Successful Re-Entry Gazette

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Featured  partner 2019

Ss. Columba-Brigid Teen Center located in the heart of Buffalo, New York is our featured partner this quarter. Working with the City of Buffalo's BURA Community Crime Prevention Initiative, Ss. Columba-Brigid and WNYPRC Inc. worked with over 40 Mayor's Summer Youth Interns and Erie County's Summer Employment Program to provide these young minds with a positive experience. During a set aside time for reflection and learning, workshop instructors, community stakeholders, were dynamic workshop instructors for a Peace Circle. A Peace process is used for holding difficult conversations and for strengthening relationships within a group. This course will provide experience in the Peacemaking Circle process as well as an understanding of the foundational values and key structural elements of the process.

Youth participants reported that they were glad the peace circle process was introduced to them. Participants were given an opportunity to interact with their peers in a way not normally afforded to them. Each person was asked to bring in an item that meant something special to them and explain its significance to the group. From the very emotional reasons, items were chosen, to the very mundane, the highlighter, each youth participant had their reasons for choosing the items we deemed as talking pieces. 

Overall, we had a good time and learned a lot about each other and what it meant to be a part of a community peace circle.