Meet Our FoundersMJ and Jerry Park are peace educators with more than 35 years of experience leading year-round programs for children and adults. They founded Little Friends For Peace in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1981. MJ and Jerry brought peace-building to the D.C. Metropolitan Area after relocating their family to Mount Rainier, Maryland, in 1988. In 1999, Little Friends For Peace became a founding organization of the community-initiated Perry School Community Services Center by establishing a Peace Room for the Youth Development Department and the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Since then, they have brought their peace curriculum as far as China and El Salvador. The Parks are proud parents of 6 children. In both raising their family and in their work, they believe that peace is a way of life. In July 2006, LFFP was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, and it continues to operate through dedicated, individual donor support.
Board of Directors
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The Little Friends for Peace curriculum is based on the philosophy that peace begins with you. When we find the peace inside each one of us, we can all become peacemakers and spread peace to our communities, our countries, and the world. 
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Books & Publications
MJ and Jerry Park have authored several publications that guide you through Little Friends for Peace's curriculum. In addition, these publications provide hands-on instructions for interactive peace practice and teaching. LFFP also has recommended books that often supplement many of our lessons and enhance the peace education experience. You can purchase any of our LFFP publications on our store and check out our recommended publications below!
Live Peace, Teach Peace
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Little Friends for Peace
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Our Recommended Publications
How Full is Your Bucket?
Tom Rath, Mary Reckmeyer, Maurie J. Manning Through a little boy named Felix, readers learn how "put ups" and kindness can fill one's bucket. When things don't go so well, or when people put us down, our bucket gets tipped. |
David's War, David's Peace Theresa MacInnis Schimmel David's War: A young boy befriends a rabbit, who takes him to his meadow home. He tells him of the invasion of woodchucks. David devises a war plan to get rid of the woodchucks but as with most wars, this results in tragedy. David's Peace: In this story David chooses a different course of action. He mediates the conflict between the rabbits and woodchucks. The resulting peace plan brings harmony to the creatures of the meadow. |
The Peace Book
Todd Parr Using fun illustrations, Parr takes children through some simple building blocks of peace. Simple statements like, "Peace is keeping the water blue for all the fish," will create an idea of what it means to have peace. |
Awards & Accolades
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JAMS Foundation & The Association for Conflict Resolution
LFFP and Action in Montgomery County (AIM) were awarded a grant to support their 2-year joint project, In the Shelter of Each Other: From Personal Wellness to Empowered Community. This project centers on two adjoining elementary schools in Montgomery County, Maryland: St. Francis International School and JoAnn Leleck School. Both schools serve highly diverse populations, including a high percentage of immigrants, and about 10% of the students are African American. The most common environmental condition to the students at both schools is trauma. The proposed project will implement conflict resolution learning and practice through services and opportunities provided to teachers, staff, parents, students, and the surrounding community. The goal is to meet urgent needs identified by community members, including gang violence prevention and safe spaces for children. George Washington University In both 2014 and 2016, LFFP and Volunteer Coordinator Kristen Pinto, were honored with two awards from The George Washington University for fostering a university partnership and advocating for positive change in the community. |
Stuart Center On May 14, 2016, MJ and Jerry received the Kit Collins Micah Award from the Stuart Center in Washington, D.C. This award is named after the founder and director of the Stuart Center who was known for her strong spirit and dedication to social justice. It is presented to a person or group who exhibits much of the same qualities as Sr. Kit Collins. Saint Francis International School
MJ and Jerry Park and were recognized on May 11, 2016, for their work in partnership with Saint Francis International School. Msgr. John Enzler and Deacon Jim Shanahan from Catholic Charities DC celebrated the Innovations in Catholic Education Award from Today's Catholic Teacher magazine, and the school's peacemaking project that was the focus of the award. During Mass, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, O.F.M., explained the importance of peacemaking in the message of Jesus and the central role that peacemaking plays in the Franciscan tradition. Pax Christi In 2008, MJ and Jerry were honored as Pax Christi USA's Peace Educators of the Year for their influential peace education in diverse settings. Read more by clicking here. |
Partner OrganizationsAlexandria City Public Schools Father McKenna Center Chance Academy Chance Academy offers an arts-integrated college preparatory academic program that is both multifaceted and tailored to individual needs. It offers students choices that allow them to have a voice in their education and provides a supportive yet demanding environment, so they will develop proud ownership of their learning. DC Peace Team The DC Peace Team collaborates with LFFP to do Bystander Intervention Training. It cultivates and sustains a culture of nonviolent peacemaking by developing trusting relationships, providing training/education in nonviolent conflict intervention skills and restorative justice, monitoring key areas of struggle in our communities, and accompanying school children through difficult neighborhoods. Drum Lady Kristen Arant & Kweku Owusu Kristen Arant is a drummer, musician, teacher, and organizer who lives and works in Washington DC. In 2005 she founded the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project, a nonprofit that gives rise to young women’s self-esteem, creative self-expression, and positive development through drumming, poetry, movement, song, and performance. Kweku Owusu is a Ghanaian master drummer currently living in the DC area. Eastern Mennonite University LFFP has an internship partnership with EMU. Each semester, a student who is interested in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, is able to work with us and assist with administrative tasks and the after school program or Peace Camps. The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) The mission of TASSC is to end the practice of torture wherever it occurs and to empower survivors, their families and communities wherever they are. Its work includes both advocacy and direct support. Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (UUCA) UUCA is a dynamic community of individuals who share a liberal spiritual journey. The mission of UUCA is to be a place where anyone and everyone can Connect, Grow, and Serve. |
LFFP proudly partners with many organizations around the DC metropolitan area. From churches to schools to other
non-profits, LFFP is happy to build relationships with organizations that share our dedication to interrupting violence and creating a culture of peace. Together, we can transform our world. To partner with LFFP fill out an application here: |