Sweet Success!
Everyone has had a chance to experience a creation at the delicious Cold Stone Creamery, right? Well, if you haven't, today is your lucky day. McGalpine Enterprises has opened a new Cold Stone Creamery, just minutes away from the Peace4Kids Compton Office. The owner, Cecily McGalpine wanted to bring a new franchise into an area where there isn't much variety and wanted to partner up with an organization serving youth in the Compton area. What a coincidence, Peace4Kids fits those demographics perfectly. Read more...

Make Noise
In a cold, crowded van full of nausea and dirty jokes, a year and five and a half hours later, all eight of us finally arrived in San Jose to attend the 10th annual Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Festival. Feeling sweaty and tired, I was delighted to see our beautiful hotel which housed 450 other national/international young poets. Read more from Chris Smith - Poetry Team Member...

Peace4Kids Camping Trip 2007
This year P4K took 40 kids to Thousand Pines in San Bernardino for our annual camping trip. Many of the children have experienced camping with what they have come to know as their P4K extended family as this was P4K's 9 year camping anniversary. Personally, I have attended twice and both times have been experiences that I will cherish. This year the camp offered the zip line, giant swing, off roading, swimming and everyone's favorite a karaoke party! Read more of a Camp Counselor's experience...

Announcements
Five new additions have joined the Peace4Kids Family. Nicholas Brayden Otway, a Baby Boy born to Marni and Matthew Otway on July 27, 2007. Jeremiah Glover, a Baby Boy born to DeShawne Coleman & Kenneth Glover on April 21st 2007. Natalie White - P4K Volunteer Coordinator joined the Peace4Kids family in May 2007. April D'Aguilar - Administrative Coordinator joined the Peace4Kids family in July 2007, and Katie Yording Teen Program Manager joined the Peace4Kids family September 2007. Read more...

Through the Emancipation Services Program
Through the Peace4Kids Emancipation Services Program, transitioning youth ages 12-24 receive personalized support in all areas of life. One of the areas that is a major focus of the Emancipation Services Program is healthcare. One of our recent successes in the Emancipation Services Program is with one of our youth who had been injured and needed to have surgery to repair her injuries. Read more of this incredible story...

Peace4Kids Celebrates Nine Year Anniversary
Spring is the season for new beginnings, which in turn is an invitation to look back at recent history. At Peace4Kids, this time of year is no different. As we celebrate our nine year anniversary this spring, we have thought how best to honor our past and celebrate the possibilities for our future. Some of you may be new to the world of Peace4Kids while others have been with us from the days we opened our doors. Regardless, each of you represents a unique part of the Peace4Kids story. Read more...

The California Endowment Makes an Investment in Growth of Peace4Kids
One of the most prestigious foundations in the state has made a substantial grant to Peace4Kids. We are proud that The California Endowment has made a three-year grant totaling $457,160 to support the new Peace4Kids Emancipation Services Program (ESP). Read more...

Benefit concert for Peace4Kids
Thursday, February 8, 2007 there was a benefit concert for Peace4Kids at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. From this benefit concert, The Black Eyed Peas Peapod Foundation, c/o The Entertainment Industry Foundation, are providing funding to Peace4Kids to launch the Peapod Music and Arts Academy, a state-of-the-art music educational center and recording facility. Peace4Kids will be receiving $300,000 over the next three years. Read more...

In a mentor's own words
I have been Jessica’s mentor since November 2006.  Having her in my life has been a powerful and challenging experience.  I am learning so much from Jessica… how to be a better listener, patience, how sometimes being supportive means not doing anything at all and I’m learning how to be special kind of friend. Read more...

Children are Inspired by Live Theater on Peace4Kids Field Trip
“I now know that I can be whatever I want to be”, “anything is possible”, “don’t let others judge you” were the words of our children following a performance at the Norris Theater of the popular new show, High School Musical.  When their director of education, Debbie Martinez, asked the children to stand up if they have never attended a live theatrical performance, almost half of the Peace4Kids participants rose out of their seats. Read more...

Child's Gift
"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
                                                 --Martin Luther King, Jr.

Very rarely do underprivileged youth take the opportunity to give back to their communities. When a person is faced with his or her own challenges it’s difficult to think of helping someone else in need. At Peace4Kids, one of our 4 Core Concepts is Community as Family. We want our youth to understand that when you give back to the community you are truly giving to yourself. Read more...

A Holiday Story
At Peace4Kids we recognize that the Holiday season can be a difficult reminder for our kids of the family that is missing from their lives. It is for this reason that we strive to make the Holiday season at Peace4Kids a time of great celebration. For the past eight years we have had our very own youthful Holiday celebration, where the kids are given new gifts and get to take a picture with Santa. Though these things seem small and insignificant the impact is immeasurable. Read more...

Picture This!
Photos tend to be the best way to convey a story, an idea, to evoke an emotion, or capture a fleeting moment for the archives of time. But perhaps the best pictures ever taken are the ones that never make it onto a negative. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Make yourself necessary to somebody.” Our mentors do this day after day and week after week - This interview is just one account of the many in an effort to make unforgettable memories through simple moments of giving. Read more...

Peace Garden
Like the Secret Garden, a favorite childhood book of mine, the Peace Garden is a place of child-like wonder and awe, a place for our youngest Peace4Kids kids to play with friends and explore new activities.  Each Saturday, the five to seven year olds look forward to an assortment of activities where they can cook, make different crafts, play games or read. Read more...

Peace4Kids Invited to Sacramento; Eight New Bills Signed to Benefit State’s Foster Children
As the work of Peace4Kids draws more and more positive attention, Assemblywoman Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) invited co-founders of Peace4Kids, Zaid Gayle and Marni Otway with seven of our foster youth/emancipated youth to Sacramento to stand beside Governor Schwarzenegger in an important ceremony toward making California “a better parent to roughly 75,000 foster children.” Read more...

A Gift for the Giver…
Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world." Service is a courageous yet simple way to embody this idea, and at Peace4Kids we have the fortune of having an incredible group of over 75 people who understand this concept, and live it! These people are the volunteers of Peace4Kids. Read more...

Peace4Kids Welcomes New Staff Members
Peace4Kids recently hired LaKeisha Thomas as our new Administrative Coordinator. LaKeisha is our 5th full-time staff member at Peace4Kids, replacing DeShawne Coleman who formerly held that role. Although we are sad to see DeShawne leave this position, we are excited to announce that she is not leaving Peace4Kids. Read more...

Celebrating & Appreciating Mother-Nature with Peace4Kids!!!
On the day we left for our Peace4Kids camping trip, the air was thick with energy and excitement. Our destination: Camp Meadow, a beautiful camping ground nestled in the mountains of Big Bear. --Written by Peace4Kids volunteer, Shonda. Read more...

Peace4Kids Receives Major Grant Support
We are honored that many prestigious foundations have chosen to invest in our mission and our youth. Over $300,000 has been raised this year in grant funding, and we intend to match this with private, individual contributions. With their help and yours, Peace4Kids will continue to reach greater heights and help bring hope within reach for foster youth in South Los Angeles. Read more...

Poetry in Motion
In April of this year, the “Make Noise Compton” Peace4Kids Poetry Team traveled to New York to participate in the Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry festival. The members of the team had an amazing time meeting other young writers and artist from around the world, and set a goal to participate again in 2007! Read more...


Success Story
There is not a more invaluable gift than seeing a child awaken to the possibilities in their life. It is for that reason Peace4Kids is founded on the concept of choice. For one of our youth this notion was a difficult concept to grab but once he got it, his possibilities have become unparalleled. Read more...

Mentors create possibilities for P4K youth
Having a mentor really has opened a lot of doors of opportunities and I am thankful to have such a positive role model in my life. To tell you the truth, when we were first started this thing, I did not want a mentor, but I did not know how much help I needed, so now I am glad to have Jason as my mentor. Read more...

In the volunteer’s own words
I was at the registration table when Billy and Edward were signing in with I’m assuming their foster mom. They looked timid and scared as this was their first day at Peace4kids. I tried talking to them but they would only look down and nod their heads. --Written by Peace4Kids volunteer, Maria. Read more

Saturdays at P4K—Creating Possibilities
When the children arrive at Peace4Kids for their first time, they have no idea what to expect. As they walk through the doors, they are welcomed by smiling faces, a warm welcome from all of the wonderful Peace4Kids volunteers and they realize….this is a different kind of place than what they are used to and their faces light up. Read more...

Please take a moment and consider making a gift to Peace4Kids. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us work closer with foster and at-risk youth, and guide their journey into adulthood. It is the only way we will be able to expand and sustain our programs.