Yesterday kicked off the start of the 3rd Annual NY Peace Week in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.’s non-violence efforts. A vision of community activist, Erica Ford who is widely respected as one of the most diligent and hard working activists of our generation, she is also the founder of the nonprofit organization Life Camp. Erica Ford and the NY Peace Week committee will hold its annual press conference at City Hall this Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:00 noon. 
The goal of NY Peace Week is to create a culture of peace throughout New York City for seven days, featuring special events and a grassroots viral marketing campaign that encourages individuals to take personal action to create inner peace and set a positive example for NYC youth.
NY Peace Week celebrity supporters include: Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Russell Simmons, Deepak Chopra, Reverend Al Sharpton, AT Michell of Man Up Inc., Tamika Mallory of National Action Network, Hot 97, Power 105, Ed Lover, The Source Magazine owner Londell McMillan, Diggy Simmons, Mindless Behavior, Cheryl “Salt” Wray, Michael Strahan, Gotham/Hamptons magazine Publisher Debra Halpert, Maino, and many more.
NY Peace Week features a series of events and activities that will address a range of violence and conflict-related issues that affect the social order of New York City communities, raise the urgent need to get guns off the street and engage communities in combating the culture of violence among our young people. Last night the initiative hosted a dinner in Queens, NY for the “Forgiveness Dinner” afterwards Russell Simmons tweeted “Just left queens “forgiveness” dinner for mothers who lost their kids to streets Thank god for @EricaFordNYC and I love my life #peaceweek.”
The Mission of Peace Week is to:
- Promote the value of LIFE; Develop teens and adults into peer leaders, to avoid becoming perpetrators or victims of violence.
- Provide young people with the tools and resources that promote critical thinking, self-empowerment and personal accountability.
- Build partnerships between public and private sectors to respond collectively, collaboratively and holistically to the issue of youth violence.
- Create a model for reducing violence that will provide stakeholders with the necessary skills and resources to effectively implement positive change within their own communities.
2012 NY Peace Week’s theme and messaging is: #PeaceIsALIFEStyle. Youth and celebrity ambassadors will blog, tweet and post user generated content for 7 days, sharing experiences that reinforce this year’s theme and messaging and you too can get involved by using the official hashtag.
There are so many events taking place this week for NY Peace week, if you are in the NYC area, we encourage you to click this here and support one of these phenomenal events!
Why Peace Week?
Homicide is the leading cause of death among NYC youth. One in ten NYC teens report not going to school because of feeling unsafe at school or on their way to school. Many NYC youth are measuring their lives in 2 – 5 year cycles, not believing that they will survive beyond the next 5 years. Proceeds from funds raised during NY Peace week will go toward summer programs and activities for NYC youth, to provide positive alternatives to youth violence and other forms of negative behavior.
For complete details and more information on the 3rd Annual NY Peace Week visit www.nypeaceweek.com!
