Youth Peace Project

YOUTH PEACE PROJECT

Our community peace project this year is a Youth Arts and Entrepreneur Conference. The theme of the conference is My Future is Bright Because... Young people from grades 4 to 12 will bring their own designs and learn how to use a heat press and button maker to manufacture their own t-shirts and buttons. They will work as a team and have the experience of running their own company.

Through out the day participants will go through the entrepreneur cycle of design, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. The students will earn youth designed biz bucks and be able to shop with their biz bucks and buy prizes at a youth run general store at the conference. This project is sponsored by Department of Human Services Prevention Department.

Plans are in the works for this community peace project to extend to a summer camp. Youth will meet twice a week and get a more in depth training in business and the arts. One day will be for business training hosted by the Empowerment Group. Their expertise is to help people develop a business idea that could earn a profit while making a positive impact in the community.

The other day they will meet to work on their art and manufacture their product line. They will also learn computer skills to develop their own marketing materials. By the end of the summer they will have a brochure completed and be able to take orders from their families and neighbors.

Once a month we've been hosting a community peace festival. Gospel rap artist and local youth entertainment put on a fantastic show. The kids really like the rap beat and the adults are glad that they are listening to a positive message. I suppose it is a win win situation. The MC Damon Morgan let the kids win cds form the rappers. The youth enjoy this and even some of the youngest participants have the material memorized in a week.

We have an off line news letter titled Peace Press where there are lots of pictures of the activities and information about college scholarships and even money available for students getting As and Bs in high school.

The anticipated outcomes for all this is that youth will realize peaceful solutions to help develop their own community by defining and developing their own dreams. . Even though we are in a so called distressed neighborhood. We strongly believe the wealth inside will create the peace we seek. (sumber: Vicki Tate)