In a nation where school violence has become an unfortunate reality for far too many young, impressionable school children, 2000 New York City public school students and 400 Columbia volunteers have decided to challenge the violence that is trying to take control of their community. On Fri., April 27, from 10 am to 2 pm, these students will gather at Riverbank State Park (145th Street and Riverside Dr.) to celebrate the culmination of their yearlong commitment to non-violent conflict resolution.

The festival is a chance for the fourth and fifth grade students to show off the skills that they have acquired throughout the year and to exhibit their individual, student-produced cooperative "peace games." As a community we all have a responsibility to support programs that highlight a strong commitment to non-violence and that prepare vulnerable youngsters to make difficult choices in real world situations.

Peace Games, the largest service organization at Columbia University, believes that helping students learn decision-making skills will allow them to become valuable role models in their own communities. Furthermore, our program feels that the students' community must share in the responsibility to educate children about non-violence. This responsibility begins with the media's support of events like the Peace Games Festival.

Peace Games New York City is an entirely student-run program and it is one of the founding contributors of Peace by PEACE International, a non-profit organization that facilitates the expansion of similar Peace programs at college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Come support Peace Games New York City volunteers, along with 2000 New York City students as they continue their fight against school violence.