The School for Peace

Work is underway for two Change Agents courses focusing on city planning and development! The Planners Course, which focuses on architecture and civil engineering as a means of social change, recently toured Wadi Ara and spoke with local officials about the challenges facing the communities in the valley. The valley suffers from housing discrimination against its Arab communities, which are frequently denied land and building materials. Planners Course participants learned from architects, committee chairs, and graduates of previous Planners Courses that have begun to work in the area. 

Meanwhile, the Mixed Cities Course met and shared the initiatives that they have been working on to strengthen mixed communities and increase civic involvement. The group, which is the fourth cohort to take part in the program, has designed a fascinating array of initiatives designed to bring multicultural communities together. Among those highlighted in the meeting were a database for cultural bilingual activities, an Arabic-Jewish photography Course, and a creative space in Jaffa that harnesses the power of narratives and help people from all walks of life tell their stories. 

The accomplishments of these Change Agents create a ripple effect, promoting justice and reconciliation in ways both expected and unforeseeable. Their ingenuity and dedication is only a small part of the work that the School for Peace does to create a better and more equitable future.