"Grief + Kindness = Peace"

Grief is heavy. Kindness shouldn’t be

Turn love, loss, or hope into something you can hold — and set free.

You don’t need the right words for the funeral, the diagnosis, or the empty seat at the table. A painted rock does the talking. Keep it when today is too much.

Hide it when you’re ready to pass that feeling on.

This isn’t about rocks. It’s about what happens after someone finds one.

Rockville Peace Rocks is a community initiative started in Rockville/Gaithersburg, MD, honoring the legacy of Mattie Stepanek — a 13-year-old poet who believed peace is possible.

👉 Important: Rockville Peace Rocks is a separate entity from the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation. We’re honored to partner with Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, for peace initiatives and events.

What Happens Next:

Found a rock? Scan the QR code. See where it started. Add where it’s going.
Want to paint? Join us for Peace Day in Mattie’s Peace Garden (World of Beer Rockville) Saturday, July 11 (2-5pm).

Mattie said: “Remember to play after every storm.”

Need to honor someone?

Create a Legacy Rock and let their story travel.

THE STORY BEHIND YOUR ROCK

Your rock isn’t “art.” It’s a mission. Crafted and Hand-painted by Peace Artists, epoxy sealed for rain + time, with one job: make someone feel less alone.

Jeni Stepanek, Mattie’s mom and our friend/mentor, leads her own peace initiatives through the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation. We support each other’s missions.---

New Monthly Rock Releases

Rockville Rocks Drops Kindness Rocks Legacy Rocks Peace Rocks Rock Pals Painted Rock APP Treasure

Rock Pals Download the Painted Rocks App

Join the ultimate treasure hunt in Rockville, MD, and beyond! 🌟 Introducing Rockville Peace Rocks - the fun way to spread kindness, one rock at a time! 🪨

Think Pokemon Go, GeoCache, and Scavenger Hunts, but with a twist: PAINTED ROCKS! 🎨 Hide, find, and track kindness rocks in your community and around the world!

DOWNLOAD APP NOW

NEW Painted Rocks APP📲

#1 App for Painted Rocks Tracking

Have you stumbled across a painted rock with a message of kindness or encouragement?

Finding a rock that makes you smile or delivers an inspirational message can be the difference between a bad day and a great day!

FOLLOW US @RockvilleRocks

Rockville Rocks Locations

Share Your Peace Story! ✨ Re-hide, Keep, Gift?

Be the first to know about rock-tastic updates, exclusive offers, and join a community spreading peace, one rock at a time! 💖 Enter your email to get started!

Rockville Town Center, Rockville, MD

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Celebrate Peace with Rockville!

Join us in Rockville for a Peace Celebration!

### *✨ Found a Peace Rock? Welcome to the Movement! 🪨💙*

You’re here because kindness found you first. Join us in *Rockville, MD* for a vibrant celebration of peace, art, and community spirit — inspired by a 13-year-old poet who believed peace is possible.

* Mattie’s #PeaceRocks Legacy*

Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a Rockville poet, peacemaker, and philosopher who died in 2004 at age 13. Though dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy limited his travel, Mattie connected with the world by collecting rocks and cultural mementos. He shaped “words and art into messages that inspired hope, compassion, and choices that build community”. 28fc

Oprah Winfrey called Mattie “a messenger for our times” and one of her most memorable guests in 25 years. President Jimmy Carter said Mattie was “the most extraordinary person I have ever known” and that he was “an angel of God, a messenger of God”.

*🌍 Peace Day + Community Partnerships*

Every year we honor *International Day of Peace* with rock painting, labyrinth walks, and inspiring activities in *Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park & Peace Garden* — a 26-acre park dedicated in 2008. The City of Rockville installed a labyrinth + “Flame of Hope” sculpture where visitors “quiet the mind and find balance while walking the path”.

*💛 Our Peace Partners*

- *Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D. “Mama Peace”* - Mattie’s mom, author, and global peace advocate. She doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. After losing all 4 children to mitochondrial disease, Jeni became a “door mat” for others — mentoring, speaking, and sharing Mattie’s peace legacy + her own worldwide. She’s been our friend, mentor, and partner in peace through multiple events.

- *Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peace Foundation* - In 2024, Rockville Peace Rocks became official *Partners4Peace* with the Foundation. We’ve donated painted rocks for Peace Day and guided rock painting at Mama Peace Chats. Led by Trianna Beckwith, we’re co-developing new activities together. Rockville Peace Rocks was peace certified in 2025.

- *#MeghanRocks Legacy Project* - After Meghan Jones passed in 2025, we partnered with VisArts and UpCounty Community Resources to honor her “I love life!” spirit. Meghan, born with Down syndrome, was a strong advocate and volunteer with Mattie’s Foundation. Each February we paint legacy rocks; each July they’re placed in Mattie’s Peace Garden. QR codes on the rocks share her story.

*🎨 How You Can Join*

1. *Find a rock?* Scan the QR code and see how far kindness travels. We’re now geo-tracking rocks to watch joy spread.

2. *Paint with us* at Peace Day, VisArts events, or Mama Peace Chats. Mattie said: “Remember to play after every storm!”

3. *Host a table* - We’ve run peace activities across Maryland with Jeni Stepanek and community groups.

*Maryland Proud*: Mattie was born in Upper Marlboro and lived in Rockville. His message still shapes Maryland’s schools, parks, and hearts today. As Mattie wrote: “Think gently, speak gently, live gently.”

*Ready to add your Heartsong?* 🫶 Come paint, walk the labyrinth, and be part of a legacy. Because as Mattie taught us — peace begins when we’re _okay_ with who we are, and grows when we make it matter for others.

Peace Proclamation 2025!

Join local leaders in Rockville to mark Peace Day with celebrations, cheers, and community unity.

⏬ MORE INFORMATION ⏬

Discover Rockville's Art & Peace Events

Strength in Unity & Peace

Peace Partners Strategic/ Business Alliances

Rockville Rocks Inland Rocks Peace Partner

Rockville Rocks Science Center Peace Partner Rockville

Rockville's Rock Art Hub

One-Stop Rock Shop

With us, you can:

Design: Create custom rock art with our proprietary technology.
Buy: Purchase samples or order in bulk.
Sell: Retail or wholesale your custom rock creations.
Art: Showcase your paintings, drawings, or digital art.
Photos: Share cherished memories or stunning landscapes.
Images: Add logos, graphics, or abstract designs.
Words of Encouragement: Spread positivity and inspiration.
QR Codes on the Back: Linktree,Google Maps Link to your website, social media, or music.
Advertising: Promote your personal brand or art business.

Your Art, Your Way

We respect your artistic talent and ensure your copyright is protected. Our user-friendly platform makes it easy to integrate your artwork into your rock designs.

We've Got You Covered!

From transaction to fulfillment, we handle everything:

Painting: Our direct-to-rock ink transfer paint process with a epoxy resin ensures vibrant, long-lasting designs.
Assembly: Our Peace Rock team carefully crafts each rock creation.
Packaging: We ensure prompt and secure shipping and local delivery

Join the Rockville Peace Rocks Community!

Unleash your creativity and turn your artwork into stunning rock creations. Share your vision with the world and make a lasting impact!

Rockville Rocks Drops Kindness Rocks Legacy Rocks Peace Rocks Rock Pals

Cherish Memories with Legacy Peace Rocks

Peace & Memory Rocks

Inspired by the Ancient Jewish tradition of leaving memory pebbles or rocks at headstones, Rockville Rocks℠ presents Rockville Peace Rocks℠ - a unique way to honor your loved ones and share their story with the world.

A Symbol of Love and Remembrance

Imagine taking a ..

Legacy Rocks

Express Your Brand with Rocks

Marketing Rocks: Leave a Lasting Impression! Elevate your brand's visibility with our custom-made Marketing Rocks!

Each rock features:

Your Logo: Vibrantly Epoxy on one side, ensuring your brand stands out.

QR Code: On the other side, linking to your website, social media, or special offer.

Resin Epoxy

Peaceful Rocks Inspire ✨

ROCKVILLE ☮ROCKS℠ is spreading peace and kindness, one rock at a time. Our Peace Dragon's scales (rocks) can pop up anywhere, sharing peace ,love and positivity worldwide. Unique & Handcrafted with Love Each rock is hand-painted and sealed with resin epoxy for a timeless finish. No two rocks are alike, just like you ! Share your peace rock moment and spread kindness!

At Rockville☮️Rocks℠, We believe that Rocks and Art gem stones have the power to transform and inspire us. 🌈 That's why we're on a mission to connect with our community and world through kindness rocks, peace rocks, rock hounding and rock art activities! 🤝

Join our Rockville Rockhounding PEACE CLUB🐺 for fun adventures and discover the joy of creating unique art pieces with ROCKVILLE PEACE ROCKS that spread kindness and peace, one rock art and gem stone at a time! 🌎

Join Rockville RockHounds

Support Peace Initiatives

You Found a Peace Rock? If you've stumbled upon one of our beautiful Peace Rocks in the community or at a peace project, we invite you to pay it forward! Your donation to Mattie's Peace Foundation will help spread kindness, peace, and love throughout our community. Let's keep the ripple of kindness going spreading peace and love one art piece at a time!

PEACE☮️DONATION

Meet Our Founder

Meet Trianna 🌲 Beckwith

(🌳🌲🌳* TREE * 🌳🌲🌳)

"In 2017, my family embarked on a cross-country adventure to Rockville Maryland, traveling in our trusty Toyota Sienna, 'Pearl from (OLD TEMECULA) California.' Along the way, we stumbled upon a few different painted rocks, including a YouTube symbol perched in a tree in Simi Valley, California, and others at Trinity Lake, Mt. Shasta/ Oregon, and various rest stops in Texas, New Mexico., Tennessee and the last one in D.C! These chance discoveries sparked a sense of wonder and joy in our family. Little did we know, this journey would become a catalyst for something more profound. However, life had other plans. In the midst of our rock-finding journey, I experienced a devastating loss – the tragic passing of my mother in a single car accident Tina McCreery (Kurzendoefer), a US Army Veteran. Her love paint, and sip nights has become a cherished memory, and I've found solace in continuing her creative legacy. As I navigated the grieving process, I found comfort in painting rocks, not only as a tribute to my mother but also as a way to heal and find peace. The discovery of painted rocks leading up to her funeral and beyond became a poignant reminder of the peace found in kindness and compassion that surrounds us if we are looking for it in places others often overlook or don't take the time to smell the roses. March2018, we started the Rockville Rocks Facebook page, joining the first FB Kindness Rocks Project workshop program . Today were Rockville '"Peace"Rocks a vibrant world wide connected community, driven by a passion for PEACE art, kindness, and connection. Our mission was simple: to spread peace and joy, one piece of rock/gem art at a time. Since 2019, we've shared over 2500 painted rocks, each one a symbol of hope, inspiration, and the human spirit. As we continue on this journey, we invite you to join us in spreading peace, joy, and kindness, one rock at a time."

CONTINUED HERE ---->CLICK HERE

Trianna Beckwith Rockville Rocks Drops Kindness Rocks Legacy Rocks Peace Rocks Rock Pals