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A major focus at PACSI is preventing violence and war, and
constructive approaches to conflict. Learning about this topic
is often best done through non-verbal communication and “hands-on”
training. We realize that promoting conflict-resolution and
violence prevention skills requires the involvement of very
diverse groups.
In this work, we make particular efforts to work with young
people, and collaborate with off-campus youth agencies.
Current activities
Our main focus is on partnering with Barbara Hildt, founder
and director of Youth Empowerment Services, Inc. Ms Hildt
is a specialist in youth development and violence prevention,
and has been a Peace Corps volunteer, a teacher, a legislator
and a community organizer. She was national President of Women’s
Action for New Directions.
Barbara has conducted dozens of workshops for young people
and others, mainly using the approach developed by the Help
Increase the Peace Program (HIPP). A key features of HIPP
is: how to establish peaceable norms of behavior with youth
groups. In 2002-3 we organized several introductory HIPP workshops
which were attended by 30 UML students and others.
Previous activities
These have included the following. Some were parts of Days
Without Violence, others were separate.
- Days
Without Violence: in 1997, 1998 and 1999, youth leaders
from greater Lowell brought youth groups to U.Mass. Lowell
for participatory exercises, dances etc. In other years,
we organized hands-on events that were open to all members
of the U.Mass. Lowell community, regarding conflict resolution,
social justice, and dialogue across religious/ideological
lines.
- Alternatives
to Violence Project workshops, 1992, 1993 and 1997.
- We
helped design a mentoring program for UML students partnered
with youth agencies in Lowell, that became part of the course
“Community Conflict Resolution” taught by Professor
John MacDougall, one of our co-directors. This was part
of a two-part series of panel discussions in fall 1997 on
mentoring in general. Panelists were UML faculty/staff together
with practitioners from the community.
- Other
lectures and discussions
— see especially the section “On local-level
conflicts and conflict resolution.”
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