Spotlight on Mission
PEACE LEARNING CENTER
Members of the Mission Committee make personal visits to the local agencies and organizations that receive financial support from Immanuel Church's mission budget. This is the second in a series of articles resulting from those visits. Connie Cohan and Jean Dow spoke with leaders at the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee and visited their space at the Friends Meetinghouse in the Riverwest neighborhood. Ms. Cohan contributed this article.
Although Milwaukee has seen a reduction in overall violent crimes in the past several years, the city has seen an increase in school violence. Threats or injuries to children sustained in fist fights or fights involving small weapons are on the rise, and even teachers have experienced an increase in physical assaults. Since 2001, the Peace Learning Center of Milwaukee (PLC) has offered its Peacemakers’ Workshop to fourth and fifth grade Milwaukee Public School students and their teachers. Since its inception, over 3000 students from 20 area schools have participated in the program. The Peacemakers’ Workshops are held at the Friends Meetinghouse, located on the west bank of the Milwaukee River. The mission of the Peace Learning Center is to be a catalyst in the community for non-violent conflict management and respect for self, others and the environment.
The students, teachers, and chaperones participate in a five hour workshop that actively engages them in activities focused on developing non-violent conflict management skills. These activities include cooperative games, relaxation techniques, safe ways to de-escalate confrontation, Peace Mentor study, role play, and outdoor environmental education. In-class visits by facilitators three weeks after the workshop, as well as follow-up with teachers, reinforce the skills and strategies learned and inspire continued practice in the classroom and beyond. Here are some impressive statistics: 92% of students who attended the Peacemakers’ Workshop said they had learned tools and strategies that they would really use at school or at home; 65% of teachers agreed that their students were more considerate of each others’ feelings since attending the Workshop; 66% of teachers believed that they handled student conflicts differently since participating in the Workshops with their students.
One student commented, “I will never forget the day I went to the Peace Learning Center. I learned that you can solve problems without using violence and you won’t be mad if you take a peace breath.” Another said, “I learned you can solve problems a better way by doing it peacefully not with fighting and using violence.” Still another noted, “I learned that instead of fighting, you can walk away or talk out the problems. You shouldn’t solve your problems with violence.”
Immanuel Presbyterian Church made a $1,000 contribution to the Peace Learning Center in 2007 from its mission budget. Volunteers are always needed to assist with things like compiling materials for the workshops, help with fund raising, and work on various committees. If you are interested in helping in any way, or in observing a workshop at the PLC, please contact Nancy Theoharis at 414-352-2015 or Kim Apfelbach at 414-350-4721.
The "Spotlight on Mission" is a monthly column that appears in Immanuel's newsletter "The Tower Chimes." The "Spotlight on Mission"highlights Immanuel's efforts to reach out in the community and the world through hands-on mission work and giving.
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