The peacejam group has had 2 meetings this semester. Currently, we are brainstorming a community service project. We will start with general themes and issues, and then we will slowly narrow those down to a focused project and action plans. Our goal is to research and develop the project during Spring of 2007, and to implement the project by Fall of 2007, with a presentation to a Nobel Peace Laureate during Spring of 2008 at the latest.

Current ideas include: health and wellbeing of young people; encouraging youth to be more active; supporting healthy food options in schools; encouraging healthy school environments; breaking down barriers between groups in schools; discouraging judgments and labels based upon external factors; supporting the voice of youth in community politics; examing decisions about the distribution of wealth in community politics; increasing awareness of impact of media on norms in the community; supporting community recreation programs for youth; addressing the arts in schools; addressing healthy choices to prevent teen pregnancy; increasing empathy for those impacted by natural disasters in other states and countries.

We agreed to meet two times a month while the project is in its planning stages. The next date has yet to be set.