The Urban Youth Peace Academy is a grass-roots student organization that grew out of Streetpeace, a peace and social justice education program at Ruskin PreK-8 School and East End Community Services. Members are from schools throughout the Dayton Public Schools district.
The gallery — a project of the Unitarian Foundation for World Peace — features the artwork of Daytonian Frank Swift as well as original artwork from Hands At Work, a program that supports the efforts of Rwandan and Burundian refugees who create and sell their own handcrafted artwork.
The night’s festivities will feature music from local bands, as well as Songambere Choir consisting of an ensemble of Central African children and youths.
Students in the Urban Youth Peace Academy will participate in a full curriculum on Tuesday evenings, including the study of such books as “A Long Way Gone,” by Ishmael Beah; “Man’s Search for Meaning,” by Victor Frankl; and “Savage Inequalities,” by Jonathan Kozal.
They will participate in discussion circles around such movies as “Blood Diamond,” “Life is Beautiful,” “Schindler’s List,” “Gran Torino” and “The Chamber.”
Students will have opportunities for instruction and practice in nonviolent responses to real-life conflict, participation in peer mediation and story circles; and involvement in PeaceMedia Projects, such as PeaceSoup — a literary and social commentary magazine from youth perspectives.
For more information, contact gallery curator Gabriela Pickett or director Steve Fryburg at (937) 241-4353.