Dear Friends,  I just had the wonderful opportunity of working with the entire freshman class at Presentation Academy. What a delight! We spent four weeks exploring nonviolent communication and problem solving. The majority wished we could spend the entire year practicing the skills of listening and talking out problems with respect. As the photo below shows, we spent a great deal of time conducting role plays about current conflicts with parents, siblings, classmates and sweethearts! One student summed up her learning experience this way: 1. The more you listen, the better friends you become 2. Solve your problems before they become bigger problems 3. Listening to the way someone may feel can help you relate to their side of the problem.                    Other young women learned how to: Say how I was feeling without blowing it all out of proportion. Listen and repeat someone else’s thoughts and feelings. Solve problems without hurting the other people. Deal with frustrations. Ask people for respect.  Talk to my parents with problems we may be having. These conflict resolution sessions were funded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Like you, they are committed to helping Peace Ed and our partners “give youth more than a fighting chance.”                                                    Sincerely,                                               Eileen L. Blanton Executive Director