RYPP: The Richmond Youth Peace Project
The Richmond Youth Peace Project is an initiative of the Richmond Peace Education Center and Drums No Guns. We want to help young people learn to settle conflicts nonviolently, and give them opportunities to express their ideas and concerns positively, through the arts, including spoken word, writing and music.
Conflict Resolution Workshops for Children and Teens:
We now have a group of teen trainers ready to conduct supervised conflict resolution workshops for groups of young people. Over the past few months, they have led nonviolent conflict resolution workshops for a number of Richmond schools, congregations, youth groups and community centers.
If your organization would like to schedule one or more conflict resolution sessions, please contact the RPEC offices at 232-1002 or email rpec@rpec.org Each workshop session will be led by two or more of our teen trainers and at least one experienced adult leader.
If you would like to participate in our next workshop for youth trainers (in early Fall, 2008) please let us know. The workshop will be free, and community service hours are available for participants. We are looking for 20 more teens who want to develop their own conflict resolution skills, and to learn how to share those skills with others. Email us at rypp@rpec.org
Photo Gallery of our RYPP training on September 29-30, 2007
Edu-concerts and Youth Peace Summits:
On January 24, 2008 we held our third annual Edu-concert, part of the Living the Dream commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s civil rights heritage. The event was held at the VCU Performing Arts Center, and included music, dance and spoken word performances by about three dozen young people along with a variety of professional musicians and actors.
In April 2006, we held our second Youth Peace Summit at Fifth Baptist Church. Many of the workshops were planned and led by young people themselves. Our third annual Youth Peace Summit was held Saturday May 5, 2007. Approximately 75 young people attended this year's event. Again, many of the workshops were led or co-led by teen facilitators.
Our most recent Peace Summit was held Saturday, April 26. Over 130 teens participated in this year's event! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make it a huge success.
Represent RYPP and RPEC at Community Events:
We need youth volunteers to help spread the word about RYPP and the Richmond Peace Education Center at festivals and other events. If you would like to volunteer to staff a table for a few hours, let us know.
Would you like to join us?
If you want to participate in conflict resolution training, staff a table or help plan future RYPP events, please let us know. It's also a great way to earn community service hours that your school may require.
Send us your name, address, telephone number and email address. Email that information to , or call the Richmond Peace Education Center at 232-1002.