Peace Jam
The PeaceJam Foundation was founded in 1996 in Denver, Colorado, as an effort to bring together young people and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, youth from around the US (and in several other countries around the world) have participated, as have 11 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and many youth-initiated and -led service-learning activities focused on issues of peace (locally, and beyond) have been performed. (See www.peacejam.org for more information)
In addition to a weekend long experience - involving a talk by the Nobel laureate, some small-group sessions, a service-learning activity, and a time for workshops -- the PeaceJam process includes:
- (preparation) student-participants take part in a process of learning about peace and violence, and about the Nobel laureate and the historical/cultural context in which they have lived and worked (PeaceJam provides the curriculum); also, creation of a peace-focused service-learning project of their choosing
- (follow-up) implementation of their project, and a gathering to share about their experience
History
In May, 2003, Kevin participated in an orientation of educators interested in bringing students to PeaceJam. He prepped and brought three students (from the planning committee for the Social Justice Conference with Youth) to the Nov, 2003, weekend, and the April, 2004, follow-up gathering. (At the latter, he also facilitated two workshop sessions.) He also encouraged several others with whom he had networked to participate; staff at CHS/J23 chose to do so.
He has coordinated the involvement of students in two subsequent PeaceJam weekends in the Twin Cities (four students in April, 2005; one student in March, 2006).
In September, 2006, two students who have participated, along with Kevin, are scheduled to attend the 10th anniversary gathering of PeaceJam to be held in Denver, CO.
Cost
Participation in the weekend with the laureate costs $100 per student; participation in the follow-up gathering costs $35 per student.