Keeping the peace
Kiesa Jones
March 25, 2009
Filed under Clubs, Events
It seems as if violence is prevalent around the world. Daily, we hear of killings, shootings, stabbings or fights. Often, one need not look much further than the steps of their home; conflicts arise around every corner. There is a group, however, dedicated to raising awareness and education of this problem, and stopping the spread of violence.
The Peace Club began at Solano Community College in 2005, as a
project by students who wanted to serve their communities and end
a cycle they were noticing in it.
“The premise is that in school you don’t necessarily have to study
peace,” said said Dr. Karen McCord, professor of psychology and ethnic studies and the club’s advisor.
“You study World War II, World
War I, and if you join the military, you study war strategies. But where is it that you study peace strategies? So the idea is that the more people that know about peace strategies, the more people that will get to utilize those strategies on an everyday basis.”
McCord began the course “Peace, Non – Violence and Conflict
Resolution” (Socs 30) after taking a sabbatical in 2002 and 2003 to
study peace and nonviolence in civil rights. In addition, McCord also offers “Ethnic, Racial, & Minority Group Relations in Harmony & Conflict” (Socs 22), and will be offering a two week long civil rights tour this summer (Socs 53) called “Journey to Change: Marching in the Steps of the Civil Rights Movement.”
Within the tour, students will travel to various locations in the south significant to the Civil Rights Movement.
“Professor McCord had this
idea,” said Danielle Slade,
McCord’s supplemental instructor
and one of the students
involved in starting the Peace
Club. “I actually did do the tour
with her. We went for fun… [She]
decided it would be a good idea
to expose more people to it so she
planned this class.”
Slade said that one of her
favorite parts of the tour was
being able to look in the archives
of an Alabama census and trace
her family’s history.
“I got to see my grandma and
my great-great-grandparents’
names on the census of 1920- so
that was kind of cool. And the
food is good down south. I liked
that too.”
Darnell Jeffery plans to attend
the tour as well. He is a psychology major who belongs to the
Peace Club and helps with the
various fundraisers that the club
is promoting to raise money for
the tour.
“Dr. McCord got me into it,”
said Jeffery. “She is very inspirational in trying to teach us how to make the world better one step at a time. It takes one person at a time, so I’m just trying to do my part.”
The Peace Club’s fundraisers
include a bake sale. They will
also host their fourth annual
Peace Summit on April 7, at 8
a.m. The summit will include
speakers, a “Peace Vigil”, and a
“Peace Project” in which participants will have an opportunity to leave a ribbon on a tree in memory and honor of loved ones and individuals who have died due to violence. There will be a bake sale as well to raise funds for the club’s summer trip.
Club member Krystal Lele’a
plans to attend the civil rights
tour and Peace Summit.
“Basically, we just want to
spread peace and love and happiness
all around the world,” said Lele’a.
The Peace Club meets every Tuesday, from 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., in Room 1653. The club’s bake sale will be every Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria, for the next two weeks.
For more information on Peace
Club events, contact (707) 864-
7000 ext. 4428 or email
Karen.McCord@solano.edu.
