• The Center for Peacemaking recently received a $100,000 grant to put toward nonviolent conflict resolution programs
• The programs will be developed in participating Milwaukee Public Schools
• The purpose of the programs is to reduce violence and delinquent behavior among Milwaukee teens

Hitting, kicking and hair-pulling are often commonplace on elementary school playgrounds. Marquette's Center for Peacemaking is part of an effort to prevent such violent problem-solving methods in city schools.

The center recently received a $100,000 grant to develop and expand nonviolent conflict resolution programs for elementary, middle and high school students. In conjunction with the Department of Educational Policy & Leadership, Milwaukee Public Schools and the Law School, the center will use the grant money to create peer jury programs and expand peer mediation programs in Milwaukee schools.

The center received the grant through the Milwaukee Brighter Futures Initiative, a program run by the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families. BFI promotes healthy families and youth, school readiness for children, child safety in their families and communities and successful navigation from childhood to adulthood, according to the DCF Web site.

Natalie Fleury, program coordinator for dispute resolution at the Law School, submitted the draft grant narrative to BFI. She said the main goal of the grant is to reduce violence and delinquent behavior among teens in Milwaukee.

Through the peer jury program, groups of students at select schools will be trained to hear possible suspension cases of other students, Fleury said. She said she believes the peer jury system will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of their actions.

"Instead of going in front of a group of adults, students go in front of a group of their peers," Fleury said. "It incorporates the concept of restorative justice and helps offenders see the impact of their behavior not only on themselves, but on the school as a whole."

The peer mediation programs will train select students — chosen by their teachers and peers — in methods of nonviolent mediation, according to the Rev. G. Simon Harak, director of the Center for Peacemaking. Peer mediators will be taught skills in listening, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Harak said he believes it is vital for children to have role models they can look to for nonviolent resolution methods.

"We live surrounded by violence all the time," Harak said. "It's hard to convince students to resolve conflicts nonviolently and give them good examples of nonviolence."

John De Mott, associate director of the center, said he believes teaching children to solve conflicts in constructive, nonviolent ways will benefit them as they get older.

"There's a cumulative effect of doing these things, and the expectation is that (the students) will carry these skills with them later in life," De Mott said.