Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute

WHAT WE DO:
-Teach a Peace and Justice Studies curriculum at Valencia College. This is unique for a community college, since peace studies are typically taught at the Ph.D. level.

-Work with Associate in Science (A.S.) programs at Valencia, including criminal justice and nursing, to integrate peace studies into their curriculum, ultimately affecting the way people in these industries will handle conflict in their work.

-Promote peace and justice events and activities through sponsorship and collaborations with community and student groups.

-Facilitate conversations about peace, conflict resolution, human rights and tolerance for others.

-Host nationally known experts in peace and justice studies as speakers and scholars in residence.

-Provide community service and outreach.

-Provide students with hands-on experiences such as internships and service learning opportunities to give practical meaning to the theories of peace building.

WHY IT MATTERS:
Studying peace benefits all of us--it leads to better people and better societies. It provides a new approach and philosophy toward conflict resolution. It allows people to make a difference by "being the peace" in their own relationships, their neighborhood, the college campus, and even the world.

Peace and Justice Studies is also an excellent foundation for students interested in a broad spectrum of careers, including but not limited to: education, law enforcement, social services, community organizations, the Peace Corps, the U.S. Department of State and non-government organizations.

The stated goals of the Peace and Justice Institute are to:
1. Create and teach a Peace Studies curriculum

2. Sponsor and collaborate on Peace and Justice co-curricular activities

3. Foster a connection with Valencia’s A.S. programs in conflict transformation work

4. Offer community outreach in Peace and Justice

5. Engage in realizing Valencia’s core competencies

The Principles for How We Treat Each Other are the Institute's practices of respect and nonviolence:

1. Create a hospitable and accountable community.
2. Listen deeply.
3. Create an advice free zone.
4. Practice asking honest and open questions.
5. Give space for unpopular answers.
6. Respect silence.
7. Suspend judgment.
8. Identify assumptions.
9. Speak your truth.
10. When things get difficult, turn to wonder.
11. Practice slowing down.
12. All voices have value.
13. Maintain confidentiality.

Please refer to our website for a detailed list of the Principles: http://valenciacollege.edu/PJI/principles/principles.cfm