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WELCOME TO THE GREEN PEN!

It's my personal soapbox, a place for me to express thoughts and feelings, musings and rants, reflections and recollections; to have fun with words -- about things spiritual, environmental, social, political, economic, and, from time to time, personal. And of course about peace. Soapboxes are in public places (as London's legendary Hyde Park) on purpose, and so I invite conversations with you, for it is through civil discourse that we can gain some perspective on the seeming chaos of these changing times and learn together how to shape a positive future for ourselves, our communities, and the generations to come.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Safe, Healthy, Sustainable Communities - Happening Now!

Some good news about hope for inner cities and at-risk youth in crisis. And it’s not just hope for the future – it’s happening now. Warm your hearts for 7 minutes by watching this video (link below) from the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding in Gainesville, Florida. The National Peace Academy’s president Dot Maver also serves as executive director of RPCP, and NPA played a role in the initial design of RPCP’s program.

With that experience, NPA is embarking on a program initiative to bring the community peacebuilding process model that has been developed and proven successful in Gainesville to other communities across the country. Next stop is Austin, Texas, where a broad spectrum of community leaders has already signed on and is partnering with NPA on a grant proposal and community organizing for this endeavor in that city. 

I know, you are thinking that many programs are already offered by governments, school districts, and nonprofits to address many of the issues of violence in schools and elsewhere (e.g., conflict resolution, social-emotional learning, restorative justice, anti-bullying, anti-gang, etc.). And this is true. Often, though, many of these focused programs are offered here and there in a community, with little or no coordination or overall programmatic framework or philosophy. What is missing is a comprehensive, cohesive process that builds a strong, resourceful, unified community across the board. This is what this process model provides.

Here’s the video link.

As you can tell, I’m excited about this work I’m doing with the National Peace Academy – it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble, and is very fulfilling besides!

I’d love to hear from  you all about it, and feel free to share with others if so moved.

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