A Dialogue About Conflict and Community

Students enrolled in the Speak Out: A Dialogue About Conflict and Community class explored a variety of real-world issues through reading, writing, and extensive interviewing of community members who had experienced war, either as soldiers, peace activists or refugees. During class discussions and writing, students tackled tough subjects, from violence and conflict in schools, to the war in Iraq, to the Holocaust and other genocides around the world. As the students wrote poetry, read stories, and interviewed each other about their own experiences with conflict, they also listened to speakers from the community representing a variety of different perspectives. These young people then compiled their work with the voices of community members to publish an anthology of voices on war and peace. The goal was to help students develop listening, critical thinking and writing skills while learning more about how personal, local, national and international conflicts affect people. Through a partnership with a local non-profit organization that promotes writing as a mode of self-expression for disenfranchised communities, students were able to participate in a weekly writers workshop. Many of the pieces they wrote were included in the anthology alongside stories from community members. The culminating event included a public reading of the students' work and raised nearly $1,000 for local African refugees who have fled war-torn areas.