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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).
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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.
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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.


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