“We do so many things,” said Lorena Martinez, a graduate of the Center for Youth Leadership.  “It’s hard to know where to start.  Let’s go with our mission, which is to promote safe schools and communities.  We focus on four issues: teen dating violence, human trafficking, the rights of day laborers, and stalking.”

The 100-member Peace Project is unlike any other program at Brien McMahon High in that it addresses a variety of issues.  “But they’re related,” said Paulina Hernandez, a graduate of the Center for Youth Leadership.   “Each one looks at a basic human right that has been violated – the right to a healthy relationship, the right to live a life free from bondage, and the right to be free from wage abuse.”

The task for the Peace Project is to make these issues come to life for students and the general public.  “They are not issues that people typically talk about,” said Lorena.  “And if they do talk about them it’s done in hushed voices.  So, public awareness and activism activities are at the top of our list.” 

The group’s activities include body art photos and posters, the Balloon Garden, the Bathroom Stalls Project, Peace Day, House Parties, the Conversation Series, sidewalk chalking and street outreach.

The Peace Project’s volunteer efforts focus on two initiatives.  One is with the day laborers who gather on the Lowe Street Bridge in South Norwalk.  Called El Paladino (the nest) by the men, the bridge is a hub of volunteer activity twice a month.  Members of the Peace Project visit the bridge at 6:30 AM to distribute food and clothing, share information about services, and help the men collect wages for jobs that contractors have failed to honor.   Members host two health fairs a year, which draws providers from the Norwalk Department of Health, the Norwalk Community Health Center, Norwalk Hospital and other organizations.  The Peace Project has published two studies about day laborers in Norwalk.  Make sure you call us for copies. 

The other volunteer activity will pick up steam during the 2009-2010 school year.  Called After the Bell, it is an after school initiative of the Norwalk Education Foundation and local elementary schools.  Members of the Peace Project will visit Rowayton Elementary School each month to lead activities.