Group of North Lawndale College Prep students undergo training for Peace Warriors initiative
A group of students on the city's West Side took part in a training session on Friday to better promote unity in their communities.
The training? Transformative nonviolence sessions on the approach to combat violence.
The work being done by the young people at North Lawndale College Prep has roots in the civil rights movement.
Each student in the training session has one goal—to bring peace to their community and school.
The school students took part in a nonviolence training session as part of the Kingian Nonviolence Peace Warriors, or Peace Warriors for short.
The training they're receiving is based on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence, which includes the first principle—nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
Nearly 100 students have undergone training and are active Peace Warriors.
Junior Tywon Madison says being armed with peacekeeping knowledge has led him to create positive change in Garfield Park, where he lives, and at the school.
"For me, being six months in, I broke up fights, I stopped arguments. I did a lot peaceful than I did before I became a Peace Warrior," Madison said.
He continues, "For me being young I feel like it's a great opportunity because the fact that I'm young and could change and be a standout to the community I feel like it's outstanding opportunity … to make a difference where I live and where I go to school at and hopefully I can make a difference in the world."
The program started 16 years ago, with 100 fights that year. As of last year, physical violence among students has dropped by 90%.
Gerald Smith is the manager of Peace Warriors.
"My passion for this work around nonviolence really started as a pastor, me, burying a lot of young people, and it got to a point where I said there's got to be a better way," he said.
Data shows that nonviolent training, like Peace Warriors, works.
At the recent event, the work of Peacekeepers in known city hotspots was recognized. Their efforts have led to a double-digit decrease in shootings in more than two dozen communities.
"There is a clear correlation between the work of Peacekeepers and the declines in gun violence at hotspots and their surrounding communities," Northwestern Sociology Professor Andrew Papachristos said.
Peace Warrior Zakyra Roach said her training has taught her something very important about herself.
"That I can speak out more, that what I say matters, 'cause before being a Peace Warrior, I didn't talk out as much. I was a very shy person. So, when I became one I need to get into that leadership role. I need to step up," she said.
By stepping up, Roach says she's creating change for generations to come.
