Alive Community Outreach - Fort Wayne

What a week! ✌️🕊️

Week One of Peacemaker Academy is in the books, and it was a full and impactful week!

Our 60 Peacemakers spent the first few days building relationships and getting to know one another before diving into some big topics: understanding violence, exploring the different types and levels of conflict, learning the foundations of nonviolence, and studying Dr. King’s first three principles of nonviolence. Throughout the week, students were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions, sharing their experiences, and beginning to build the trust that makes authentic peacemaking possible.

One of our favorite things to watch each year is the way students begin to connect across schools and backgrounds. The bonds forming within our school groups—and across the Academy as a whole—are already evident.

This week was also special because we welcomed four adult learners from school districts across Indiana who completed our Level II Nonviolence Certification. These educators and school leaders spent the week learning alongside our students while participating in additional evening sessions focused on implementing nonviolence strategies in schools. We had one participant join us from as far as West Lafayette! We can’t wait to see how they carry this work back to their communities.

We are incredibly grateful to the many organizations and community partners who helped make Week One possible:

🖤The African/African-American Historical Society Museum for providing a guided tour for our Peacemakers.

🎨 All the Rage Fort Wayne for bringing their R.E.S.E.T. painting experience to the Academy and helping students reflect on their emotions through art.

🌱 NeighborLink Fort Wayne for partnering with us on neighborhood cleanup efforts and community encouragement projects.

🏛️ The History Center for their hospitality and generosity in welcoming our students.

And thank you to those who helped feed our Peacemakers throughout the week:

❤️ Williams Woodland Park Neighborhood
❤️ Fletcher Van Gilder LLP
❤️ Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren
❤️ First Presbyterian Church of Fort Wayne
❤️ Trinity English Lutheran Church
❤️ Renee Albright for the donuts

It truly takes a village to cultivate a culture of nonviolence, and we are thankful for every person and organization who is investing in these young leaders.

Week Two, here we come. Let’s go! ✌️🕊️

We were honored to welcome our friends from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne during the first week of Peacemaker Academy. Their visit gave them a chance to see the learning, leadership, and relationship-building taking place each day as young people prepare to become peacemakers in their schools and communities. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and ongoing investment in our work through their generous grant support.

While graduation celebrations are happening all across Fort Wayne this weekend, we’re taking a moment to celebrate our senior Peacemakers. We’re proud of them not only for completing their high school journey, but for the leadership they’ve shown and the Beloved Community they’ve helped build along the way. Congratulations, y’all! We’re cheering you on as you take your next steps. ❤️✌️🕊️

What a week!

This week we hosted our first community-wide Kingian Nonviolence Core Training and Level 1 Certification (Training of Trainers), and it was everything we hoped it would be.

For the past several years, we’ve dreamed about creating learning spaces where people from different backgrounds could come together to learn, grow, build relationships, and deepen their commitment to nonviolence. This week, that vision came to life.

Around the room were retirees, young adults, recent high school graduates, educators, social workers, faith leaders, and community activists—all learning alongside one another, sharing stories, challenging each other, and growing together.

It was a beautiful reminder that building Beloved Community takes all of us.

Thank you to everyone who invested their time, energy, and heart into this experience. We can’t wait to see how these newly trained leaders carry the principles and practices of Kingian Nonviolence into their families, workplaces, schools, congregations, and neighborhoods.

Now we take a quick breath before welcoming a full house of students and adult learners for Peacemaker Academy on Monday. Let’s go! ✌️🕊️

Last night, we gathered for our 2026 Peacemaker Academy Orientation, and the room was full!

What encouraged us most was the great turnout from parents and families. We know that for peacemaking to truly take root, students can’t carry the vision alone. Families play a vital role in helping young people grow into the leaders our community needs.

Peacemaker Academy is more than a summer program. It's an invitation into a movement of young people committed to nonviolence, courageous leadership, and the work of building Beloved Community in our schools and throughout Fort Wayne.

On Monday, a new cohort of 60 students will begin this three-week journey together. They will learn, grow, build relationships across differences, and discover the power they have to create positive change in their schools and communities.

Thank you to every parent, guardian, Peace Advocate, and staff member who packed the room last night. We are the village ❤️

Peacemaker Academy begins Monday. Let’s gooooo! ✌️🕊️

Please join us in welcoming Justin Beal to the Alive Community Outreach team!

Justin joins us as our new Peace Advocate for the Fort Wayne Community Schools Alternative Schools, serving students in grades 8–12.

Justin brings years of experience working alongside young people through FWCS, youth ministry, mentoring, and community programs. Most recently, he served as a Student Advocate at Miami Middle School, where he helped create a positive school culture, mentored students, developed leadership opportunities, and supported young people through some of their most challenging moments.

What excites us most, however, is Justin's heart for students. Having faced his own challenges as a young person, Justin understands firsthand the power of positive relationships, encouragement, and second chances. He is passionate about helping young people see their potential, navigate difficult circumstances, and choose a path toward hope and purpose.

Alternative school students possess incredible strengths, gifts, and leadership potential. We are excited for Justin to walk alongside them as they build peace, grow as leaders, and discover the difference they can make in their schools and community.

Welcome to the team, Justin!

Help us welcome Josh King to our team as our new Digital Peacemaking Coordinator!

From political division to cyberbullying and online conflict, so much of the violence we experience today is cultivated in digital spaces. That’s why we’re investing in digital peacemaking as an essential part of building peace and Beloved Community.

Josh will help lead this effort by cultivating a team of student peacemakers who will shape a digital peacemaking strategy and launch a student-led podcast that lifts up youth voices.

Josh also serves as Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement at NeighborLink Fort Wayne, is completing his Master’s degree in Peace and Justice at St. Stephen’s University, and has been a dedicated member of our Peace Family since the very beginning.

“I’m excited to help create digital spaces where young people can lead the way in building connection, understanding, and peace.” — Josh King

We’re thrilled to have Josh on the team as we continue growing this peacemaking movement. Welcome, Josh!

Today our team stepped away from the work for a few hours and spent time together at . Through smashing, painting, laughing, and reflecting, we explored creative ways of releasing stress, processing emotions, and simply enjoying one another’s company.

It’s been an incredible year with this team, and this retreat came at the perfect time. Next week we welcome adult learners for training, followed by three weeks of Peacemaker Academy with more than 70 high school students from across Fort Wayne.

Before stepping into one of the busiest and most impactful seasons of the year, we took a moment to let loose, recharge, and reconnect.

Many thanks to All the Rage for hosting us and for their thoughtful approach to helping people engage their emotions in unique and meaningful ways.