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Press Releases:

Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum Inspires MYCP Youth in Tally

TALLAHASSEE (469 words) -- A high light of the rousing weekend at the PeaceJam Southest Conference in Tallahassee was when students shared a poem, a person in their lives, or a verse that inspired them. During the ceremony Nobel Laureate Rigoberta Menchu Tum of Gautemala lit a candle with each student after they shared.

 

 
  

In honor of Menchu Tum’s work, the theme of the conference was “Ending Racism and Hate.’’ At the annual weekend conference each spring, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to inspire a new generation of leaders to transform themselves, their local communities, and the world.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program, who facilitates small student PeaceJam groups throughout the Florida Keys, took six adults and 47 students to the conference hosted on the campus of Florida State University.

Students who attended were from Key West High School, Marathon High School, Coral Shores High School, Island Christian School, and home-educated students. Included in the group were several student members of the MYCP PeaceJam Youth Board.

Weeks of preparation were student led through the PeaceJam curriculum after school on the 10 issues of global peace. Then each region in the Keys organized a community project and presented it at the conference in Tallahassee.

MYCP PeaceJam Board Member Leah Sutter, who is home educated, shared about the youth PeaceJam Board. Representing the Upper Keys, Sophomore Almaneri Correa of Coral Shores spoke about the Soup-A-Bowl Project which raised money for the local community kitchen and food pantry.

Alex Fantroy of Marathon High School shared about the MHS Step on Hunger project which also raised food for a local pantry. The step team did a demonstration for the crowd that was ecstatically received. Lauryn Parra, a junior from Key West High School shared their Hearts For Haiti project to support relief efforts in Haiti.

Other activities included workshops, a march for peace planned by the FSU mentors around the campus, team building, and several opportunities to hear Menchu Tum.

In 1992, Menchú Tum was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her work for the rights of the Maya of Guatemala and native people everywhere. “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional,” Menchu tum said in one address that inspired youth.

Coral Shores Junior Devante Mills said, “The trip meant so much to me. I got to meet people from all over the state who share the same vision I do for peace.”

The Peacejam Youth Board is sponsored by MYCP. Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to build Developmental Assets® and create opportunities so every child in Monroe County can feel safe, loved, and celebrated. For more information call MYCP Director Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 53319 or visit http://mycp.keysschools.com/.
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