A Sense of Peace

There is a quote that says “The last thing we know is our effect.”  Think about that ...

Some of our work at Inland Agency helps people at emotional or critical times in their lives: They may have no other source of information, and we are there to help (for free).

A bit more subtle is the work we do with students in discussing risky behavior, avoiding teen pregnancy, using wise judgment in life choices and their part in the world’s future. We try to be a guiding presence, but who can tell what is important to another person and will be remembered later to help?

The emotional “pay back” works both ways, however, as this story by a staff member relates:

Working With Our Young People
by Linda Kriegh
Inland Agency Youth Connection Program Coordinator

I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Sense of Peace program by helping a student with her art project. A Sense of Peace is a new program created by Sarah Slocum and taught by Sarah and Art Instructor Michele Worth. Several students left the after-school program, leaving some without a partner and lots of work to do. That’s where I got involved.

When I first walked into the art room at Citrus Hills Intermediate School in Corona, I immediately was struck by the camaraderie, cooperation and energy of the students. This was a collection of young people of different ages, gender and ethnicity, working in a community-like atmosphere. They might never have socialized at school, but here they were coming together to talk about peace and social issues.

My heart was filled with emotion as I observed these students in discussions about violence (like bullying in school), how the concept of “peace” looks or tastes and vegetarianism, among many and varied topics. 

One of those students was Courtney Williams, and her art project was a portrayal of animal rights. Since I am a passionate animal lover and activist, I was excited at the prospect of helping her bring the project to life.

Courtney was dedicating part of the sculpture to a depiction of the use of animals in laboratories for testing on products used by humans, such as make-up and nail polish. She also included a cage-like structure filled with shotgun shells to portray the cruelty of hunting.

She was a very soft-spoken young lady, but her love for animals was evident as she worked diligently on her project and spoke of what she was learning from her participation in Sense of Peace. I felt an immediate bond as we discussed our mutual love and respect for animals while we worked, and I felt so fortunate to have met such a committed young lady.

On exhibition day, I stood to the side and watched all of the students greet visitors and stand proudly by their artwork. Courtney beamed with pride in her work as she shyly explained to visitors about her project. With a little lump in my throat, I bid her good-by at the end of the exhibition: She was off to high school in the fall and therefore would not participate in the next Sense of Peace program.

I realize how lucky I am to participate in such worthy community programs, and I am so grateful to have been a part of this one.

For more information on the Sense of Peace youth program, click here: http://www.inlandagency.org/PAGES/COY_Interventions.htm.

The following is an excerpt from Courtney’s application to this program:
“To me, the word peace means no fighting, no bloodshed, nobody doing murder, nothing bad happens. The word peace also means that everyone gets along, no racism, no white supremacists.”

Learn more about the Inland Agency Peace Festival