Pathways to Peace

Pathways to Peace aims to recognize and activate the potential of students to be peacemakers and positively impact the climate of classrooms. The lessons and activities will give participants the opportunity to practice and commit to the seven Principles of Peace: love, unity, faith, hope, courage, justice, and forgiveness. Pathways to Peace was designed to center students who have been deeply affected by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. 

Peace education is a social literacy and primary violence prevention strategy. Many prevention efforts have the effect of demonizing individuals and neighborhoods as bad, violent, and dangerous. These lesson plans come from a strictly asset-based approach to peacemaking and encourages students to recognize that their communities are rich with loving families, survival strategies, healing capacity, and the possibility of peace. We want to emphasize starting peace rather than stopping violence; these lesson plans are focused on healing and transforming rather than “fixing” or “saving.” Peace education programs like Pathways to Peace have been proven to increase resilience, reinforce positive behaviors, promote social responsibility, and deepen relationships between participants to prevent future violence.

Pathways to Peace is a vehicle to make schools safer learning environments by creating space for educators and students to acknowledge the pain of grief and loss, build skills for peaceful living, and reinforce the belief that peace is possible. The Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace is an opportunity for schools and community organizations to practice community service learning and be in solidarity with others praciting the same skills and principles.

The Peace Institute has over twenty years of experience developing and delivering peace education. The PI has worked with UMass Boston and the Harvard School of Public  Health to create and evaluate extensive curriculum and teacher’s guides for every grade level.  This curriculum and further technical assistance from the PI can be made available those schools interested in extending their commitment to peace education.

 

Please contact Rachel@ldbpeaceinstitute.org for more information.

Survivor of Homicide Victim’s Rights ​

When your loved one is murdered, you are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral and burial, all of which must be made within a matter of days, and under great emotional stress. Within the first few hours and days you will also have dozens of service providers and systems to navigate. You may be wondering where to even begin. At a time when you can barely function, there is suddenly so much to do.

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Peace Play in Urban Settings

A healing technique where individuals and families are invited to reflect on and express our own struggles and strengths without using words.  

Through the use of miniature figures that represent the different parts of  our lives, scenes are created that help us put words to feelings and experiences.

1. Select one, two or three miniatures that are calling you.

2. Place each miniature in the community tray.

3. Sit with the tray and observe the community from different angles.

4. Notice what tools, skills, and assetts you bring to the community. 

5. Take pictures of your community and journal.

6. You are invited to share your thoughts and photos with us. 

To schedule a session or for more information contact wayne@ldbpeaceinstitute.org. 

Peace-ing It Together

This program is designed for white allies living in Boston and the suburbs who are dedicated to seeking peace through ending racism in their own families and communities. The material is best suited for ages 16 and up.

The workshop series will present a framework to understand violence as an outcome of structural racism, and racism as inherently violent. We will address the pattern of “fixing and saving” others and shift toward the internal and collective work we need to do to confront racist and create a culture of peace.

Facilitated by Peace Institute and VISIONS Inc. staff

October 11 5:30-8:00pm 
October 13 9:00a-4:00pm 
October 14 9:00a-1:00pm

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
15 Christopher Street
Dorchester MA 02124

$300 fee for participants.

Participants must be able to attend all three sessions. Meals and materials provided. 

The Fall 2017 Peaceing It Together is currently at capacity. Please email mallory@ldbpeaceinstitute.org if you would like to be added to the wait list or be contacted about future sessions

TTAC Training

TTAC provides training, tools, and technical assistance to public health professionals and institutional stakeholders who serve families impacted by murder so that they can implement effective and equitable homicide response protocols.

TTAC equips providers to adopt the best practices in the field using our survivor-centered, trauma-informed methodology.

TTAC emerged out of the Peace Institute’s twenty years of experience serving families impacted by murder. 

The Peace Institute has established itself as the leading community-based homicide response agency in the state of Massachusetts. We are recognized by the City of Boston as a key partner. We’re funded by the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance (MOVA), the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the Boston Police Department, and a line item in the state budget to provide emotional and practical support for families in the first 24-72 hours after a homicide happens and ongoing advocacy.

The Peace Institute offers the following services to community-based organizations, providers, city and state agencies, and other public health officials and institutional stakeholders:

  • Training on every aspect of coordinated, consistent, and compassionate homicide response in the immediate aftermath of a homicide as well over the long-term;
  •  Technical assistance on creating equitable and effective homicide response protocols, inter-agency collaboration, establishing and maintaining survivors and provider networks, working with Victim compensation locally and nationally, and cultural competence to respond to the diverse survivor population;
  • Evaluation of current practices and protocols with recommendations to improve;
  • Tools for to guide providers or give to families of homicide victims to aid the healing process.

Contact info@ldbpeaceinstitute.org for more information.

Survivors Outreach Services

Survivors Outreach Services (SOS) offers families emotional and practical support 24-72 hours after a homicide. Our services are free and confidential and are meant to supplement information or services provided by a funeral home, place of worship, victims advocate, trauma response team, mental health providers, bereavement counselors or anyone else that offers support.

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Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month (SHVAM) Inform, Influence, Impact Policy

Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month (November 20-December 20) is a month-long effort to educate the public and policymakers about the impact of murder on families and communities and recognize the diverse contributions of the survivor’s movement.

Get Involved

  1. If you are hosting an event for Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month and would like it to be listed on our calendar, please fill out this form or email calendar@ldbpeaceinstitute.org.
     
  2. Attend one or more events taking place during SHVAM
     Monday, November 19
    Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month Opening Ceremony
    State House Grand Staircase
    24 Beacon Street, Boston
    10:00am-12:00pm
    RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/ya5zngkv Monday, November 19
    Mass General Hospital Grand Opening Ceremony 
    10am
    Contact: khaskins@mgh.harvard.edu Wednesday, November 28  10:00 a.m-12:00 p.m
    Memorial Tree and Listening Session 
    2201 Washington St, Unit 3, Roxbury, 20119 
    Hosted at Mothers for Justice and Equality.
    Registration  closes on Wednesday, November 21. Please call 617-516-8086 to Register. Wednesday, November 28  at 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm
    Her Too Broadcast on Boston Herald Radio. 
    Segments: Unsolved Murders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and The Black Church.  Serious dialogues, special live guest Rachael Rollins and Others. For more information go to Her Too Facebook.Friday, November 30

Through Partnership by Kamal Oliver

I was right there as the mural was being painted. It was exciting to watch this powerful idea be brought into fruition. As I stood there, watching each volunteer stroke their paintbrushes, I was reminded of the symbolism of a tree and the different interpretations it can take on. Ones like growing and venturing out into unfamiliar spaces, to bodily and spiritual nourishment, or even change and deliverance from the stagnation of one’s comfort zone.

In this particular moment, that tree represented life to me and all that comes with it. The growth pains and uncertainties of an unknown future, yet the joys of new knowledge and the wisdom that comes along with a lived experience.

I was in awe as the Seven Principles of Peace were painted on one by one.  The words Love, Unity, Faith, Hope, Courage, Justice, and Forgiveness wrapped around the bark similar to a tourniquet, erecting the tree and keeping it stable, like a cast on the arm of a healing limb. The Principle of  Love representing the strength in vulnerability through deep care and affection. Unity representing a united fold, coming together to make an immovable whole. Faith signifying the trust that is built on the ability and integrity of our partners. Hope representing the desire we possess to increase respect and compassion for all people, especially those suffering from the ills of murder, trauma, grief, & loss. Next, Courage, representing the bravery it takes for us to step out into any frightening situation. Justice embodying the fairness and equality that we’re all fighting for. And lastly, Forgiveness representing a deeper understanding of ourselves and the opposition we may face in order to achieve true peace.

And as I sit in front of that mural daily, I am constantly reminded of the Peace this tree symbolizes. Not solely Peace but the power of partnership and service. By virtue of the Martin Richard Foundation and their selfless volunteers, this powerful piece of art was created. This past May, they helped transform our kitchen space with a new mural and added a splash of color to the front of our building with purple window boxes and beautiful petunias. In turn, furthering our vision of creating a space of healing that is no one’s turf.

In our 25 years of doing this work, we have learned that healing takes place through collaboration. And it is through our various partnerships that we have been able and continue to transform society’s response to homicide. So with much gratitude, we say thank you to the Martin Richard Foundation and the many organizations and individuals who continue to support us through this work of healing in our community.