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Interviews with Graduates:

One hundred percent of the students interviewed for the evaluation have reportedusing the peer mediation and conflict resolution skills they learned through thePeacemaker initiative.

"I became a conflict resolution mediator with our school programand used the skills learned to break up a fight between two girlsover a guy, showed them how to talk about it rather than screamand argue."

"I haven't gotten into fights or started any trouble sinceparticipation in the program."

"The community organizing portion has helped me a great deal. Ihave since had to create a bulletin for my school and present myideas to the principal. The community organizing panel part ofPeacemakers gave me the knowledge of how best to do it."

"I have had to use the anger management skills when dealing withsome officers in my club, DFYIT ("Defy it" – Drug Free Youth InTown). Also, I have used conflict resolution skills to help solveproblems between my peers. Mr. B (Bob Burley) told me thateveryone has an anger indicator and I realized that I get a pulsingin the back of my neck. So now that I know that, I take a deepbreath and use the anger management, conflict resolution, andpeer mediation skills I learned in the Peacemaker program."

"I have since joined the Golden Peer Mediation Group and havebeen about to use the conflict resolution skills I learned."

"It was a confrontation between two young ladies at school. Iresolved it. I mediated using the peer mediation I learned fromthe Peacemaker workshop."

"Two of my friends were about to fight and I got in between it. Ibroke it up."

"Two of my little brothers were fighting over something stupid. Isat them down and asked why they were fighting. I told them thatthere was no reason to be fighting, that they are brothers and theyshouldn't be fighting."

"Two friends were about to fight. I broke it up and talked to themand they became friends again."

Pilot Sites

Interviews with individuals who were involved in the Peacemaker initiative ineach city were very encouraging. The following is a summary of the phoneinterview results by city:

Pittsburgh

The mother of a Peacemaker graduate told us that the program had a visibleimpact on her son and his friends. She stated that the program "changed hiswhole outlook" on how he relates to other youth.

Indianapolis

The Circle Center mall has already had a second Peacemaker training inNovember. The Indianapolis Housing Authority has committed funding tosupport the continuation of the program in the mall. They are working withthe schools to recruit additional youth for the program. Training will beconducted monthly, and there has already been a second training inNovember 1999. They are planning to have a reception in November 2000 toinvite all of the kids who participated in the trainings throughout the year.The Indianapolis Children's Museum will develop a web site so that kids canaccess Peacemaker info and chat with each other. They are also working tomake a 30 to 60 second spot on the Peacemaker Corps to be presented at theChildren's Museum for additional outreach and youth recruitment. They arenegotiating with a travel club to offer outstanding youth leaders a rewardsuch as a trip to New York.

Baltimore

The Peacemaker curriculum has been incorporated into a local healtheducation class. A local teacher (who was also a facilitator for the program),is working to get classroom space to continue the Peacemaker program in herschool. All of the students we spoke to from Baltimore reported that theyhave used their Peacemaker skills to prevent fights in school.

Youngstown

Students reported that they have used their Peacemaker training to break upfights in school and to avoid fighting with siblings and friends. They are veryinterested in advanced Peacemaker training.

Dallas

Two youth that we spoke to have joined the City Youth Council (in Irving),and stated that the program has saved them from getting into trouble atschool. One youth has joined the school Youth Crime Commission, and hasput together bulletins and presentations using her skills from the communityorganizing portion of the Peacemaker initiative. The mall plans to implementadditional training in early 2000.

Denver

The student that we spoke with has joined the Golden (CO) peer mediationgroup. The mall is talking with the high schools and other organizationsabout continuing the program.

Atlanta

The Atlanta Housing Authority would like to incorporate the Peacemakertraining into their 2000 youth leadership conference. One youth isincorporating the Peacemaker curriculum into her volunteer work at theBoys and Girls Club. The mall is getting an educational resource center, andwould like to continue the Peacemaker training in cooperation with the ERC.

Independence

Mall does not have space to continue the program. The local housingauthority has mostly elderly and very young children who are too young forthe program. Students were brought in from Kansas City to participate in theprogram, and reported that they enjoyed the program and have used theirPeacemaker skills to prevent and mediate fights at school.

Miami

Students that we spoke with have all used their Peacemaking skills in schooland at home. One youth has joined the local Youth Crime Watch and is thePresident of DFYIT ("Defy it") – Drug Free Youth In Town, an organization toreduce drug use among youth. She stated that she regularly uses the angermanagement skills she learned in the Peacemaker program to calm herselfand to quickly identify when she is losing her temper.

Indianapolis

After seeing the successful completion of the initial launch and realizing theneed in the community, Circle Centre Mall in Indianapolis, Indiana made thedecision to continue the Peacemaker Program. Since then, this program hastouched the lives of hundreds of young people and their families.Additional Quotes:

The Peacemaker Corps program strives to teach youth valuableconflict resolution, diversity awareness and mediation skills that areessential in an increasingly violent society where the majority of theyouth we train come from broken or deeply troubled homes. Not onlydo these skills affect the youth positively, but the renewed self esteem,sense of purpose and heartfelt appreciation for efforts taken on theirbehalf, such as an elaborate graduation ceremony, impact their livesas they progress toward adulthood. By reaching youth ages 12 ‐ 17and tasking them with creating an action plan for change in theircommunity, the Peacemaker Corps message spreads though schools,youth organizations and ultimately Indianapolis."

"When I'm out with my friends and an argument comes up, someoneusually blurts out ‘focus on the problem!' which is a skill in knowing howto deal with a negative situation that we learned at the Peacemaker Corpstraining.

"It is easy to see that the Peacemaker Corps is reaching these kids, whenthey walk right past the shops in the mall. They don't want to miss even asingle second of the program because they are riveted with what they arelearning. We are proud to be the backdrop for such a great experience inthese young adults' lives."

"The Peacemaker Corps gives tools and resources to the adults whoknow what the problems in their community are and inspires them, aswell as the kids, to encourage others to focus on those problems. And byhonoring them with a Peacemaker graduation certificate proving they area qualified facilitator, it gives the trainers not just a skill to include ontheir resume but also validates their ability to cultivate a movementtoward peace and harmony in their own community."