Established in November 2012 as a program of Holy Family Ministries, our leadership development program focuses on young Chicago leaders--Peace Builders--committed to peace and nonviolence. Their year-long curriculum begins with 80 hours of  Chicago-based study on topics ranging from bullying and teen dating violence to tolerance and restorative justice. Upon completion of the first phase, the Peace Builders take a two-week international trip accompanied by documentary filmmakers. While abroad, they participate in cross-cultural exchanges with community organizers, student leaders, and peace activists. The program's third phase is Giving Back!, a post-trip outreach in which the Peace Builders share their stories, a documentary film, and tips on peaceful practices with at least 1000 neighborhood youth.

Through these meetings, Peace Builders establish relationships that enable them to lead, educate, mentor, model behavior, and nurture peace in their communities.

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Community isn't a zip code. My friends and I--we're a community. My family, my school, my block--those are also communities. Through the Peace Exchange, we have an opportunity to build peace and nurture nonviolence in each of them. That's where peace starts: with me and the person next to me. Shaina Jones, 2016/17 Peace Builder and Peace Exchange Program Assistant
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This experience has really motivated and empowered me to to be the driving force to bring peace to my community and into the community of others as well. By understanding each other's needs, we'll be much closer to obtaining peace for everyone. 2017/18 Peace Builder Anthony Green teaches peace and works at the Walgreens at Roosevelt and Homan in North Lawndale.

The 2021/22 Leadership Development Program

June - July 2021: As part our youth leadership development program, five Peace Builders received training focused on indigenous philosophies and perspectives in peace making.

August 2021: Our Peace Builders traveled to South Dakota to visit Native American reservations. Peace Builders visited Augustana University, Lower Brule, the Badlands, the Black Hills, and Rapid City communities to continue their learning in restorative justice and traditional practices from First Nations people.

November 2021: The Chad Rispalje-produced documentary of our trip to South Dakota is released.

Some of our favorite moments in South Dakota
If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Peace Builder, or are interested in sponsoring a young leader for participation in the Peace Exchange, please email Program Manager Henry Cervantes at [email protected].

The 2019 Leadership Development Program

September 2018 to January 2019: During our recruiting phase, six leading community organizations stepped up to sponsor seven outstanding young leaders for the class of 2019. The seven Peace Builders represent Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Chicago Hope Academy, Free Spirit Media, Holy Family Ministries, Josephinum Academy, and Peace on Earth Film Festival.
  • September 2018 to January 2019: During our recruiting phase, six leading community organizations stepped up to sponsor seven outstanding young leaders for the class of 2019.
  • January 19 Kickoff: We gathered with Peace Builders and parents/guardians for a morning of getting acquainted and mapping out the next 12 months. As part of our "badging tradition", Peace Builders received their Peace Exchange tee shirts. We then traveled by bus to the Chicago Cultural Center for a WTTW-sponsored screening of Ahimsa: The Peace Exchange in India and Fuzzy Legs.
  • January-April: Saturdays and Thursdays have been devoted to training on the following topics:
    • Domestic and teen-dating violence
    • The Holocaust and genocide
    • Understanding gangs and gang violence
    • Grassroots strategies to end violence
    • Child sexual abuse
    • Crisis management and conflict resolution
    • The Rwanda genocide
    • Compassion
    • Trauma
    • First aid for gunshot wounds
    • Incarceration to peacemaking
    • Kingian Nonviolence
    • Conflict Mediation
  • June 25-July 8: #Rwanda2019! We spent an incredible two weeks in Rwanda studying peace, healing, and reconciliation as the country was commemorating Liberation Day--the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. For more--much more--visit our blog!
  • August 23: The documentary of our summer trip, Amahoro |The Peace Exchange in Rwanda debuts!

Some of our favorite moments in Rwanda

A video "Thank You" to the individuals and organizations who have so generated their time and expertise to train our 2019 Peace Builders. #LeadersofNow #Rwanda2019

The 2017/2018 Leadership Development Program

  • January to June 2017: During our recruiting phase, we met with a number of community organizations about sponsoring their best and brightest young leaders for the Peace Exchange. Five organizations--UCAN, Josephinum Academy, DRW College Prep, Golder College Prep, and parent Holy Family Ministries are sponsoring five Peace Builders for the class of 2017/18.
  • June 23 & 24, 2017: The Peace Builders' training kicked off with a weekend retreat focused on building community, leadership development, mindfulness and meditation, and a discussion with leaders from the Latino Policy Forum's Multicultural Leadership Academy. A highlight was Friday evening's get-acquainted dinner with new Peace Builders and parents.
  • July to November 2017: Training and development continues on a host of subjects, including a seminar on dating violence, a tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum, and discussions with police and trauma specialists. Peace Builders mastered a number of conflict prevention and resolution techniques. A November weekend retreat allowed us to focus on Gandhian nonviolence and the history, customs, and culture of India. More can be found at our News tab.
  • December 26, 2017 to January 8, 2018: Accompanied by documentary filmmakers, the Peace Builders traveled to India. In New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, the Peace Builders met with Standing Together to Enable Peace (STEP), AhimsaGram, and Agra Heritage Walks to learn about local traditions and practices of peace and nonviolence. In Delhi, the team visited the Lodi Gardens, Humayun's Tomb, the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, and the Gandhi Smriti; the Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur; and the Taj Mahal in Agra.
  • February 2018 to June 2018 Giving Back!: Using a curriculum they developed, the Peace Builders have met with over 1,000 neighborhood children to share their experiences and tips on peaceful practices. The documentary film of their trip played an important part in their storytelling.

The 2016/2017 Leadership Development Program

  • January 31, 2016: Peace Builders from the classes of 2014 and 2015 gathered to greet the six Peace Builders comprising the Class of 2016. We spent the day at the Holy Family Ministries Center getting acquainted, receiving an overview on peace circles, and discussing leadership styles. We're very excited about our new Peace Builders. Check out all our young leaders at the "Peace Builders" tab.
  • February 2016 to June 2016: Our Peace Builders have a very full schedule of training and community activities totaling 80 hours. They'll undergo training on a range of topics including restorative justice/peace circles, mindfulness, conflict prevention/resolution, domestic violence, maintaining peaceful schools, and child abuse and trauma care. They'll attend and volunteer at the Peace on Earth Film Festival, tour the Illinois Holocaust Museum, participate in Awaken Chicago, and attend the Louder Than a Bomb poetry finals.  Before departing on our international trip, we'll hold a weekend retreat to prepare ourselves for the journey.
  • June 15-July 3, 2016: We traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2016, 22 years after the end of apartheid. Hosted by the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, Start Living Green/Qala Phelang Tala, Imagine Scholar, and Lefika la Phodiso, the six young Chicagoans explored solutions to inadequate housing, lead an art therapy project for at-risk children, and facilitated youth peace circles.
  • July 2016 to February 2017: Giving Back! Using a curriculum they've developed, the Peace Builders met with more than 1000 neighborhood youth to share their experiences and knowledge. As we did with our trips to SE Asia and Nicaragua, a short documentary played an important part in their storytelling.

The 2014/2015 Leadership Development Program

  • August/September 2014:  This was our recruiting phase.  Our advisory group identified leading community-based organizations and asked them to nominate a Peace Builder from among their outstanding young leaders.  We're pleased to welcome six Peace Builders to the 2014/2015 class.
  • October 2014: The Peace Builders' training kicked off with an October 18/19 retreat at the Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago.  Our team focused on getting acquainted, leadership development, mindfulness and meditation, peace and Gandhi, and restorative justice/peace circles.
  • November 2014 to May 2015: Training and development continued on a host of subjects, including a visit to a domestic violence shelter, a tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum to study genocide, and discussions with police and members of the media.  Peace Builders mastered a number of conflict prevention and resolution techniques. Our team reached their goal of 80 hours of training with a May 23/24 retreat at the Cenacle Retreat Center. For more on the training they received, visit our News page.
  • June 16-27, 2015: The team traveled to Nicaragua accompanied by documentary filmmakers.  The Peace Builders spent time in San Marcos with Los Quinchos, an organization that rescues street children.  They spent several days in the agricultural and peace community of El Lagartillo, living and working with campesinos. They explored how the villagers survived, then recovered from the war between the Nicaraguan government and the Contras that lasted from 1979 to the early 1990s. 
  • July 2015 to November 2015: Giving Back! Using a curriculum they've developed, the Peace Builders are meeting with at least 1000 neighborhood youth to share their experiences and knowledge.  The short Chad Rispalje-produced documentary Hacia Adelante:Moving Forward of their trip to Nicaragua plays an important part in their storytelling.

The Inaugural 2013/2014 Leadership Development Program

Study
The Peace Builders spent the summer and fall of 2013 studying domestic and gender violence, genocide, the press and crime reporting, Buddhism, and the economics of the drug business. They also received training on the use of social media, the impact of violence on the infant brain, and foreign travel.  All training was provided by agencies and individuals who generously volunteered their time and expertise.      

Travel
During the 2013 year-end holidays, five Peace Builders traveled to Thailand and Myanmar to learn about spiritual traditions of nonviolence and to observe a society that maintains a peaceful community and calm streets while contending with ethnic conflict, poverty, lack of opportunity, and social injustice. Filmmakers Chad Rispalje and J'mme Love traveled with the group and documented their experiences.

Giving Back!
Beginning in early May, 2014, our Peace Builders met with over 1000 youth from eight schools and three community organizations. Their 13 minute documentary The Peace Exchange in Southeast Asia is a key component of the outreach meetings our Peace Builders are holding.  Segments on ABC 7 Chicago and Fox 32 News featured the gatherings.