What Have We Been Up To?!

What Have We Been Up To?!

Fall is always a busy time for Peacemaker Resources and this year was no exception!

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Classes 
By the end of this school year, we will have taught classes to students in 126 classrooms in 15 schools in the region. The Peacemakers lessons not only cover important skills for the kindergarten through 8th grade students but serve as job-embedded professional development for teachers who may be less comfortable teaching SEL skills than academic concepts. Teachers, students and administrators have expressed appreciation for the lessons and there are early indications that it has made a positive difference on school culture and student behaviors.

Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect (STAR)
123 sixth and seventh graders participated in this year’s STAR Camps. In a 2-day Camp, students learn several different social emotional learning concepts as well as strategies for teaching these skills to others.  The STAR teams return to their schools and offer this training to their peers and younger students, teaching lessons throughout the school year on topics such as self-calming strategies, cooperative games, and communication skills. We thank the Northwest MN Foundation for their sponsorship of this program.

Workshops
Our staff have presented to over 1,000 people since July 2017 on Trauma-Sensitive Schools, Cultural Responsiveness, and Compassionate Communication. While the majority of the workshop participants have been educators, organizations have increasingly been interested in receiving training in topics that help them better serve their clients and enhance healthy workplaces.  

Girls Lead
A one-day event was held in Walker in October for girls in middle school. Participants from The Women’s Networking Group who had previously attended the Facilitators training assisted Peacemaker staff with the event. The Girls Lead program connects young women to community service organizations who help to teach about and inspire leadership, community action and civic engagement. The Northwest MN Women’s Fund and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota help to fund this program.
​
Building the Bridge Series
​ This collaboration with Dr. Anton Treuer and Bemidji State University continues to engage community members in building awareness around racial justice issues. Evening events are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the American Indian Resource Center and other local sites. Click HERE for a list of opportunities for engagement.