K-12 Programs

As the school year is back in full swing, Peace Learning Center's youth services team is forging an exciting partnership with two IPS community high schools and the district's alternative education programs. With support from the district's central office, 7^th and 8^th grade students John Marshall and Arlington Community High Schools will participate in Peace Learning Center programming throughout the 2010-2011 school year.

Each week, PLC facilitators work with every 7^th and 8^th grade student at both schools, providing engaging and powerful opportunities to build conflict management skills. Through hands-on and discussion-focused activities, students are learning how to be better community members and to connect with one another in authentic ways. Through this program, PLC anticipates that students will not only learn critical communication and emotional literacy skills, but will also gain the internal motivation to use those skills on a daily basis.

If you'd like to learn more about how PLC can serve elementary through high school students, as well as the adults in their lives, please contact Kirsten Eamon-Shine at keamon-shine@peacelearningcenter.org.

Did you know that PLC can design a customized professional development program to fit the unique needs of your organization?  You can view some of our offerings here.  In addition, we provide consulting services on a wide range of leadership, diversity and healthy communication topics to meet a diverse array of organizational needs.

Peace Learning Center also provides publicly offered professional development offerings each month from Sept-May.  If you are looking for low-cost programs focused on cultivating healthy organizational practices, see our Tuesdays at PLC mini professional development session calendar here  and our half-day professional development sessions here    

October & November Professional Development Sessions

Note: you can now pay for registrations via credit card or check and can register multiple attendees!

Tuesdays at PLC Mini Professional Development Session:

Understanding Organizational Culture

October 12, 2010

Presenter: Richard W. Smith

Registration Fee: $5.00

Time: 8:30am-10:00am

Place: Peace Learning Center   

Register here Please note: prepayment is required

Session Description: It is crucial that we understand organizational culture if we are committed to maintaining or developing healthy organizations.  Our deep assumptions about organizational values, beliefs, attitudes and behavior are some of the key ingredients that blend together to shape an organization's culture.  Through dialogue, questions and the exploration of a Culture Diagram we will seek to understand more fully how culture influences organizational health.

Tuesdays at PLC Mini Professional Development Session:

Bully Prevention in Schools

November 9, 2010

Presenter: Pam Larkey, LMHC

Registration Fee: $5.00

Time: 8:30am-10:00am

Place: Peace Learning Center    

Register here  Please note: prepayment is required

Session Description: While some have said that bullying behavior is "just part of growing up", research has taught us that this form of abuse can have long term consequences for children targeted during their school-aged years. This session will provide a clear definition of bullying, helping participants learn to distinguish between bullying and other types of aggression. Through a better understanding of what bullying is, this workshop will also provide suggestions for prevention and intervention strategies. The information presented is based on the research-supported Olweus Bullying Prevention Model.

Half-Day Professional Development Session:

The Art of Leading Transformational Change

Donation Session - all proceeds go to our youth programs; Registrations are tax deductible

November 19, 2010

Presenter: Patti Ayars

Registration Fee: $49

Time: 8:30am - Noon

Place: Indiana Interchurch Center   Directions

Register here  Please note: prepayment is required

Session Description: Do you need to drive change in your organization?  Are you equipped to drive the changes it will take to be successful in situations where the rules are being re-written?   Leaders that continuously achieve extraordinary results understand that many of the changes they need to drive are transformational. Highly effective leaders know the difference between incremental and transformational change, they know how to lead both kinds of change and they know what it takes to be a transformational change leader.  

In this session Patti Ayars, Peace Learning Center Board member and change management expert, will teach you the difference between incremental and transformational change and what it takes to lead successful, sustainable change in an ever changing world.  Each participant will receive a copy of Patti's new book, The Art of Leading Transformational Change - a $29.95 retail value.  All proceeds from this event will be donated to Peace Learning Center to invest in the youth of our community.

The 2nd Annual Board Chair Summit is coming January 21st, 2011 - Registration is now open!

The Corporate & Community Program team is gearing up for the 2nd annual Central Indiana Board Chair Summit which will take place January 21, 2011 at Madame Walker Theatre.  This year PLC is partnering with Lacy Leadership Association on this exciting event.  As a community leader, you have the opportunity to transform the nonprofit and community landscape by being a part of the Summit.  The first-ever Central Indiana Board Chair Summit was held in January 2010 and elicited tremendous interest from over 80 organizations throughout central Indiana.  This sold-out event garnered highly positive evaluation results:

• 95% of board chairs rated the Summit as "above average" or "excellent."
• 94% of board chairs learned new ideas or skills that could be put into practice immediately.
• 88% believe they will serve more confidently in their role as Board leader.

Attendees included board members from Fairbanks, Girls Inc., Ronald McDonald House, Goodwill and a number of United Way agencies.  Registration  is now open for the January 2011 Summit.  More details to come on our speakers and panelists in the coming months.  Mark your calendars - we would love to see your organization represented!