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History

Conceived in February 1997, Peace Learning Center (PLC)  demonstrates what can be accomplished through community collaboration . . . 

genesis of the program 

After presenting short conflict resolution sessions in the Indianapolis Public Schools in honor of Martin Luther King Day in January 1997, an overwhelming response from teachers, administrators and students illustrated a true need for more conflict resolution programming within the IPS school system. Staff members of IndyCorps, an AmeriCorps program sponsored by the Marion County Family Advocacy Center, decided to create a program that would take IPS students out of their school environment to spend a full day learning conflict resolution and peaceful living skills in a natural setting. IndyParks helped to locate a building in Eagle Creek Park for this innovative program. A former Indian museum and program center, the building had been vacant for a number of years and needed major repairs. In exchange for renovation expenses, IndyParks and the Eagle Creek Park Citizens Advisory Committee wrote a two-year lease agreement to establish the PLC within the park. 

designing the program 

Next, PLC staff recruited and convened an Advisory Committee to design programming and oversee operations. The committee represented a wide variety of community members including IPS administrators, teachers, mediation specialists, IPS students, college professors, and attorneys. The group decided to target 4th graders because they are old enough to understand the concepts yet are still in their formative years. The fourth grade curriculum focused on the philosophy of peace, verbal and listening skills, non-violent safe escape, and an interactive theater component to reinforce the concepts.

Through a grant from AmeriCorps, three staff, six AmeriCorps Members, and three actors from the ACT Out Ensemble were recruited and trained to implement the full-day program. Through the work of IPS Alternative Education Programs, funds were made available to transport each IPS 4th grade class to the center and to provide each student with a box lunch.

continuing the story

On October 3, 1997, the first bus full of 4th graders arrived at the PLC for programming. Since that date, PLC programs continue to grow, reaching out to over 15,000 students through schools, a Peace Camp for all IPS 6th graders, and community partners. Undoubtedly, the ability to conceive, design, and implement such a large endeavor in an eight-month period demonstrates what can be done in Indianapolis when community partners collaborate in the best interest of children.

Today, PLC has a large Full-Time staff, Board of Directors, and many AmeriCorps Members working at the center and throughout sites in Indianapolis and Central Indiana.

Results

• Provide intensive Peace Education programming to 6,000 4th and 5th grade students every year  
• 84% of 4th grade students recall the steps of how to work out conflicts peacefully and 83% know how to deliver an I-Message as a way to communicate feelings respectfully  
• Provide fall and spring Peace Camps for 2,500 6th grade participants every year  
• Teach conflict resolution skills to over 1,000 young people during yearly summer peace education initiatives  
• Establish and support sixteen school-wide Heading Toward Harmony peace initiatives every year  
• Reduce the suspension rates in Heading Toward Harmony schools an average of 68%  
• Empower 600 students every year to better manage conflicts as trained peer mediators  
• Affect the lives of 60 students every year by pairing them with a caring adult mentor