Local Students Participate in Peer Mediation Invitational

108 students from 22 schools around Los Angeles County have deepened their commitment to creating peace during the Western Justice Center’s 8th annual Peer Mediation Invitational (PMI). “I am grateful for PMI for giving [students] the opportunity to share what they have learned and giving them an opportunity to come together since they don’t get to do that much at school,” said Laurinda Armstrong, Teacher at Woodworth Elementary School.

On March 22 and 24, elementary, middle and high school students had the opportunity to visit the Western Justice Center and the Ninth Circuit of Appeals, meet Ninth Circuit Court Judge Dorothy Nelson, practice their skills as mediators and receive feedback and encouragment from professionals in the field as well as participate in a group art project reflecting on the benefits of creating peace in their lives. Western Justice Center partnered once again this year with MetaFour Productions for the art portion of the event. “When I came here to Western Justice Center I really felt a sense of community around a lot of people who love helping people and peace,” commented a student from Sequoya School.

Each spring the Western Justice Center hosts the Peer Mediaton Invitational as a way to promote and encourage peer mediation efforts in schools throughout Los Angeles Country and works in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Center for Civic Mediation, and Ceintinella Youth Services. More than 1,000 students have participated throughout the years and most schools return year after year.

The mission of the WJC is to increase opportunity for the peaceful resolution of conflice and to displace the power of violence in our society. WJC works closely with Pasadena based school’s peer mediation programs both training teachers and students in conflict resolution and peer mediation.

For more information www.westernjustice.org