The Urban Schools Program was established in 1996 under the supervision of Marsha Blakeway. As The Urban Schools Program was established in 1996 under the supervision of Marsha Blakeway.  As Program Director, Mrs. Blakeway seeks to foster peacemaking and encourage conflict resolution through mediation training in local schools. The program is partly funded by NPF and is currently established in two local D.C. schools, Alice Deal Junior High and Benjamin Murch Elementary School. The program provides technical support and training in conflict resolution to both teachers and students. The teachers apply what they learn into the classroom and teach the students conflict resolution techniques through posters and handouts. Additionally, the Urban Schools Program also trains an average of sixteen peer mediators a year. These student mediators facilitate a resolution between students by listening to each party and creating a solution that is equally beneficial to both sides of the conflict.

The main strategy that is implemented in this program is the “I Can Problem Solve” method. This method is a six-step problem solving process that includes:

1. Stop, cool off

2. talk and listen to each other

3. find out what you both need

4. brainstorm solutions

5. choose the idea you both like best

6. make a plan and go for it

This program is significant for the community involved as well as NPF. The Urban Schools Program seeks to impact and change violence-ridden communities through conflict resolution education. These communities and students, therefore, have an opportunity to positively alter their lifestyle. NPF hopes to expand this program to include more schools in the future. This program allows NPF to advance our goals towards peace education, conflict resolution, and mediation.

• Click here to learn about Education Resources
• Click here to learn about the Diversity Resources

Marsha BlakewayProgram Director-Urban Schools Program- mblakeway@nationalpeace.org

Marsha S. Blakeway directs NPF’s Urban Schools Program. In this capacity, she provides consulting, facilitation, and training services in conflict resolution and bias awareness to DC Public Schools. Her other recent projects include a gang-prevention and community service project for teenage Hispanic girls. Ms. Blakeway also initiated a partnership with D.C. Neighborhood Services staff and school personnel to organize a violence prevention program for Terrell junior high school located in one of Washington, D.C.’s high-violence neighborhoods. Prior to joining NPF, Ms. Blakeway served four years as the Coordinator and lead trainer for the Washington, DC area branch of Children’s Creative Response to Conflict. She has taught graduate-level conflict management courses at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University and teacher recertification programs in Virginia and Maryland. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin (1968) and a M.S. in Conflict Management from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia (1986).

To make a tax-deductible donation to this or any of our programs, Please mail your check made out to the National Peace Foundation to our address below. Credit card payments are also accepted (Visa/Mastercard/American Express). Please drop us a note with your name, address, donation amount and credit card information via regular post.We have a secure on-line payment process, and you can make donations at http://www.active.com/donate/nationalpeaceThank you

National Peace Foundation

We want your feedback! Please contact us at npf@nationalpeace.org National Peace Foundation www.nationalpeace.org.

Copyright 2003