Sessions 1 & 2 (cont.) Peer Review
A few years ago, Rahmier and his cousin were leaving their grandmother’s house when gang members opened fire on them. Luckily, they were unhurt, but for months afterward Rahmier was afraid to go outside. Violence often creeps into life at school too. One year, there were 100 on-campus fights at North Lawndale. “For a population of 400 students, that’s a lot,” says Tiffany Childress Price, a chemistry teacher at the school who helped found the Peace Warriors in 2009. Solving Arguments With Kindness and Humor The Peace Warriors initially caught Rahmier’s attention because of their distinctive T-shirts, which feature a giant peace sign on the back, and he decided to attend a meeting so he could get one. But after participating in just one meeting, he was hooked. The 25 or so teens and the handful
PROMOTING PEACE Rahmier and his fellow Peace Warriors pose for a group selfie.
of teacher advisers had deep discussions. They asked questions, such as “What was the saddest day of your life?” and “Talk about your experiences with violence—both physical and emotional.” “At first I only felt comfortable
sharing little bits of my life,” Rahmier says. “But when I finally shared how my dad died, it actually made me feel better.” He tried to talk his best friend, Jordan Caples, into joining the group too. “Jordan was really affected by all the violence he saw in the neighbor- hood,” Rahmier remembers. “He thought peace was a lost cause.” The Peace Warriors believe that violence doesn’t have to be met with more violence. “I had never heard this before,” Rahmier says. “My mom told me if somebody hits me, hit them back. But when I became willing to have my mind-set changed, it opened up everything.” The principles that guide the Peace Warriors hold that non- violence is actually more courageous than violence. Students learn that they can resolve conflicts by using humor, by encouraging people to talk things out, or by building a sense of community. “Different Peace Warriors will do different things to break up a fight,” Rahmier says. “For example, one
How YOU Can Help
Don’t Be a Bystander If you see students yelling at each other in the hallways, don’t just stand by and watch. Intervene (if it’s safe to do so) or get a teacher or other trusted adult to help break up the argument. Get Your Friends Involved Let your friends know that you don’t believe in violence—and are committed to stopping it in your community. Encourage them to follow your lead by pledging to fight violence with peace. Talk It Out Don’t let a disagreement with friends turn into a major confrontation. If you’re upset about something they did or said, pull them aside and let them know. Chances are, if you’re calm and respectful, they will be too.
6 Sessions 1 & 2
JS10 031119 p12-15 Facing Danger_4304319.indd 14
2/15/19 2:16 PM
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