Peace Ed: Community Building Skills Beyond and Strengthening Partnerships
Peace Education Program trainers have spent the summer doing what Peace Ed does best: getting out into the community, connecting with young people and families, and sharing practical skills for resolving conflict peacefully. From youth programs to back-to-school celebrations, our trainers have helped young people recognize emotions, communicate more effectively, calm down when emotions run high, and work through problems without violence—skills at the heart of Peace Ed’s mission.
One of our summer stops was Prominent Youth of America, where trainers Teresa Hinkle-Jones and Laura Younkin worked with middle and high school students. Together, they explored how to recognize and manage emotions and developed strategies young people can use to calm themselves when they are upset. The trainers later learned that they had won over a tough audience. Program coordinators shared that some students had complained when they first heard Peace Ed was coming. But after that first session, their opinions changed. The students decided Peace Ed was fun—and much better than they had expected! That kind of response reflects the interactive approach Peace Ed brings to conflict resolution, using activities and conversation to help young people learn skills they can put into practice in their own lives.
Peace Ed also joined the Kerrick Elementary Ice Cream Social on August 3, marking the beginning of what we hope will be an exciting partnership throughout the school year. Trainers Gary Johnson, Kristina Greer and Laura Younkin joined Interim Director Annie Haigler to welcome students, parents and educators at the Peace Ed table. Families learned about I Messages and calming strategies and talked with the Peace Ed team about ways parents and young people can communicate more effectively. Of course, it wouldn’t be an ice cream social without some fun. There was plenty of ice cream, socializing and dancing as the Kerrick community came together to celebrate the start of a new school year. We look forward to sharing much more about our work with Kerrick in upcoming newsletters.
The summer also brought Peace Ed to Greater Friendship Baptist Church’s Youth Conference, where trainers Brenda Moorman and Rodney Webb worked with two groups—elementary-age students and middle and high school students. The young people talked through feelings and emotions, brainstormed solutions to conflict, practiced strategies for calming down and de-escalating, and strengthened their communication and problem-solving skills. The day brought together conversation, games, fellowship, food, praise and learning. It was a wonderful way for young people to prepare for the school year while building skills they can carry into their classrooms, homes and relationships.
For more than 40 years, Peace Education Program has used interactive learning—including games, hands-on activities and role-playing—to help young people develop skills in communication, cooperation and peaceful problem-solving. This summer’s activities showed what can happen when those lessons extend beyond the classroom and into the places where young people and families gather.
This is what community looks like. This is what partnership looks like. And this is how we build a more peaceful community—together.
