Peacemaker Resources was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2003 to provide violence prevention programming through building character skills in youth through social emotional education. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) improves school and life outcomes for children by helping students manage their emotions, build effective relationships, and work through life’s challenges in constructive and ethically responsible ways. Last year, Peacemaker was in over 100 classrooms, helping children learn core coping skills that lead to better health and well-being throughout their whole lives. They also provide professional development to school staff on trauma sensitive practices, cultural responsiveness and positive self-care. Encouraging a school culture that values and nurtures every learner results in adults who are more mentally healthy and satisfied with life.

Peacemaker’s Social Emotional Learning Specialists are often sought out by human service organizations and schools as presenters on the topics of SEL and cultural responsiveness. Peacemaker has collaborated with Dr. Anton Treuer from Bemidji State University to host workshops on Indigenous history and culture. They also coordinate regular “Building the Bridge” events to promote cultural responsiveness and provide opportunities for deep listening that address the inequities in our communities to create more nurturing places for children and families.

The organization is currently involved in an achievement and integration project with Red Lake, Mahnomen, Clearbrook and Fosston schools to enhance social relationships with students who are racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse. Peacemaker staff also serve as liaisons and Cultural Humility trainers for a Link for Equity research project conducted by the University of Minnesota and Emory University. Link for Equity is a trauma-informed system of care that integrates two promising interventions: Cultural Humility, Preventing Racism through Awareness and Action (PRAA), a perspective-taking racism/discrimination prevention intervention for school staff that increases awareness of racism and how it impacts students and promotes empathy for students of color and Link, a system of support for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)-affected children, composed of universal school Trauma-Informed Care and Psychological First Aid for selected students with risk factors. Link for Equity will measure changes in school violence, racial discrimination, student connectedness and stress using administrative records and surveys of students and staff. The overall goal is to see if Link for Equity can reduce school violence disparities.