Creative Peace Initiatives (CPI)

CPI’s Last Meeting of the 2007-2008 School Year Will Be Held on Monday, April 28, 2008, 6-8pm off campus. We’ll be introducing a new intuitive to share our creative passions with each other as well as discuss summer projects and fall implementation of the new Peace Workshops in area high schools.
Please email cpi@american.edu to get directions and to let us know you’re coming!

ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME!

News

Spring 2008:
This spring we have been planting seeds for next semester's initiatives, focusing on peacebuilding through education and arts.  Next fall, we will launch Creative Peace Workshops in local high school classrooms, featuring interactive, engaging curriculum on issues of peace and conflict resolution.  IPCR masters students have developed a two-session curriculum for high school students exploring the dangers of dehumanization, and are conducting a needs assessment in area schools to determine additional curriculum themes.  Also, CPI will explore the connections of arts and peace through sharing and performance events.  We are looking for anyone interested in education, arts, and peace to become workshop facilitators or get involved in other ways. 

Spring 2007:
Thanks to all those who participated in the contest and especially to National Geographic, Politics and Prose and Penn Camera for donating prizes!

The Peace through the Arts Workshop got a fantastic and diverse turnout! Students from more than 10 area high schools came together to learn about peace and conflict resolution through artistic means. The participants created protest puppetry, human rights bathroom art, slam poetry and spoken word art and engaged in learning about Theatre of the Oppressed!

Creative Peacemaking: A Workshop for Youth! Was a huge success! See photos below of our participants in Action!

Fall 2006:
Creative Peace Initiatives was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Eagle Endowment Grant for the advancement of human and civil rights through public and community service.

Co-Sponsored Events:

SPCR's INNOVATIONS IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE:
CPI lent its full support to the Society for Peace and Conflict Resolution and its spring conference dedicated to bringing student activists from across the DC metro area together! For more information on SPCR please visit
Dialogue Development Group: Co-sponsorship of the Diversity Group's dialogue sessions, trying to build sustained dialogue on pertinent topics in the University community

Peace and Empowerment Project: Co-sponsorship of the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project
Guantanamo Bay Teach In: Co-sponsorship of a discussion and panel at the Washington College of Law regarding the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo

Jerusalem Women Speak: 4 women from Jerusalem from different communities and different religions come together to talk about their experiences

IPCR Student Forum: Open forum for IPCR students to voice their concerns about courses and streams within their division

Who We Are:
CPI is an established student organization at American University whose goal is to promote peace education and creative peacebuilding and address issues involving youth and conflict.  CPI creates opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area for these initiatives through our four programmatic pillars:  (1) the Domestic Education and Service Program, (2) Trainings, Conferences and Speakers, (3) International Peace Outreach, and (4) Internships, Networking and Research.

Mission:
To coordinate and support peace education and creative peacebuilding programs domestically, internationally, academically, and practically in order to enhance the American University’s mission of service.

Vision:
To reach youth and educators in creative and meaningful ways in order to empower them to be peacemakers in their communities.

CPI Officers:

Sarah Beller, Co-President

Nina Talley-Kalokoh, Co-President

Juliet Mohnkern, Vice President

Dave Werner, Treasurer
                            
Contact us at cpi@american.edu

CPI is always looking for energetic and creative students or community members to join us in our activities and to explore creative peace building interests. If you have ideas on how we can assist you and/or your organization please email us!

Creative Peacemaking Workshop students and facilitators!

Participants work with peace activist artist Tom Block on the Bathroom Project



Students engage with facilitator Micael Bogar in the Theatre of the Oppressed workshop.


Lunchtime performance by Kenny Endo


Participant shares his poetry at the afternoon performance!



The Bathroom Painting Project!