PEACE Project: Philosophy, Ethics, and Community Education
PEACE joins colleges, schools, and communities together to empower pre-college youth to become reflective, reasonable, and responsible individuals and citizens.
About You
About You
First Name
Ben
Last Name
Wasserman
Twitter URL
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
PEACE Project: Philosophy, Ethics, and Community Education
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, NY, Brooklyn, Kings County
Country where this project is creating social impact
United States, NY, New York City
Is your organization a
Other
Your role in Education
Other.
The type of school(s) your solution is affiliated with
Other
How long has your organization been operating?
Less than a year
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
How long has your solution been in operation?
Operating for less than a year
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Current trends in educational policy and practice are imbalanced and ill-suited to empower today’s youth as effective and engaged individuals and citizens. The heavy emphasis placed on STEM (science, technology, education, and math) has left little room for teaching the humanities and other fields. As well, education has turned into a one-size-fits-all institution relying on standardized testing and rote learning. Yet research demonstrates that exploring subjects like philosophy, civics, and learning through experience, expression, dialogue, and service best facilitates self and social knowledge (SSK). Only SSK promotes critical thinking, empathy, discourse, and social action - skills needed by active, aware, and flourishing individuals and members of communities.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
PEACE Project counterbalances current educational trends by providing an experiential and service-based learning program for youth (grade 6-12) focused upon the intersections of philosophy and social justice (i.e. identity, responsibility, democracy). Our curriculum is designed by undergraduates studying philosophy and/or education led by faculty in both fields. Via philosophical and social inquiry, reflective dialogue, informal group learning (visual and performance art, play, simulation) and integrated social action projects, PEACE promotes SSK and skills of analytic thinking and communication, perspective taking/sharing, self-reflection and regulation, and habits of social cooperation crucial for developing empathy. Our pedagogy is student-centered, incorporating multiple learning styles and socially engaged. Our approach reaches youth, provides current/future teachers skills to empower students, and guides research connecting college faculty to schools and community organizations.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
Step 1: PEACE staff and faculty train PEACE Educators (philosophy/education majors) in curriculum development, informal education, and exploring philosophy/social justice with youth. Educators develop the skills and knowledge for promoting SSK, critical thinking, belief/value sharing, dialogue, and self/social awareness through activity based discussions.
Step 2: Educators create a 10-lesson unit exploring topics of social justice through a philosophical lens. The pilot unit "On Identity and Society" includes lessons and exploration of thinkers such as: 'What is Personal Identity?'(John Locke), 'Responsibility, Justice, and Difference' (Peter Singer), and 'Bridging the Gap' (Martin Buber).
Step 3: Educators work with school/community partners to test and implement the PEACE unit. In this year's pilot, we are working with over 45 NYC students at 2 partner sites. One lesson has students explore the role of empathy and mutual understanding in democratic discourse. Students photograph their peers to represent identity-based perspectives on social issues. Students then exhibit and engage in philosophical inquiry to practice the skills required for public dialogue.
Step 4: 'The Summit', a day of scholarship and service, joins PEACE students with the college community to explore issues and take part in community projects. Pilot theme: Identity, Discourse, and Democracy.
Step 5: Feedback will be conducted on training, curriculum, and Summit by all participants via quantitative and anecdotal evaluations. PEACE staff and faculty then analyze/report on collected data.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
PEACE has few competitors and peers. Pre-college philosophy initiatives by Montclair State and Mount Holyoke engage elementary students by reflecting on children's stories through critical dialogue while programs at other colleges (NYU, Washington U, UNC) do 'outreach' by having high school students take college-level courses or participate in 'ethics bowls'. Few of these programs incorporate social/emotional development or civic engagement as PEACE does - instead, merely focusing on the cognitive domain. Yet, current social justice and moral/character education initiatives lack the critical/analytic dimension to encourage their goals and develop thought. PEACE is the only program bringing together faculty/experts/majors in philosophy and education with communities to empower youth.
Now that you have thought out your entry, help us pitch it.
Define your company, program, service, or product in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
PEACE joins colleges, schools, and communities together to empower youth to become reflective, reasonable, and responsible citizens.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences [136 characters]
We transform philosophy from a subject restricted to ivory towers into active moments of inquiry about social justice for our students.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
PEACE has already begun to make a significant impact in the 6 months our pilot has been operating. Winfield F is one of the 45 students (grades 6-12) who has participated in PEACE Project at one of our 2 partner sites. After his third PEACE lesson, he approached his Educator expressing thanks saying 'philosophy has forced me to stop, question, listen, and think about myself, others, and how to be a better person.' Winfield (and the PEACE students) are not alone in benefiting from the project. Mr. Mesidor, one of four NYC school teachers working with PEACE at a partner site, commented: 'Where was PEACE when I was preparing to teach? I'd better engage my students to connect and think deeply with one another about the social issues facing society.' Rupert H, philosophy major and one of ten undergraduates in our pilot cohort of Educators says 'this experience has made me want to work as a high school teacher'. 8 faculty members have also begun to collaborate across departments and fields.
What is your projected impact over the next 1-3 years?
Our projected impact over the next three years is multidimensional. We hope to increase our number of college/school/community partners. By year three, we aim to collaborate with at least 3 colleges in total, each with their own 8 member faculty committee, 10 undergraduate Educators, and 3 partners (working with 6 teachers and 30-40 students at each site). Also, we would like to develop a website to host our current blog ('the diablogue') and make our curricular materials available for other colleges and teachers to bring PEACE into their communities. PEACE also hopes to expand to summer camps, youth shelters, and juvenile correctional facilities as part of our community partnerships. We also aim to develop an accredited professional development program for NYC school teachers.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Fully operational pilot (accomplished)
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Obtain pilot funding and partner with a college to train 10 Educators and create PEACE Unit #1. (accomplished)
Task 2
Develop partnerships with at least 2 local schools/community organizations. (accomplished)
Task 3
Implement curriculum/hold The Summit event for at least 45 youth in grades 6-12. (currently underway)
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Middle of Year 2 of PEACE Project
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Obtain a total of $50,000 to hire a full-time staff member, purchase project materials, and increase promotion/outreach.
Task 2
Create PEACE Unit #2 with new undergraduates while implementing revised Unit #1 for new students at previous partner sites.
Task 3
Double number of PEACE students by continuing work with current partners and adding 2 more school/community sites.
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world [125 words]
My 'Aha!' moment came about rather organically. A few years ago, when I began to study philosophy at Brooklyn College, I also began to take on new responsibilities at a local community center in Brooklyn, developing and leading informal and experiential education programming for children and youth and designing and facilitating teen leadership groups focused on social justice and political action. After integrating topics from my philosophy studies into my youth work, I discovered that an experiential/service learning philosophy education challenged and engaged my students. My teens became more aware of and analytic about social issues, empathetic, and involved in community/civic action. Inspired, I continued this work on my own - unaware of the preexisting pre-college philosophy movement. But, when I learned that other pre-college philosophy programs existed yet did not incorporate service learning, group work, or cross-departmental collaboration, I realized the potential for PEACE.
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
PEACE is proud to work in collaboration with the following partners during our pilot phase ('11-'12)
College Partner:
CUNY-Brooklyn College's Philosophy Department and School of Education [committed to PEACE for future]
School/Community Partners:
East NY Family Academy High School [committed to PEACE for future]
The Educational Alliance/Boys and Girls Club afterschool programs
Funding Partner:
The Squire Family Foundation
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section? [75 words]
PEACE Project requires a unique interdisciplinary team in order to achieve our projected growth milestones. This team includes: philosophers, education professors, undergraduate and graduate students, school/community educators, leaders and organizers, and one full time PEACE Director. The PEACE Director's responsibilities are to coordinate faculty from philosophy and education departments, train undergraduates studying philosophy/education, develop partnerships, organize The Summit, and conduct outreach for funding, promotion, and marketing.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
PEACE is in need for financial support, more partners, and increased marketing - we also look forward to collaborating with like-minded individuals, schools, and organizations interested in empowering youth through philosophy and social action to develop skills of critical thinking, empathy, and civic engagement.
 | 52 weeks ago Ben Wasserman said: A article on PEACE featured on the Brooklyn College website: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/news/bcnews/bcnews_120521.php about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 60 weeks ago Ben Wasserman updated this Competition Entry. |
| 65 weeks ago Ben Wasserman submitted this idea. |
