Peace Education Program
Twenty-Nine Years "Giving Youth More Than A Fighting Chance"
Twenty-nine years ago Peace Education Program taught conflict resolution in one classroom, in one school. Today we have a network of 155 schools where mediation and/or conflict resolution is practiced every day. Peace Education Program impacts 20,000 youth annually.
Twenty years ago we formed "Youth for Peace" – teen leaders committed to reducing prejudice. Today, one of those youth leaders is a subcontractor teaching conflict resolution through story and song. Other graduates are leaders in community development, education and fundraising in this community or others.
Eighteen years ago we began a partnership with a middle school with high levels of violence - students were "body slamming" each other in the hallways - lifting someone over the head and dropping them to the floor. Today, the youth mediators conduct 200 mediations annually with few gang-related conflicts reported in five years. The commitment of the adult coordinator and the skills taught to youth combine to create a culture of peace in a sea of violence.
Seventeen years ago, Louisville’s youth homicide rate was one of the highest in the nation. We joined a coalition to stop the violence. Members included Metro Government, the Urban League, Housing Authority, YMCA and others. Peace Ed trained 400 gang involved youth and their friends to be mediators in seven Housing Authority sites. Today there are sixty-four community sites where young people can solve their problems nonviolently.
Thirteen years ago Peace Education Program introduced whole school conflict resolution and mediation to a Middle School. Today, one of those mediators is on our staff teaching conflict resolution to other young men.
Ten years ago Peace Education Program began doing preschool conflict resolution workshops with three and four year olds. Today, we are partnering with Squallis Puppeteers to present Rage-A-Saurus Rex, a puppet show and workshop series that explores anger and problem solving with young children.
Six years ago we created a comprehensive mediation manual. Today, trainers in Rwanda, Marquette University, Wisconsin, New York, Indiana and Kentucky follow our methods for training peer mediators.
Four years ago the development of the Navigators Mentoring Program began. Today it is a program that spans the course of the school year and is facilitated in multiple schools and community sites all around the city of Louisville.
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