Girls Lead on the Go!, (GLG) now in its second year as a Peacemaker Resources program offering, is a one-day, community-based leadership experience for 7th-9th grade girls with the mission to empower and equip young women to have positive relationships with self, others, and community.
 
Girls Lead on the Go! is an innovative youth leadership program that also seeks to build capacity within the community through connecting the young participants with local community service organizations. The community-driven and community-based model serves as an opportunity to build and strengthen intergenerational relationships while also increasing a sense of connection and belonging at an age in a young woman's life when it is often needed the most.
 
Interested community organizations send two or more adults to a Facilitators Training in which the volunteers learn, through experiential learning, to promote and lead the day-long Girls Lead on the Go! camp in their home communities.  

Ten volunteers from the Women of Today Chapters in Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Greenbush and Warroad attended the GLG Facilitator's Training held March 18th in Roseau. Four volunteers from Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe's Youth Division and two from the Naytahwaush Charter School in White Earth will complete the training on April 1st in Bemidji.  To learn more about how to bring Girls Lead on the Go! to your community, contact Linsey@peacemakerresources.org   

Roseau Facilitator Training:

Good Morning, Kindergartners. Today is going to be a great day!  Let’s prepare our brains for learning by taking three deep breaths together.”  If you were to visit Paul Bunyan Elementary School, this is what you would hear over the morning announcements. With guidance from Peacemaker Resources and funding from the United Way, the students and teachers at this kindergarten center have created a model Trauma-Sensitive School, which is receiving recognition from around the state.  
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Peacemaker Resources is committed to helping schools to create social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that build the skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. In addition to working with students, PR staff also train teachers on the effects of trauma on the brain. As a result of this project, the kindergarten center reports that behavioral referrals to the office have been cut in half.  If you ask the teachers why this is happening, they will tell you that students are learning how to self-regulate and work with their emotions. “I can't express enough the positive impact the SEL instructor and lessons have brought to our school.  Because of the impact of SEL instruction and our trauma sensitivity information and guidance, I believe we are making a difference in the lives of young children and possibly their families and dare I hope, also for our community,” shares Principal Kathy Van Wert.  Peacemakers Resources and 240 kindergartners thank the United Way for helping to create a peaceful school environment!

More and more people are looking for ways to support those who may be experiencing some kind of harassing behavior.  People want to learn how to speak with empathy and authenticity.  They want to know what they can do to make a difference.  Take a look at this video, and check out our Resource page for more information and ideas.

Did you know our website has a number of resources related to ACEs (Adverse Childhood Events), Social & Emotional Learning, Cultural Responsiveness, and Mindfulness?  From a video narrated by children about how breathing calms their brains and bodies to information about "The Still, Quiet Place," a local retreat cabin - there are many resources to explore!  Take a look...click on "Other Resources" at the top of the page.