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Who We Are
Where Peace Lives serves as a catalyst for forwarding the conversations for peace around the world by working with youth through art and media programs. Founding members Donna Clapp, Jeff Clapp, and Jeff Rudy saw a need for bringing together their combined talents to make this impact.
"We are inspiring a generation of peace," says Jeff Clapp, Program Director. "Instilling a context for a future that creates new possibilities—a culture of peace that is alive and real for everyone. We see that future realized through today's young people. We are committed that the lives and futures of the young people we work with will never be the same."
Click here for frequently asked questions.about our programs and organization.
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission - Teach effective conflict-resolution and peacebuilding skills to build bridges of cultural understanding and mutual respect through art and media forwarding the conversations for peace in the world.
Our Vision - Create a culture of peace where our future leadership experiences the joy and fulfillment of making powerful contributions to themselves, their community, and the world.
Our Core Values
Integrity - We are truthful in all that we say, and honest in all that we do.
Inspiration - We bring to light people's courage and greatness, naturally calling them into action.
Respect - We honor the highest Self in each person.
Communication - We are committed that all people have a voice and experience being heard.
Why Peace With Youth?
The statistics below are only a small window into a growing issue not only here but around the world.
Thirty percent (30%) of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying — as bullies, as victims, or as both — according to the results of the first national survey on this subject.
Bullying is increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents.
Thirty-nine percent of middle schoolers and thirty-six of high schoolers say they don't feel safe at schools.
Nationwide, 29.8 percent of students had their property (e.g., car, clothing, or books) stolen or deliberately damaged on school property.
For an in-depth look at issues facing our young people today please CLICK HERE.
What We Do
We teach and explore conflict resolution, mediation, and peacebuilding through the universal language of art (visual arts, performing arts, and new media).
CURRENT FINE ARTS PROGRAM
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
International Mural Exchange Program
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding International Mural Exchange Program provides you with engaging, fun, and creative tools to build and maintain a culture of peace in your school and community. Through hands-on art activities students transform their relationship to managing anger, talking out issues, by becomiing part of the solution instead of the problem. This helps them develop their natural self-confidence, motivation, desire to participate, mutual respect toward others, communication, and leadership skills—essential and powerful life skills.
CLICK HERE to find out how YOU and your school/organization can participate
REEL PEACE (Moviemaking for Kids) was piloted in Somerset, NJ in March 2008 at the Conerly Road Elementary school. Twenty five students were chosen to participate in this 10 week program. The students learned first hand about movie making, creating stories and scripts, improvisational acting, and much more. The end result was a video starring the students as they share about issues they are dealing with in school and at home and new solutions for dealing with these issues. Topics included bullying, hooked on video games, when parents fight, getting along with brothers and sisters, and gossip and rumors. The final video is being used in the Franklin Township district as a working tool for teachers to address these issues with their students. Future projects will include videos for both middle-school and high-school level students.
CLICK HERE to find out how YOU and your school/organization can participate
Blindmen and an Elephant Productions is the documentary arm of Where Peace Lives. Blindmen was created to shed light on people and organizations that are making a difference in the world. Many people want to make an impact but lack the knowledge or motivation to take actions to do so. We hope to create a powerful awareness for people on how they can find their own inspiriation and make an impact toward peace and harmony for all humanity.
Our most recent project is a twenty five minute documentary on Dr. Jeannette Grauer, a dentist from Union, NJ. Dr. Grauer travels to Peru each year to deliver dental care to children in villages along the Amazon river. More information and photos from this venture will be coming online soon.