Dear Friends,  Youth violence is not inevitable.  It is preventable.  It is possible to create a city where young people are strong and powerful, respectful and respected.  It requires systemic change – It takes the entire city to make it possible.  Research tells us that good jobs and housing for families, strong neighborhoods with a low crime rate and police who are trusted by residents are key to reducing youth violence. (see below) Youth themselves need active parents or non family adults, safe places to solve their problems, help with academics, good school attendance and skills in leadership development and conflict resolution.  Resolving conflict peacefully is what Peace Ed is all about.  We do this by providing young people and adults with learning experiences that can help them reduce violence, enhance personal integrity and foster mutual respect.  Peace Ed has a network of 155 schools and 67 community sites where trained adults are committed to creating safe places for youth to solve their conflicts nonviolently. It takes an entire community to prevent youth violence.  Throughout our 28 year history  our greatest impact has been achieved in collaboration with local and national leaders in government, business and the private sector (click here for a list of links to violence prevention websites).   The youth pictured are mediators from Olmsted Academy North and South. They met with adult community members, lawyers and judges who are mediators in our community.  Meeting of the Minds is an annual event sponsored by the ADR of the Louisville Bar Association, Just Solutions, Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs and Peace Education Program.    Peace Ed is delighted to partner with the Ad Federation of Louisville, Berman Printing,  U.S.A. Image Technologies  and Xpedex in our ad campaign to prevent youth violence.  As the 2010 winner of the Ad Federations Dream Team grant, we had access to creative talent we could never otherwise afford.  With their assistance we are launching our “Don’t Rage. Engage” poster campaign in schools and community sites.  Berman Printing has donated the printing of thousands of these posters.  U.S.A. Image Technologies donated banners and signs with the images.  Xpedex donated all the paper for the posters. We are thankful to these partners and others for their ongoing support and creativity in our mission of “giving youth more than a fighting chance.”                                                          Sincerely,                                               Eileen L. Blanton Executive Director Research and practice identify specific risk and protective factors. We must Decrease the risk factors:                              Increase the protective factors: 1. Poverty, media exposure to                      1. National, state and local policy that supports     violence, isolation of youth                          youth program presence of caring, supportive                                                                    relationships  2. Availability of drugs & weapons                2. Strong community infrastructure – good jobs     high crime rates, gang activity                     and housing, structured opportunity for     poor housing, neighborhood deterioration      youth to lead and be important, participation                                                                    in decision making 3. Lack of parental involvement,                   3. Emphasis on education, creation of safe places,     physical abuse and neglect                          support and affection, in-depth conversation,                                                                    non-kin support network 4. Aggressive behavior, poor academic           4. Sense of purpose, belief in a positive future,    achievement, absence from school                 commitment to education and learning,                                                                    conflict resolution and critical thinking skills.

Peace Education Program    |    318 West Kentucky Street   |   Louisville, KY 40203   |   502.589.6583   |   office@PeaceEducationProgram.org