Peacemaker Academy

What is Peacemaker Academy?

Peacemaker Academy is our intensive nonviolent leadership formation experience for high school students. What begins as a three-week summer immersion becomes a year-long commitment to shaping school culture from within.

Rooted in the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Kingian nonviolence, students are equipped not simply to avoid violence — but to analyze its root causes, mediate conflict, and lead meaningful change in their schools and community.

What do students learn?

During the Academy and throughout the school year, students develop the mindset and skills to lead change, including:

• The principles and steps of Kingian nonviolence

• How to identify root causes and systems that produce violence

• Conflict de-escalation and peer mediation strategies

• How to organize and lead peaceful campaigns

• Practices that cultivate internal resilience and emotional regulation

Students engage real issues affecting their schools and community — learning how to apply nonviolence not as theory, but as daily practice.

Measurable Growth

Peacemaker Academy measures student growth through a pre/post evaluation administered at the start of the Academy and again approximately six months later during the school year. The 2025 results demonstrate sustained, identity-level development in student leadership, conflict resolution capacity, and ethical awareness.

Six months after participation, students demonstrated:

• A shift from passive to active nonviolence — moving beyond “not fighting” to intentionally creating justice and inclusion

• Increased confidence mediating peer conflict and addressing root causes rather than surface disagreements

• Greater empathy and dignity-centered accountability — holding others responsible without dehumanization

• A strengthened sense of moral purpose and responsibility for shaping school culture

Most notably, 100% of participants reported increased leadership capacity and engagement in navigating conflict and helping to create a safer school.

This is not short-term behavior modification.

It is sustained formation — shaping young leaders prepared to build beloved community.

  • “Nonviolence isn’t just not fighting. It’s protecting your peace and helping others find peace.”

    — Su, Northrop High School

  • “Through this program, I explored the root causes of injustice and learned how choosing peace over destruction builds a stronger world.”

    — My’lonni, South Side High School

  • “Before the Academy, I assumed people were angry for no reason. Then I learned anger doesn’t come from nowhere.”

    —Jonatan, Snider High School

  • “The best part of the Academy was being vulnerable with people that I didn’t really know, and not feeling judged. It was a safe place.”

    — Arayha, Wayne High School

  • “The best part was learning how to communicate, by not immediately assuming and learning how to stay calm and be more open with people.”

    — Latrice, South Side High School

  • “I loved learning about Beloved Community and learning that when you become friends with people who are different than you, you have a great opportunity to learn from each other.”

    — Trec, South Side High School

  • "The Peacemaker Academy opened my eyes to the struggles others face, both internally and externally, and has made me more of an open-minded individual."

    — Raydin, North Side High School

Peacemaker Academy 2025 Graduates

A large group of diverse young people and adults gathered together in a gymnasium or auditorium, posing for a group photo. Many are smiling and making peace signs or gestures, with some seated in chairs and others standing behind them in front of a stage with a red curtain.

Peacemaker Academy 2024 Graduates

Group of diverse young students wearing black Peacemaker Academy t-shirts, posing indoors with peace signs and smiling, with a 'Bruins Northrop' bear logo sticker overlay.
Logo with a large green letter P in the center, encircled by the words 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' in black, with two small green leaf-like shapes on either side of the P.
Group of diverse teenagers and young adults standing together indoors, some wearing black PEACEMAKER ACADEMY t-shirts, smiling and making peace signs, with a PEACEMAKER ACADEMY sign and a North Side High School LEGENDS emblem in the background.
Group of diverse young people posing together indoors, most wearing black T-shirts with a 'Peace Maker Academy' logo, some making peace signs. A sign on the left displays the same logo. The group appears happy and friendly.
A group of diverse high school students standing together in front of a wall, posing for a photo at Wayne High School. Some students are making peace signs and smiling, wearing black Peace Maker Academy shirts, with one student holding a large smiley
Group of diverse young students wearing black T-shirts with 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' logo, standing in a hallway beside a sign that reads 'FOLD PATH OF FORGIVENESS,' with a large green and black 'PEACEMAKER' mascot graphic in front.

Peacemaker Academy 2023 Graduates

  • Young girl with braces smiling next to a sign for Peacemaker Academy, wearing a black Peacemaker Academy T-shirt, standing against a beige wall.

    Clairanna Council, Soph., South Side

  • A person with shoulder-length brown hair and freckles smiling and standing next to a sign that reads "PEACEMAKER ACADEMY" with a large green letter "P" in the center.

    Anna Deck, Soph., South Side

  • A young man with curly black hair and a slight smile, wearing a black T-shirt with a logo, standing next to a vertical signboard that has the words PEACEMAKER ACADEMY and a large green letter P.

    Sebastian de Lira, Senior, South Side

  • A person standing next to a sign for PeaceMaker Academy, with the person wearing a black shirt with the academy's logo and smiling.

    Ania Garcia, Junior, South Side

  • A young man with dark curly hair and glasses standing next to a sign with the Peacemake R Academy logo, wearing a black jacket and a name tag that says Andy.

    Andy Garrido, Junior, South Side

  • A woman wearing a black hijab and black top standing next to a whiteboard with the words "PEACEMAKER" and "ACADEMY" in black text and a large light green letter "P" in the center.

    Wigdan Geddio, Soph., Northrop

  • Young woman smiling, wearing a black t-shirt with a logo, standing next to a sign that says 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' with a green and white design.

    Naima Esters, Junior, South Side

  • A woman with braided hair smiling next to a sign that reads 'PEACE MAKER P' with smaller text around it, and she is wearing a black shirt with similar branding.

    Serenity Langhorne, Soph. South Side

  • A young girl with long brown hair wearing a black shirt, standing next to a sign with a green logo and black text on a white background.

    Samantha Morris, Senior, Northrop

  • A woman with curly hair smiling and standing next to a sign displaying the words 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' with a large green letter P.

    Amiah Oatts, Senior, Northrop

  • A woman with glasses and braids smiling, standing next to a sign for PeaceMaker Academy. She is wearing a black T-shirt with the academy's logo and a red name tag that reads "Samara."

    Samara Paige, Junior, North Side

  • A young man with curly hair smiling, wearing a black shirt with a logo, standing next to a sign that reads "PEACEMAKER PROCUREMENT ACADEMY."

    Mekhi Pinkston, Soph., South Side

  • A young man with dark skin and curly hair standing next to a sign with a green and white logo that reads "PEACE MAKER ACADEMY." He is wearing a black t-shirt and a white and black hoodie. He has a neutral expression and is slightly tilting his head to his right.

    Timothy Poindexter, Soph., South Side

  • A young girl with dark hair in a ponytail, wearing a black T-shirt with a logo, standing next to a sign that reads 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' with a large green letter 'P' in the center.

    Paw Say, Soph., South Side

  • A woman with glasses and a white headwrap standing next to a sign that reads 'Peacemakeer Academy' with a green and white logo.

    Abrar Sayara, Senior, Northrop

  • A young woman with long light brown hair smiling next to a sign on a stand that reads 'PEACEMAKER ACADEMY' with a large green letter P in the center.

    Olivia VonGunten, Senior, Blackhawk Christian

Peacemaker Academy 2022 Graduates

  • A young woman with glasses and earrings smiling, standing next to a sign that reads "PEACE MAKE ACADEMY" in a black, green, and white design.

    Jada Beal, Grade 12

  • Young woman with long brown hair, smiling, wearing a black tank top, standing next to a sign with the logo of Peer Education Program.

    Callah Council, Grade 11

  • A young person with glasses and headphones around their neck, wearing a black Nike shirt, standing next to a sign that reads "PEACE MAKER ACADEMY" with a large green letter "P" in the middle.

    Jeremiah Gibson, Grade 10

  • Young man wearing a gray hoodie standing in front of a sign with black and green text.

    Jalen Goncalves, Grade 11

  • A young man wearing a white hoodie with the word "Champion" on it, standing against a black background and smiling slightly. Part of a sign with large text reading "PEACEMAKER ACADEMY" and a large green question mark is visible to his right.

    Jaylen Logan, Grade 11

  • Young person with short natural hair making a peace sign with both hands, wearing a black Dragon Ball Z T-shirt and multiple colorful bracelets, standing near a sign with text and a green icon.

    Jabari Mosley, Grade 10

  • A young woman with glasses and dark hair pulled back, smiling in front of a black wall and a sign with green and black text.

    Joana Rodriguez, Grade 11

  • Young girl with dark hair and acne smiling, wearing a graphic t-shirt with a colorful design, standing next to a sign that has the word 'PEACE' and is partly obscured.

    Pawpalae Say, Grade 10

  • A young woman with dark curly hair and a top knot, smiling, standing in front of a sign that reads "PEACEMAKER PREPARATORY." She is wearing a black hoodie with green and white graphics and text that reads "South Side Gymnastics."

    Jayda Waters, Grade 12

  • A young man with curly hair and glasses smiling, wearing a white "Champion" t-shirt, standing next to a sign with the words "PEACEMAKER PROGRAM ACADEMY" and a green speech bubble with the letter 'P'.

    Desmond Wheeler, Grade 11

  • A woman with red hair and glasses smiling, wearing a white dress with blue floral and butterfly patterns, sitting in front of a glass display case with snack items behind her.

    Raelynda Zamora, Grade 10

Peacemaker Academy 2021 Graduates

  • Close-up of a young woman smiling, with long brown hair, standing in front of a wall with a large logo that includes an outline of a head and the words "LIFE" and "PINK." She is wearing a black shirt or hoodie.

    Jimena Arenivar, Grade 12

  • Smiling young woman with natural hair standing in front of a black and orange sign that reads 'life' and 'city'.

    Sequoyah Huguley, Grade 12

  • A young man with short dark curly hair taking a selfie in front of a black background with a circular logo that reads "CITY OF DREAMS". He is wearing a white T-shirt with words related to unity, strength, and Black Lives Matter written on it.

    Ashton Johnson, Grade 12

  • Young man with short curly hair and earbuds, wearing a black Nike shirt with green text, standing in front of a wall with a large logo that reads 'City Life' and has orange, white, and gray graphic elements.

    Jaylen Lattimore, Grade 12

  • A young person with short curly hair, wearing a white t-shirt and carrying a green backpack, standing in front of a wall with a large logo that reads 'City Life' in white text, with parts of a circular design and other decorative elements in orange and black.

    Jarrell Mccloud, Grade 10

  • Smiling woman with curly dark hair wearing a blue zip-up jacket, standing in front of a wall with a city life logo.

    Jashauna Mccloud, Grade 10

  • A young woman with light skin and red hair styled in a messy bun standing in front of a black wall with orange and white graphics. She is wearing a white sweatshirt with black text that reads 'twenty', layered necklaces, and has a septum piercing.

    Caroline Sharoyer, Grade 12

  • Young girl with curly brown hair smiling, wearing a Led Zeppelin band t-shirt and a dark jacket, standing in front of a black wall with a logo that reads "City Life" in orange and white.

    Olivia Soto, Grade 10

  • A young man with dreadlocks smiling in front of a Guess logo on a black shirt, with a Gus logo embroidered on it.

    Davion Stokes, Grade 11

  • A person with glasses and dreadlocks stands in front of a backdrop featuring the hashtag '#MoreThanAHashtag' and a logo for 'The City Life'.

    Dazhon Ware, Grade 11

  • A smiling young woman with blond hair and a shell necklace stands in front of a wall with a graphic design featuring an orange and black gear and the words 'LIFE' and 'YOUTH'.

    Janiah Yoder, Grade 10

  • A young girl with light brown hair tied back, smiling with braces, wearing a tie-dye blue and white shirt with a graphic of green broccoli on it, standing in front of a wall with a large circular sign that has a partly visible word 'LIFE' and some graphics.

    Sonia Yoder, Grade 10