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Communities in Action for Peace CAP's Motto is Put a Cap on Violence Communities in Action for Peace (CAP) Overview of Successes 1994 – 2011 CAP has provided an open, county-wide forum for individuals, groups, and agencies to join forces in violence prevention.  For the past 17 years, CAP has successfully brought diverse people and perspectives together creating an ongoing ripple of effective grassroots activities.  Here are some tangible outcomes: Convened in 1994, CAP continues to be a vibrant growing violence prevention consortium of Allegheny County organizations and agencies meeting monthly Received $35,000 from Highmark/ Blue Cross/ Blue Shield in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and with these monies awarded twenty-three mini grants to grassroots organizations throughout Allegheny County. Impacted communities include:  East Hills, McKeesport, Wilkinsburg, Garfield, East Liberty, Perry-Hilltop, Northview Heights, Homewood Brushton, and McKees Rocks Presented a concept paper on grassroots funding to the Youth Crime Prevention Council which became the model Highmark/ Blue Cross/ Blue Shield adopted for its Partnership in Prevention of Violence Project Paired, monitored, trained, provided technical assistance and professional expertise to twenty-five grassroots groups and twenty-five staff representatives Offered an annual Celebration of Peace Dinner for the past seventeen years, the last of which was December 5, 2011. Created a Sign for Peace project which participated in forty county events at malls, schools, civic affairs and community celebrations, e.g., "Not in Our Town," Rally Published and delivered 2,000 copies of the CAP Newsletter In 2000 CAP was awarded the placement of an Americorps VISTA Community Organizer Presented youth and adult workshops at the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution Acted as spokespersons and attended, testified, or spoke at specific violence related hearings and workshops plus served as CAP representatives to relevant groups Recognized by state, local, and regional levels for its community work Created a community team in conjunction with CISM and the V.A. to respond to crises Successful Youth Activities:  Young people from Duquesne, Beltzhoover, North Side, Penn Hills and the Hill District participated in "Stomp Out the Violence, Bring in the Peace" Talent Showcase 2001.  All performers received certificates and t-shirts with the winners receiving $200 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place and $50 for 3rd place.  CAP’s goal of having young people from various communities and neighborhoods coming together in a positive and fun manner was realized with this event. The following youth conferences have been offered: “The Art of Peace” was offered Saturday, November 9th, 2002 at the Frick Art and Historical Center.  Fifty Five young people from ten agencies and organizations participated in this event.  Participants enjoyed the Frick campus as well as three workshops, Drugs and Alcohol, Healthy Relationships and Conflict Resolution. "Creating Attitudes of Peace" - On September 18, 2004 CAP offered our second Youth Conference at Penn State University’s McKeesport Campus.  The evening before Hurricane Ivan created major flooding throughout Allegheny County which interfered with the projected attendance expected.  Mr. Lee Rush, Executive Director of justCommunity, Inc. was the keynote resource person.  He led the group in a series of games and activities that encouraged cooperation and positive interaction among youth.  He shared his personal journey to find, experience, and live a life of peace through his trip to Bhutan, a small country in the Himalayas. CAP member, Ms. Toni McClendon of Planned Parenthood, provided a look at how music lyrics and videos shape our relationships and views of women.  She shared lyrics, music, and videos to illustrate and challenge the values portrayed. “Paddling for Peace” - Offered in July 2005 in collaboration with CAP member organization, Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA). Forty young people from East McKeesport, North Side, Ross Township, Ingomar, Duquesne, West Mifflin, Oakland, Fox Chapel and East Liberty gathered at TRRA’s Millville Boathouse for a day of team-building activities, a Tobacco Free Allegheny presentation, safety instructions and Dragon Boat Training. By the end of the day all participants had successfully paddled a boat in a Dragon Boat Race requiring cooperation, physical stamina and increased muscle strength. As a result of CAP’s 2005 Youth Conference, Paddlers for Peace, a Youth Dragon Boat League, was developed in association with Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA). The mission of the Youth League is to introduce Allegheny County young people to team water sports while developing leadership, encouraging volunteerism, and enhancing the youths’ sense of self. It also offers a sense of accomplishment, an understanding of diversity and ability to work with others toward a common goal. For the past six summers approximately 160 young people from diverse communities throughout Allegheny County have participated weekly in paddling on our beautiful rivers. The Paddlers for Peace have also participated in annual Dragon Boat Festivals and other paddling competitions in Pennsylvania and Ohio. CAP celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a Luncheon held at the Greentree Holiday Inn, Friday, November 19, 2004. Honorees were Marc Cherna, Director of the Allegheny Department of Human Services, Kelly e. Parker, Women's Center and Shelter and Dr. Carl Fertman, Executive Director of the MAPS Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Peace Bus In 2005 CAP began sponsoring the Peace Bus in collaboration with the Allegheny County Summer Feeding Program. The Peace Bus is a community mobile initiative, which brings a message of peace and non-violence to children and youth in underserved municipalities and communities throughout Allegheny County. During the summer of 2011, the Peace Bus went to the following individual sites and served 325 children: Parkford Apartments, South Park Morning Star Baptist, Clairton HSC, Woodland Hills Jr. High, Turtle Creek Meyers Ridge, McKees Rocks East Hills Family Support Center Hawkins Village, Rankin Carnegie Towers, Carnegie Union Baptist Church, Swissvale Lincoln Park Family Center, Penn Hill Human Service Center Corp., Turtle Creek Millvue Acres, Clairton Human Service Center Corp., Turtle Creek HSC, Woodland Hills Jr. High, Turtle Creek Angora Gardens, White Oak During the summer of 2009, in addition to visiting individual lunch program sites, CAP offered mini Peace Camps to Prospect Terrace, Marion Circle, and Monview Heights. These 4-day camps were designed to raise children’s awareness of peace and nonviolence and educate them on how they can become more peaceable within themselves, at home, at school, and in their community. The camp was open to children ages 6 to 12. Through artistic expression, play, storytelling, and discussion, the camp taught children violence prevention skills. · CAP membership begins to develop strategic plans for redefining our mission and goals for the coming years. This is an on-going process. · CAP received a $15,000 grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation to expand youth outreach programming through the Crossing the Rivers for Peace program – Paddlers for Peace and the Peace Bus. · Members from Pittsburgh Paddlefish provide support and mentoring as CAP continues our partnership with The Three Rivers Association for the Youth Dragon Boat League. · The Coalition Against Violence becomes a CAP member-organization. Along with ACT Against Violence, promoted by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services · CAP received a $2,000 donation from The Allegheny Department of Human Services for the Peace Bus for several summers. · Traveling the three rivers, the Peace bus visited 35 different municipalities and communities in Allegheny County. Over 1,000 children pledged to be more peaceful as they decorated the Sign for Peace and learned how to be more peaceful at home, in school, and in the community. · Sign for Peace was presented at the following venues in 2008: Pittsburgh North People for Peace and anti-racism Coalition event, YWCA International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Women of Color History Month program, Celebration of Reading Book Fair, Pittsburgh King ALA -- Take a Dad to School Day and Mini-conference on nonviolence for parents, Women’s Walk for Peace on the North Side, Sto-Rox Family Support Center Holiday Dinner. The Sign for Peace continues to be offered at all Peace Bus activities. · The first annual CAP picnic was held in Riverview Park in 2008, where CAP members, families and friends had fun making “pinwheels for peace.  Return to Home Questions or comments, send E-mail to: ctorso@pitt.edu Updated: January 19, 2012