Middle School to Introduce PeaceBuilders During Family Heritage Night, December 3, 2004

LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Giving-back to its community, PeacePartners, Inc.(TM) is donating $15,000 worth of its anti-violence PeaceBuilders(R) program to Washington Intensive Learning Center, a sixth through eighth grade middle school in Long Beach. The PeaceBuilders program will be introduced to students, faculty, parents and the community during the school's inaugural Family Heritage Night, Friday, December 3, 2004, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During this celebration of diversity, Washington will welcome many dignitaries including the Honorable Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal, PeacePartners' President Michelle Molina and Long Beach Unified School District's Director of Elementary Schools Nancy Nakagawa.

PeaceBuilders is the renowned anti-violence youth program approved for the federally funded Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act and implemented in more than 600 sites across North America and U.S. Territories. It is a comprehensive community-based program that shifts the entire organizational climate to a peaceful, productive and safe place for children, parents, staff and the community.

For the past year, PeacePartners has actively participated in Long Beach Task Force meetings to learn how to better support and serve its community's anti-violence efforts. Washington is located within a neighborhood specifically targeted by the Task Force and Long Beach Police Department as a community in need. As a result of these sessions and additional meetings with many city and school officials, PeacePartners has formed its own collaborative community service effort named Project Long Beach.

As phase one of Project Long Beach, PeacePartners is donating more than $15,000 worth of PeaceBuilders program training, materials, support, incentives and a 3-year site license to Washington. PeaceBuilders will empower Washington to establish a common language using its six PeaceBuilders Principles(TM) to unite children, staff, parents and the community. (Praise People(TM); Give Up Put-Downs(TM); Seek Wise People(TM); Notice Hurts(TM); Right Wrongs(TM); Help Others(TM).)

While Washington does have several positive proactive efforts on campus, they are looking to the PeaceBuilders program to unite all their efforts to create one cohesive, consistent message.

"At Washington, we believe that our students are the future, and our goal is to create the leaders of tomorrow right here. The ability to problem solve, accept challenges, and work together are all qualities taught by the PeaceBuilders program and are the qualities that form the basis of a strong democracy. We look forward with great anticipation to our partnership and we are deeply grateful for this generous donation," says Toni Issa Lahera, Washington's principal.

During Family Heritage Night, live music, guest speakers and an exciting array of performances, activities and food booths will encourage attendees to embrace the cultures and traditions represented at Washington. Participants include PeaceBuilders, NCCJ, Miller Family Health Education Center, Long Beach Police and Fire Departments and Washington's Parents With a Purpose. Washington is located at 1450 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, Calif., 90813.

With its commitment to Washington in place, PeacePartners plans to expand beyond the campus and work in conjunction with parents, business owners and community leaders to determine how it can be of service. By partnering directly with the organizations that interact with these at-risk youth, PeacePartners can work one-on-one to map a specified course of action.

PeaceBuilders is owned and operated by PeacePartners, Inc.(TM). PeacePartners national corporate team is composed of dedicated individuals with experience working with at-risk youth in education, administration and related fields ranging from the department of corrections to educational materials. http://www.peacebuilders.com .

SOURCE PeacePartners, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.peacebuilders.com