Welcome to Peacemakers

A Social Problem

Violence is a serious problem threatening our nation’s health, according to the American Medical Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The United States has the highest rates of youth violence, homicide, and suicide of the 26 wealthiest nations of the world. Some claim youth violence has become an epidemic comparable to the impact of war.

Peacemakers’ Mission

With the rise and spread of violence, we need to be proactive in transforming conflicts. Because the virus of violence has especially taken its toll in our youth culture, there is a critical need to begin with our young people. Responding to this need, the mission of Peacemakers is empowering youth stop violence and transform conflict. We aim to empower youth to prevent violence, intervene in conflict, and promote peace in their spheres of influence. Through this we hope to extend peace beyond interpersonal relationships to the community and to the larger world.

Program Goals

Through this course of training, students in Peacemakers will:
• Increase self-esteem and respect for others
• Understand basic concepts for transforming conflict
• Improve self management of fear, anger, and aggression
• Acquire communication and problem solving skills
• Gain physical skills for restraining violence
• Grow in qualities for a peaceable character

Training Methods

We integrate martial arts, conflict transformation, and practical application. The best traditions of martial arts espouse respect, peace and nonviolence and offer proven training to increase self-control, reduce violence, and promote peace.

Our training methods include:
• Participatory learning rather than didactic teaching
• A practical, visual model for transforming conflicts
• Exercises for collaboration and problem solving
• Physical skills with practical and metaphorical value
• Kinesthetic exercises to engage the body in learning
• Role plays to apply concepts and skills in practice
• Stories to illustrate application in real life incidents

Personal Examples

Consider two cases with positive outcomes. Take Blake’s experience in fifth grade. His parentsdescribed him as “shy and not wanting to be involved with other kids.” Bullying at school made matters worse. As often happened, one day an older boy bullied Blake on the playground. The boy threatened Blake and came at him with his fists. Rather than cower and submit to bullying as he did in the past, Blake stood his ground and asserted himself. He put up open hands to protect his face and took a safe stance toward the aggressor. Then, as he lowered his hands, he told the boy that fighting is not the way to settle conflicts and that he made a promise in Peacemakers to not fight. Blake walked away without a fight and with his dignity. Through this incident, Blake not only stopped the bullying but gained greater self-esteem and confidence. This in turn has helped Blake improve other relationships and his grades in school. Blake is no longer so shy, but walks with his chin up. As his parents report, “Blake believes in himself and is a better person.”

Another student in Peacemakers has a history of aggression and has been expelled from school. Like certain others in his situation, other programs did not reach him to reform his behavior. But now in Peacemakers, he has made a covenant to abide by a pledge of nonviolence and is learning new ways to deal with his issues and aggression. As a result, in the past couple of years he has had fewer incidents of fighting, more positive relationships, and has returned to, and stayed in school. These are just two of many stories we can tell of empowering youth to make peace in their lives.

Rather than submitting or striking back, both of these students, along with others, are learning positive ways to transform conflict. Who knows what this may prevent and what this will help them to become.

We hope that this program empowers many other youth to be peacemakers in their lives.