“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”---Eleanor Roosevelt
We would like to change our communities so that they become safe and healthy environments for the youth. In our communities of Richmond and Oakland, we witness violence that occurs every day. There is a fight, a shooting, or the physical or emotional suffering of someone everyday and we want to see this change. According to a recent survey by the Alameda County Department of Public Health, adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) constitute the largest group visiting county Emergency Departments for treatment from assault-related injuries. In Alameda County, homicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 1 to 24. Research has found that youth in the juvenile justice system have an increased likelihood of dropping out of school, have high rates of weakened mental health, and lower employment achievement than youth working within an alternative case management system. Violence shouldn’t be the reason for compromising a child’s safety or education. To address this serious concern in our communities, we are launching the Youth Know Peace Program. Our goal is to create a peaceful community where students can work together and express their anger from life’s challenges in a healthy way. We need your help. We want to spread awareness of the violence within communities through social media. You can join us by participating in our upcoming organized community meetings, purchasing our custom Youth Know Peace bracelets, or by checking out our blog and Facebook page. We plan to host public community workshops where our peers will practice nonviolence by using their aggression for good through art, sports, and literature. Bringing about change in this method has been proven effective in states like South Dakota where the Josephson Institute’s Character Counts program greatly reduced violence among youth. We would like county and state funding for our Youth Know Peace Program so that we can provide youth a better sense of unity and peace within their communities. Join us in supporting a non-violent future for America’s Youth. Sign our Petition today.
Keep the Peace,
Nicole and Simone
“It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”---Eleanor Roosevelt
We would like to change our communities so that they become safe and healthy environments for the youth. In our communities of Richmond and Oakland, we witness violence that occurs every day. There is a fight, a shooting, or the physical or emotional suffering of someone everyday and we want to see this change. According to a recent survey by the Alameda County Department of Public Health, adolescents and young adults (ages 15-24) constitute the largest group visiting county Emergency Departments for treatment from assault-related injuries. In Alameda County, homicide is the leading cause of death for youth ages 1 to 24. Research has found that youth in the juvenile justice system have an increased likelihood of dropping out of school, have high rates of weakened mental health, and lower employment achievement than youth working within an alternative case management system. Violence shouldn’t be the reason for compromising a child’s safety or education. To address this serious concern in our communities, we are launching the Youth Know Peace Program. Our goal is to create a peaceful community where students can work together and express their anger from life’s challenges in a healthy way. We need your help. We want to spread awareness of the violence within communities through social media. You can join us by participating in our upcoming organized community meetings, purchasing our custom Youth Know Peace bracelets, or by checking out our blog and Facebook page. We plan to host public community workshops where our peers will practice nonviolence by using their aggression for good through art, sports, and literature. Bringing about change in this method has been proven effective in states like South Dakota where the Josephson Institute’s Character Counts program greatly reduced violence among youth. We would like county and state funding for our Youth Know Peace Program so that we can provide youth a better sense of unity and peace within their communities. Join us in supporting a non-violent future for America’s Youth. Sign our Petition today.
Keep the Peace,
Nicole and Simone