Student Peace Alliance

The Student Peace Alliance is a nonpartisan student action organization advocating peace across the United States of America. Founded at Brandeis University in the Spring of 2006 by Aaron Voldman and Julia Simon-Mishel,^[1] Student Peace Alliance is a 501(c)4 organization, and has 100 chapters in the United States at high schools, colleges, and community youth organizations.^[2]

Mission

Student Peace Alliance engages in, and develops support for, peace and non-violent initiatives across the United States in all levels of American life; including the local, state, and federal governments. These initiatives involve: grassroots awareness, research, volunteering, community service, activities with spiritual centers, violence prevention programs, conflict resolution, peace education, as well as raising awareness through the internet and popular culture.^[3]

Legislation

The Student Peace Alliance calls for a U.S. Department of Peace to effectively and efficiently implement policies that would centralize and unify peace building efforts domestically and abroad. With a legislative bill in the U.S. House of representatives (H.R. 808) that currently has 70 co-sponsors, Student Peace Alliance coordinates supportive efforts on a local and national level through various actions including, policy suggestions, research, citizen lobbying efforts, and peaceful non-violent demonstrations.

Principles

Nonviolence: The Peace Alliance will uphold the highest level of regard for all individuals and organizations. We commit to operate with integrity, with open communication and with respect for people, environment, and process. We will endeavor to communicate our message in ways that do not do violence to the message itself.
Cooperation: We will maintain an attitude of support and appreciation while working together on behalf of the common good. Our behavior will be consistent with our mission and core values as we strive to participate in a shared responsibility and shared leadership model.
Harmlessness: We will strive never to compromise our core values and principles, and will maintain our nonviolent focus in all things.
Clarity & Simplicity: We will maintain our focus as we keep things simple and work for the practical application of the vision and principles we share.
Interconnectedness: We acknowledge that we live in a world of interconnected relationships; one world, and we take responsibility for the presentation and influence of our work. We will do what we can to support one another in our various areas of responsibility. It is our intention that all will experience success and be supported in their work.
Inclusivity: We will endeavor to resolve all questions and challenges by taking a long view and making choices that meet the needs of all concerned to the best of our ability. When faced with a choice of focusing narrowly over expanding, we will include all in the process as we choose wisely and strive to create a world that works for everyone and is sustained as well.
Understanding: We seek to work with loving understanding and a conscious realization of how we impact others and our environment, thus making wise choices.
Honest Communications: We acknowledge that communication is key to manifesting peace, healthy relationships, and effective cooperation.
Living a Culture of Peace: We will strive to live in a Culture of Peace based on the principles of nonviolence and cooperation.^[4]

National actions

Valentine's Day Action: On Valentine's Day congressional offices all over the nation are visited by Student Peace Alliance members with Valentine's letters from constituents of their congressional district.^[5]
Peace of the Pie Action: The annual Mother’s Day “Peace of the Pie” National Action Day! On May 11 (the Friday before Mother's Day), members of SPA and Peace Alliance take pies to their local Congressional offices, letting members of Congress know that “Peace wants a Piece of the Pie, which is 2% of the Federal Defence Budget.^[6]

Endorsements

Most recently, Ben & Jerry's, the Vermont-based socially conscious ice-cream maker, announced that Aaron Voldman, Executive Director of the SPA and a member of the Board of Directors of The Peace Alliance, is one of two nationwide winners of its "Peace Pioneer" contest. The announcement was made on May 27, 2008 at its New York City Times Square Scoop Shop.^[7]

The bill (H.R. 2721) is co-sponsored by 235 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, advocated by 11 cities, counties or other local administrations including Los Angeles, Santa Fe County, Philadelphia, and Richmond, and endorsed by 250 organizations including World Vision International, Girls Inc. and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).^[8]

The Greater Alliance

The Greater Alliance, all of which have the goal of promoting peace and policies for peace, consists of the Peace Alliance, Student Peace Alliance, and Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace. Founded in 2004 by Maryanne Williamson, the Peace Alliance is an organization dedicated to, in coordination with national efforts, raising grassroots awareness in local communities about violence prevention and peace programs in order to influence congressional decisions.^[9] Established in 2005, and operating in over 30 countries around the world, The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace works on an international level promoting peaceful dialogue between nations through peace summits and global initiatives to establish Departments and Ministries of Peace.^[10]

Institutions across the United States

Seward High School – Flowing Wells High School – Horizon High School – Campbell University – Aliso Niguel High School – Arroyo Grande High School – University of California, Berkeley – California State University, Monterey Bay – Carlsbad High School – Del Dios Middle School – Mira Costa High School – Pacifica High School – Palos Verdes High School – San Dieguito Academy – San Pedro High School – Arvada High School – Colorado State University – Denver School of the Arts – Regis Jesuit High School – Regis University – Thompson Valley High School – University of Denver – Amity Regional High School – Connecticut's Student Peace Alliance – E. O. Smith High School – Fair Haven High School – Miss Porter's School – American University – Georgetown University – National Cathedral School – Coral Shores High School – Edison State College – St. Petersburg College – University of Florida – Boise High School – Eagle High School – North Junior High School – Student Peace Alliance of Idaho – DePaul University – University of Notre Dame – Westfield Washington High School – McPherson College – Shawnee Mission West – Brandeis University – Cross Collegiate – Endicott College – Salem State University – Wellesley College – Northwestern Michigan College – Schoolcraft College – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – Wayne State University – Concordia College – Mississippi University for Women – Truman State University – University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Keene State College – Merrimack High School – Plymouth State University – College of Saint Elizabeth & Fairleigh Dickinson University – Monmouth University – Stockton University – Westfield High School – Armand Hammer United World College of the American West – Homeschoolers of New Mexico – The Kew-Forest School – Pace University – University of Rochester – Vestal Senior High School – Western Carolina University – Tri-C Metro Campus – Eisenhower High School – Oklahoma City Community College – Pilhomoth High School – South Eugene High School – Cabrini College – Neumann University – Temple University – University of Pittsburgh – Winchester Thurston School – Johnson & Wales University – Lincoln School – Augustana College – Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church – Abilene Christian University – Southwestern University – Christopher Newport University – James Madison University – Lake Washington High School – Pacific Lutheran University – Vashon Island – University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee^[11]