When we founded Peace4Kids in 1998, we never imagined how much we would grow and flourish. What began as a small garden project has evolved into a thriving community impacting thousands.
In 2023, we celebrated 25 years, marking a milestone with a special logo featuring symbols that represent the breakthroughs, safe spaces, and shared experiences we've co-created with our youth. Now, in our 27th year, we’re excited to reflect on this journey with you.
Join us as we travel back through time, revisiting the moments that shaped us from 1998 to today. Some symbols may feel familiar, while others may reveal new meaning—we can't wait to share their stories with you!
Published 2nd Children's Book
Written and illustrated by Mir Cortez-Cáceres. Discover Nani's journey, a shooting star seeking safety and affection after being cast out from Jupiter's ring. Despite many challenges, Nani's determination guides her. Mir's symbolism highlights foster care struggles, but through resilience, Nani finds her gifts lead to greatness. This heartwarming tale inspires all ages to embrace uniqueness and pursue dreams. Purchase your copy today!
Finding Home
In September 2023, we purchased 20.02 acres of land in Agua Dulce! The pandemic was challenging for everyone, but especially for our children. Our model is always evolving to meet the needs of those we serve. To support our community, we're building a nature retreat center that promotes mindfulness, healing, and collaboration. We will use the arts, physical exercise, cathartic activities, and mindfulness practices to create a space that is restorative.
Heart Centered Connectors's Certification
In partnership with Dr. Niki Elliot, over 30 community members have been certified as Heart Centered Connectors. We collaborated to customize a program focused on self-regulation techniques and training others to support children impacted by trauma. Our Heart Centered Educators train social workers and caregivers, educators and others. Above all, they're eager to support the healing of others who have experienced foster care.
Published 1st Children's Book
Each of us has unique gifts that can make a positive impact. In 2021, we published our first children's book, The Pointless Forest. Pointlexia, the pencil, learns how her differences enable her to recolor her world. This book highlights foster care in an engaging way so that grade school teachers can talk about it with their students from a place of strength. Our lineup will expand in 2024!
Founded ROCMove
ROCMove [Revolution of Care Movement] is a group of intergenerational leaders with firsthand foster care experience, distinct expertise and direct stakes in creating a healthier culture and experience for young people in care. Our goal is ambitious: to confront media bias and reframe public perception of people with experience in foster care. 🎧 Listen to Our Podcast
Virtual Sunshine
For the first time in over two decades, we were unable to physically connect with each other during the pandemic. Despite dire circumstances, our youth have taught us a lot about adapting. We tapped into our community and provided food, technology, and life needs funding. In response to our physical distance, we launched "Virtual Sunshine", an online Saturday program that allowed us to connect and heal our hearts.
Heart Centered Justice Training
Safe and supportive environments are essential for children who grow up in foster care. Using an anthropological approach, we identified key strengths and behaviors for youth in foster care in terms of personal development, academic achievement, and mental health. Our Heart Centered Justice Training Course has supported hundreds of social workers, educators, and other helping professionals.
USC Jovrnalism Collaboration
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is a library of wisdom. We teamed up with USC Annenberg students in an “Advanced Disruption: Innovation with Emerging Technology” journalism class to create immersive stories. Using virtual reality and 360-degree videos, each story reveals our youth's strengths and resilience as they share their insights.
Groundbreaking Research
Our youth wanted to know how the public thought about youth in foster care. So Peace4Kids asked over 5,000 respondents in local and national surveys what they thought. We discovered that the public made some reckless assumptions about youth in care. Through advocacy, speaking engagements, and academic writing, our research team continues to employ these surveys to dispel these myths.
Family Dinners
Family dinners are magical portals to a world brimming with laughter, music, and boundless joy. Understanding that our youth may not always experience these cherished traditions, our beloved Deirdre Lopilato, affectionately known as "Mama D," began hosting monthly family dinners in 2016 in the warm embrace of her home. Thousands have broken bread together since. 🤍
Free Pop-Up Library
A book can transport us to new places and introduce us to unknown worlds. In 2014, long-time volunteer "Library Lizz" initiated a weekly pop-up library where youth were exposed to diverse literature and stories that inspire hope. We offer free books to all youth as part of our regular program. This ensures literary access, encourages reading at all levels, and creates an environment of exploration and discovery.
The Mobile Village Kitchen
The Mobile Village Kitchen [MVK] is a solution to the missing food legacy for youth in foster care, improving health outcomes and tackling food inequity in South LA. A Peace4Kids' original concept, the Mobile Village Kitchen is a 32' expandable trailer designed by our youth along with architect and former board chair Deborah Richmond. To date, the MVK has served over 10,000 nutrient rich meals.
"All I Did Was Turn 18" Campaign
Previously, foster care placements for teens ended at 18. When Antony, a Peace4Kids youth, experienced this, his brother Akin decided to act. Akin and friends started Project Homebound and rode their bikes across California to raise public awareness. The "All I Did Was Turn 18" campaign influenced the age at which youth exit foster care to 21 in California and 47 other states. Akin was awarded the White House Champion of Change Award in 2015 for his leadership.
The PeaPod Music & Arts Academy
Through Peace4Kids and the Watts Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club, Wil.i.am and the Black-Eyed Peas launched the PeaPod Music and Arts Academy to support our youth's talents. In addition to providing a state-of-the-art music studio, the Academy provided resources and mentorship to young artists and musicians who want to pursue their art with purpose. Music and somatic therapy remain integral to our program.
Collocated at the Watts Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club
With more children joining Peace4Kids, 99th Street Elementary School became too small to accommodate our physical needs. The Watts Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club [WWBGC] offered us their site to house our Saturday core programming in response to our need for additional space. By being located next to George Washington Carver Park, we maintained our connection to nature, expand our services, and provide outdoor activities to our youth.
Peace4Kids Poetry Team
As our teens expressed a desire to be heard, we connected with Brave New Voices and learned spoken word. Through slam poetry, they traveled from coast to coast, lifting their voices. It was through their words that they discovered that their words had power and could shine a light on the uniqueness of the foster care story. Their lessons still influence Peace4Kids, and we continue to sing and celebrate the song they wrote that encapsulates our 4 Core Concepts.
Collaborative Era Begins
Our magical peace garden inspired others to join us, beginning a long history of collaboration. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School joined our family and shared their resources and talents in sports, art, science, and education. National Charity League provided meals and our annual Beach Day, Chadwick International hosted International Community Days. We have collaborated with dozens of organizations over the years, bringing communities together and building long-lasting friendships.
Connecting with Nature
Youth play a crucial role in setting our course. A key Peace4Kids philosophy is that our youth are capable, no matter what adversity they've faced. Their desire to see and experience more of the world around them led us to create the conditions. We traveled to the mountains, beaches and Catalina Island. We gained new knowledge, formed stronger ties, and anchored our love of nature and restorative environments.
Our Core Concepts
The "PERCs" of Peace4Kids have guided us from the start and continue to inspire self-confidence and awareness. Personal Responsibility: We shape our destinies in a purposeful and reflective way by taking responsibility for ourselves and others. Effective Communication: Serves as our cornerstone for cultivating nurturing connections. Respect: Promotes a culture of mutual understanding and appreciation. Community as Family: Through a responsive, consistent and culturally sensitive community, we cultivate a sense of belonging and permanence.
30 Seconds of Silence
Meditation has always played a vital role at Peace4Kids. Every program day begins with a hush throughout the community. During these 30 seconds of silence, we quiet our self-talk and listen to our heartbeat. With each breath, bellies rise and fall in unison providing a brief moment of clarity during a mini-reset and meditation. With a countdown of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, the childlike sound returns echoing with joy. Taking care and healing ourselves starts here.
Our Beginnings
In 1998, Zaid Gayle and Marni Otway founded Peace4Kids as part of a nationwide campaign to promote peace. The students at 99th Street Elementary School invited Peace4Kids to create a garden with them to have a peaceful environment at school. Through gardening, the students learned about the cycle of life and the principles of nonviolence while discovering their strengths and gifts in the process.
