AFSC St. Louis

St. Louis student and Peaceball Powerpoint

A student at Northwest Academy in St. Louis reviews a Powerpoint presentation about the Peaceball project designed to promote peace and reduce violence.

By Joshua Saleem, AFSC St. Louis Peace Education Director

Can a “Peaceball” help reduce violence by encouraging acts of peace? With encouragement from AFSC, students in St. Louis are giving it a try.

chairs photo

Photo source: alamosbasement

By Joshua Saleem, AFSC St. Louis Peace Education Director

With the red light of the police officer’s taser aimed at his chest, Brian* had no choice but to sit down and listen. This would be a Valentine’s Day he’ll never forget.

St. Louis youth Fall 2012

High school youth in St. Louis study conflict resolution through AFSC's peace education program.

The week before Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, Joshua Saleem, AFSC St. Louis Program Director, led discussions on using nonviolence as a strategy for social change. One discussion began by asking students at Shearwater Academy for their perception of nonviolence.

St. Louis youth Fall 2012

High school youth in St. Louis study conflict resolution through AFSC's peace education program.

By Joshua Saleem, AFSC St. Louis Peace Education Program Director

When a 14-year-old walks into the classroom and immediately after seeing you says, “Not you again,” you can’t help but ask yourself the question, “Is this working?”

Mark Taylor, St. Louis teacher

Mark Taylor teaches Interpersonal Relations at McCluer High School in St. Louis. AFSC is working with students in Mr. Taylor's class.

By Mark Taylor

Joshua Saleem, peace education director with AFSC in St. Louis, came to our classroom to lead a discussion on empathy. This was kind of a new topic to our students. They are not normally asked to think about how others may feel in a certain situation. By the end of the hour, the discussion seemed to really sink in.

Joshua Saleem and LA youth

Joshua Saleem, AFSC Peace Education Program Director in St. Louis, center, visits with youth involved with AFSC's youth work in Los Angeles.

At-risk youth will take a critical look at their community's needs through a new program in St. Louis, which starts its work this fall. Joshua Saleem, director of the new program, says the future of the city lies with these youth: "AFSC's role is to empower them to do the hard work of making their immediate circle one of peace, and then extending that circle to their neighborhoods and schools so that there's a community of peace there as well."