From April 13th to 14th, PeaceJam Southeast held its Spring Conference with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former president of Costa Rica, Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez. PeaceJammers travelled to the conference from across the Southeast United States, ranging from North Carolina to The Florida Keys.

Through the weekend, youth engaged in all three components of the PeaceJam program: Education, Inspiration, and Action. Education: At the conference, students attended workshops. There were 19 different workshops available for students to choose from. At these workshops, students learned about various issues/projects that fall under the Global Call to Action. Available workshops included: Human Trafficking Hip-Hop and Social Change Interfaith Dialogue and the Pursuit

of Peace Spread the Love: End the Hate

Inspiration: Dr. Oscar Arias inspired youth to take action throughout the conference with speeches and engaging students in conversations during lunch and a question/answer session. Action: Students took action during the weekend at service projects. Also, they presented their Global Call to Action projects to Dr. Oscar Arias and showed how they have been taking action through the year. Service projects were: One Million Bones Planting Seeds in Your Community Anti-Bullying Rally at the Capitol Second Harvest Food Bank

Along with those components of the conference, youth were assigned to family groups with at least two college students serving as mentors. During these family group sessions, students engaged in team building exercises, self-reflection and learning more about the laureate and the program.

Featured Story 1

Coaching Updates

2

Coaches of the Month

3

Conference Updates

4-5

Southeast Updates

6-7

Photos 8

May/June 2013 Volume 1, Issue 4

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

India Wells 5/9 Ashley Whiting 6/17 Stephanie Hernandez 6/29

Find us on

PeaceJam Southeast

@PeaceJamSE

www.peacejam.nationbuilder.com

Donate to PeaceJam Southeast:

peacejam.nationbuilder.com/donate

“We’ve gone through the year and there have been times where I’ve doubted if our PeaceJammers are even enjoying the program or gaining from it but looking back now, I know they have. On our last session for the year, many of our PeaceJammers expressed genuine interest in participating in the program again next year and wanted my fellow coaching partners and I back again next year.” - Leanna Lakeram, coach at Astoria Park Elementary “Our students blew us away in the time leading up to the Conference.

They love each other so much that they worked tirelessly selling candy

at their school as a fundraiser to send ALL of their regular members with a minimal registration fee, as

many of them come from homes that could not afford the expense. Not only were they able to bring their group to the conference (for 25 cents a pop)- they had enough

funds left over to send to Heifer International, an organization they chose because it embodied their two Global Calls to Action, Ending Extreme Poverty and Rights for

Women and Children. The money they raised will be used to send a girl to school in an impoverished area where she may be otherwise confined to housework. When it

came time for the big event, our students overcame their alleged

"stage fright" and gave an excellent presentation to Oscar Arias. Their spirits are high as they

prepare to carry their newly formed group into the next school year, and there's already been talk of some pretty stellar projects- while taking a service trip to Africa

may be a little ambitious, we're thrilled to see that they are so eager to make a big impact. They've come a long way from the days of quiet meetings with

everyone spread around the room. We hope that next year will bring even more additions to their loud, fun-loving family.” - Taylor Fabrega, coach at Lincoln High

Page 2 The Peace Diaries

Our coaches worked with their PeaceJam groups to inspire them to create these great Global Call to Action Projects. Astoria Park Elementary: Created a video announcement about bullying and a petition for students to sign Gretchen Everhart School: Partnered with students with special needs in El Salvador Hartsfield Elementary: Created “peace chains” Oakridge Elementary: Wrote letters to President Obama about gun control

Pineview Elementary: Held a schoolwide clean-up day Ruediger Elementary: Wrote letters to children in hospitals Woodville Elementary: Increased awareness around the issue of extreme poverty Fairview Middle: Expressed themselves through art Ft. Braden Middle: Started a Tabs for Tots program at their school Montford Middle: Raised money to donate to the Brehon House, a local women’s shelter

Godby High: Held an education fair Leon High: Held “The Hungry Games” event to promote education about extreme poverty Lincoln High: Raised money to send a girl to school Rickards High: Created a portable Before I Die Wall Sail High: Raised money to get a PCB warning sign for Lake Munson

Page 3 The Peace Diaries

Congratulations to our April Coaches of the Month!

Thank you all for your hardwork and dedication to educating our PeaceJammers!

Elgin Chacko, India Wells and Pierre

Beaton (not pictured), coaches at

Oakridge Elementary

Ashley Whiting, Indigo Webley, Meena

Manepalli, coaches at Hartsfield

Elementary

Madison Spence and Amanda

Lopez, coaches at Ft. Braden Middle

Maria Prokopetz, Stephanie Hernandez, Cameron

Burris, and Allison Blitch, coaches at Godby High

Page 4 The Peace Diaries

Page 5 The Peace Diaries

Here are few twitter reactions from the conference:

Thank you for all the love!

Be sure to follow us and keep in touch with us: @peacejamse Trends: #changestartshere #peacejamhero

Page 6 The Peace Diaries

Page 7 The Peace Diaries

These individuals have worked tirelessly to spread the message of peace to youth across the Southeast region and we thank them for their participation in the program.

General Staff: Rody Thompson (Director) Leanna Lakeram (Staff Assistant) Coaching Staff: Desirae Brown (Coaching VISTA) Amanda Lopez Stephanie Hernandez Amanda Merced Mentoring Staff: Jaime Bayo (Mentor Coordinator) Michelle Avaroma (Grad Assistant) Janessa Brito Maria Naranjo Student Leadership Council: Michelle Avaroma Ashley Hilmer Amy Correia Riley McFadden

Coaches: Amy Correia Ryan Chiarello Megan Hall Leanna Lakeram Felicia Perez Matthew Madonia Ashley Hilmer Kathleen Keenan India Williams Amanda Lopez Morgan Stanich Catherine Burke Brandon Mordecai India Wells Pierre Beaton Elgin Chacko Tatiana Soudijn Amanda Merced Madison Spence Alexandra Thomas Emily Waters Casey Grennan Taylor Fabrega Jessica McGuire Stephanie Hernandez Maria Prokopetz Cameron Burris Allison Blitch Savannah Hartnett Raven Peterson Kaylee Hartman Chelsie Lipscomb Vince Harris Jordan Bilbrew Michael Braun Teniola Ajayi Rebecca Justilien Ashley Whiting Meena Manepalli Indigo Webley Sam Soffici Anthony Nguyen Catherine Weisz

Mentors: Chelsie Lipscomb Leah Sutter Leanna Lakeram Melanie Matthews Ashley Whiting Laurence Thompson Felicia Perez Emily Rich Andrew Greenberg Manovna Narcisse Alicia Mondini Riley McFadden Angelie Vasquez Susie Botfeld Tara Catanach Amanda Merced Laura Wesolowski Jordan Bilbrew Rebecca Justilien Caleb Pate Joelle Garcia Fabrice Guerrier Megan Hall Luisana Gonzalez Cameron Burris Maria Villalobos Avenish Mohan Brittany Wakefield Steph LaPeruta Qaree Dreher Hunter Hamrick Alyssa Faella-Aversa Allison Blitch Sheila Niebles Courtney Librizzi Stephanie Hernandez Alexander Azoulay Amanda Gomer Hillary Gale AJ Thompson Stephanie Angel Katie Britt Nicola Main

Asha Monet Kennedy Erin MacArthur Alexander Morato Cassandra Barragan Alex Hinand Zachary Laranang Kaylee Hartman Maria Prokopetz Teniola Ajayi Sara Gomez Deanna Bousalis Daniela Pinto Scott Muszynski Catherine Weisz Indigo Webley Juan Leguizamon Tayler Richter Catherine Burke Alex Hampton Megan Frugoli Rachel Russell Elizabeth Swengros Jessica McGuire Cassandra Kenyon Meesha Munnings Marjorie Constant Jesse Nardy Elana Samuels Samantha Sterthaus Ashley Hilmer Shelby Carney Osmar Fuentes Ana Flores Brittany Beall Amy Correia Janessa Brito Janelle King Kellisha Priester

“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

Students at Boys and Girls Clubs with their

coach, Chelsie Lipscomb

Volume 1, Issue 4 Page 8

Newsletter Design: Leanna Lakeram

For more information, please contact: Rody Thompson, PeaceJam Southeast Director

E-mail: rhthompson@admin.fsu.edu Phone: (850) 645-8782

Thank you to all of the PeaceJam Southeast Coaches, Mentors, Advisors, PeaceJammers and Staff

for their hard work and contribution to our program!

peacejam.nationbuilder.com/donate

Montford Middle School students and coaches

with PeaceJam founder, Ivan Suvanjieff

Students at Astoria Park Elementary playing

a team-building game

Students from Lincoln High presenting their GCA

to the laureate