SoLa Community Peace Center Celebrating 20 years of Peacemaking!
Join us for the celebration of 20 years of Peacemaking on Sunday November 9th @ 3pm
at St. Mark's Lutheran Church - 3651 S. Vermont Ave.
You are invited to write a tribute to our 20 years of Peace work and Susan's birthday by clicking HERE
Please consider making a donation to ensure SoLA can continue cultivating peace for the next 20 years here:
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Mission and Vision
SoLa Community Peace Center - working with families and youth from South LA to grow strong leaders by cultivating skills in leadership, peacebuilding, social-emotional learning, and wellness in order to create a more resilient, peaceful, just, and healthy community and world.
About Us
SoLA Community Peace Center (SoLA) was established as a nonprofit in 2019, building on the legacy of the Peace Center's work starting from 2005. The Peace Center, and then SoLA Community Peace Center, have been centers of peace and justice, wellness, and leadership programs for families and youth in South LA. Through this legacy of 20 years of peacemaking, families and youth in South LA have found partnership in nonviolent social transformation, assistance in addressing problems, and safe spaces for healing. We have deep roots in our community and love the families and youth with whom we work. We strive always to walk with our families and be responsive to them even as we learn from each other and grow together.
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We have grown from the early years of a 1-week Summer Peace Camp to year-round peace programs in the community and local schools. During Covid-19 all our programs pivoted to online for the first time and we offered a zoom Peace Camp! We have hosted and continue to host health and wellness classes such as Tai Chi, Healthy Foods, Zumba, Gardening, and Peaceful Parenting. We have led and participated in vigils, boycotts, letter writing, and educational events on issues from Gun Violence to Bullying, Immigration to Eco-Justice. We conducted a Participatory Action Research Project which led to the development of our ongoing Community of Gardens project.​
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Our Programs
Community based Summer Peace Camp
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Our 4 week Summer Peace Day Camps teach children and youth peacemaking, leadership, conflict resolution, meditation, social-emotional skills, wellness and social justice through arts, gardening, cooking, and games!
Community based Fall and Spring Mini Peace Camps
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Mini Peace Camps provide opportunities for children to practice being peace leaders throughout the year. Our program provides pathways to leadership development, campers have continued to come back year after year as youth interns, teachers, and program directors.
School-based Fall and Spring Peace Projects
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In collaboration with USC JEP, we have developed The Peace Project, With JEP we train USC students to teach peacemaking and social-emotional skills to local elementary schools. Some of the lesson topics include listening, asking questions, feelings, win-win conflict resolution, forgiveness and making thing right, persistence, and gratitude.
Community Produce and Food Giveaways
As part of our ongoing commitment to wellness and healthy living, we offer free fresh produce bags to the community every 4th Wednesday of the month—year-round, and more frequently during school holidays as families experience more food burden. In South LA, where food deserts remain a serious concern, this initiative is one way we nurture health, dignity, and peace through access to nourishing food.
Health and Wellness Classes
We offer family-focused classes on health and wellness, designed to support the needs of people in South LA. Our sessions cover topics such as nutrition, gardening, physical, mental and spiritual health, healthy cooking and eating, mediation and mindfulness, and exercise.
Our Partners and Sponsors over the years
USC Joint Educational Project, USC Good Neighbors Grants, USC Chan Division of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, United University Church at USC, El Centro Chicano, Living Into the Future Foundation, LA City Council District 8, LA County Supervisor District 2, Community Service Unlimited, Community Builders Group and SeaFlo Foundation, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Seek the Peace Coalition, United Neighbors In Defense Against Displacement, Golden Key, Helenes, USC Toastmasters, USC Office of Religious Life, West Hollywood Church of Christ, 32nd St. School, Weemes Elementary, John Mack Elementary, Vermont Elementary, Science Center Elementary, Claremont United Methodist Church and Kid City.
"I used to think of peace as nothing bad happening and people getting along, but it takes a lot more than that to have peace. We learned about that LAFTER acronym listening, asking questions, feelings, try for a win-win, errors, and making it right."
- SOLA Youth
