Mary Yoder Holsopple , experienced in violence intervention and with a history in school social work, recently was hired to direct a collaborative violence prevention center to increase peace locally. Mich. Reaching Common Ground, an Elkhart County anti-violence group, is also providing funding. Creating and promoting a model to address the violence in U.S. culture. Allowing the three schools to more effectively integrate peace research with hands-on community involvement. Increasing civic engagement by providing practical experience in community violence prevention to college and post-graduate students.
Meeting needs for internships and research opportunities.
The grant provides funds for a major symposium to explore other anti-violence needs. Future scholarships may reach outside the area to train students for international work. The center will be built around a public health model through input from local governmental, law enforcement, judicial, social service, medical, educational and religious groups. Yoder Holsopple will research and devise an operational framework for the center during the first year of the grant. Yoder Holsopple, whose family served with Mennonite Central Committee and World Council of Churches in Uganda and Mozambique during periods of fighting, said she saw more violence in North American peacetime culture than in war torn Africa.