Friends for Peace, Inc.

Mission

Friends for Peace, Inc. is non-profit organization whose mission is to raise funds for the City of Newburyport’s diversity initiatives in order to promote inclusion, tolerance and diversity and to end discrimination in our community.

History

Newburyport’s No Place for Hate® campaign was established in 2000, in response to acts of hate in our schools and in our community at large.  Community leaders and activists turned to the No Place for Hate® initiative to address these acts of hate and to promote proactive education programs.  Our community came together and continues to sponsor those activities necessary to receive No Place for Hate® certification.

In 2002, a small group of individuals incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization to form Friends for Peace to help raise funds needed to accomplish the good work of the City’s initiatives.

In 2005, the City of Newburyport created the Commission for Diversity and Tolerance.  The Commission is charged with working individually and collaboratively with the Mayor and community groups to celebrate the ever-changing tapestry of our City and to emphasize through educational outreach the danger of intolerance at every level.  Funds generated from the Wet Paint Auction are distributed through Friends for Peace and the Commission to address ongoing diversity issues in 2006-2007.

Accomplishments

Each year, working with the Commission for Diversity and Tolerance, Friends for Peace awards a series of mini-grants to local groups that support our mission.

In 2007-2008, funds were distributed to the following programs:

  • Literacy Support of Newburyport Public Schools K-4: Providing a selection of books to address topics such as accepting others, bullying, and working together.

  • River Valley Charter School the Open Circle Curriculum Training: 2 teachers to affect 50 students to address issues such as, handling anger appropriately and accepting differences.

  • Exploring Greek Culture: Opportunity for 120 people to learn about the Greek culture through dance.

  • YWCA: Bringing High School youth together with adults in an interactive program related to social justice at the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast.

  • PROTECT at Newburyport High School:  Club seeking to educate community about issues of injustice and intolerance in order to promote change both locally and globally.

  • United in Poetry:   A Newburyport High School program of 50 students from two diverse communities collaborating and sharing over their own poetry.

  • Hugh Doyle Resource Center: Summer camp and enrichment scholarships helping children receive the same educational opportunities regardless of economic status.

  • Chaplaincy Institute of Maine: Series of public presentations about a variety of faiths.

  • Peacing Workshops: Six week program for younger a dozen children to teach peace-making skills through different approaches.

  • The Big Read – To Kill a Mocking Bird: New city-wide initiative to promote  conversation concerning injustice and intolerance.