PeaceJam
Windham World Affairs Council Youth Outreach
PeaceJam is a US-based global youth organization led by Nobel Peace laureates. It was founded by musical artist Ivan Suvanjieff and his wife, the economist Dawn Engle in 1993. Their vision was for PeaceJam to serve as an educational outreach program on behalf of Nobel laureates to mentor students of all ages in peace literacy. It is Brattleboro’s good fortune to have our own “homegrown” laureate. Jody Williams, a graduate of BUHS, lived in Putney, Vt. in 1997 when she won the prize for her work in the launching of an international campaign against landmines. By 1997, thanks to her strength and organizational talent, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) had 1,000 organizations from 60 countries on its list of members.
On May 17, the Windham World Affairs Council brought Jody Williams to address Brattleboro Union High School Students. (See Reformer article here) With support from a new ‘PeaceJam Task Force’ at WWAC, Williams, a member of the Windham World Affairs Council, launched a PeaceJam ‘Ambassadors Program’ at BUHS.
Scroll down to learn more about our PeaceJam chapter. We could use your support. For more information or to become involved, please contact windhamworldaffairscouncil@gmail.com. Join us in supporting the students of PeaceJam at Brattleboro Union High School.
The “Peace Through Creativity” event will be held at 118 Elliot, 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 on Saturday, March 1, from 3 to 6 pm. Paint, papers, brushes and other art-making materials will be provided. People interested in group musical improvisation should bring their own instruments. Improvised music-making and movement from BUHS students and community members will provide the soundtrack for (quiet?) visual art-making.
PeaceJam Co-President Isabella May, said “In thinking about what kinds of things PeaceJam could do for our community, my peers and I did some brainstorming. We decided that during a time of confusion in the world, in addition to the cold and isolation of winter, we needed to come together as a community to show-up for each other with love and artistic expression. That’s what this ‘Peace Through Creativity’ event is all about.”
May and her peers say promoting peace through PeaceJam shouldn’t be confined only to BUHS. They believe peace is something essential to find in our community and within ourselves. “Creativity is a powerful medium for connecting people and expression, and I hope that through this event people can find warmth and joy by creating with those around them,” May said.
To support this event make a donation here or send a check to Windahm World Affairs Council, PO Box 1105, Brattleboro, VT. 05302
Contact Susan Healy at windhamworldaffairscouncil@gmail.org if you would like to donate art supplies.
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