PeaceBuilders InstituteThe Institute for Social Change and Sustainable Solutions

The Mission

The PeaceBuilders Institute offers a prescription for our times by partnering with young people to directly address issues of violence, disharmony and chaos.  Students of all ages become skilled at identifying root causes to social justice and human rights issues while implementing non-violent solutions that build an infrastructure for social change and sustainable peace. 

​Building a Framework

During the summer of 2017, we embarked upon a journey of epic proportions.  In a partnership with the Learn & Earn Summer Employment Program, we facilitated a summer long youth participatory action research cohort of 15 high school students from various neighborhoods in Allegheny County.  During an intense time of research, we discovered Dr. John Paul Lederach and his "Conceptualization of Peacebuilding" framework.  The discovery of Dr. Lederach's original research, in relationship to our urban youth context has led to the creation of an interconnected learning model which we call the 5 Impact Zones.  The creation of an original interconnected learning model has stimulated the development of a more robust PeaceBuilders Institute framework for youth led social change. 

What is the Conceptualization of Peacebuilding?According to Dr. John P. Lederach, "the conceptualization of peacebuilding is a comprehensive concept that encompasses, generates and sustains the full array of processes, approaches and stages needed to transform conflict toward more sustainable, peaceful relationships” (Lederach, 1997)

What we learned...​​1.  Peacebuilding must be undertaken simultaneously at every level of society.2.  Short-term goals and long term vision must be linked.3.  Critical issues must find a response while broader structural change is envisioned and set in motion.4.  A framework to support our findings would need to be developed.5.  Exactly how to create such a framework.  Click below to read more about our interconnected learning model. 

More Theory.  More Research.  More Practice. 

5A Elite’s civic education focus areas are founded on the original research developed by The Center for Engaged Democracy, which is housed within Merrimack College’s School of Education under the leadership of Dan W. Butin.  Based on 5A Elite's knowledge and work in the civic engagement arena, Dr. Butin’s model has been adapted for relevance to the specific needs of the youth we serve.  5A Elite also makes use of Betty Reardon’s research, further describing the purpose and scope of peacebuilding as “oriented towards nurturing citizen capacities and the political, economic and social structures necessary for assuring the conditions for positive peace...constituting the conditions for the existence of justice, in the sense of the full enjoyment of the entire range of human rights by all people.” 

Through an adaptation of Stanford University's design-thinking model, PeaceBuilder Institute students are empowered to identify and solve problems that affect them and their communities and are challenged to question, examine, and dissect social systems in order to develop the confidence, motivation and agency to address and deconstruct inequalities, while constructing a more just and equitable society. 

Perhaps, the most intriguing research we've incorporated into the fabric of The PeaceBuilders Institute framework has been that of The Earth Charter.  The Earth Charter is an ethical framework for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century.  The Earth Charter is centrally concerned with the transition to sustainable ways of living and sustainable human development.  Ecological integrity is one major theme.  However, the Earth Charter recognizes that the goals of ecological protection, the eradication of poverty, equitable economic development, respect for human rights, democracy, and peace are interdependent and indivisible.  It provides, therefore, a new, inclusive, integrated ethical framework to guide the transition to a sustainable future. The Earth Charter is a product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross-cultural dialogue on common goals and shared values.  The Earth Charter project began as a United Nations initiative, but it was carried forward and completed by a global civil society initiative, and has helped guide, shape, and inform the development of The PeaceBuilders Institute for Social Change and Sustainable Solutions. 

2019 PeaceBuilders Initiatives

Youth Fellowship for Social Change

A unique opportunity for students to take a more active and specific role in the evolution of positive community change and the creation of sustainable youth-driven solutions.  The Youth Fellowship engages highly motivated students ages 14-18, with a demonstrated interest in social change, advocacy and organizing to participate in a 10 month, paid internship during which they gain experience in operationalizing the goals and values of the PeaceBuilders Institute and it's organizing principle.​​