another cornerstone of his mission. Even when family reunions called him to Alabama, he prioritized the Peace Celebration on June 20 and found ways to bring family together in other ways.

“We’ll have our reunion here,” he said when he chose to stay back with those who couldn’t make the trip. “That was his way of life,” said Metric. “He didn’t just talk about peace bubbles, he walked that all the time.”

A Keeper of the Family Flame

Melvin believed deeply in the power of legacy. He studied the Giles family roots in Scooba, Mississippi and worked to preserve that heritage for future generations. He even took workshops on Black archiving to learn how to properly preserve photographs and artifacts.

“Our treasures are our family lineage. It’s the heritage that’s passed down from generation to generation,” said Anura.

To Melvin, knowing your roots made your community stronger. He believed peace was planted in that kind of soil, a truth he embodied in both gardening and genealogy. Even in physical space, his love for family and land endured. The Victoria Garden and the Peace Sanctuary he helped sustain are living memorials, places to gather, grow, and remember.

The Spirit That Stays

Melvin's life was a testament to what one person can do when rooted in love, moved by purpose, and guided by a spirit of peace.

“He was a regenerator,” said Metric. “He just kept things moving forward.” Whether organizing meetings, lifting up youth, building community bridges, or simply showing up with green tomatoes, bubbles and laughter, Melvin gave everything and asked only that we pass it on.

To quote the peace poles Melvin so lovingly shared with the world: May Peace Prevail on Earth. And may the spirit of Melvin Giles — peace walker, uncle-dad, historian, gardener, dreamer — continue to prevail through all of us.