In 2000 the United Nations dedicated the first decade of the 21st century to building a culture of peace and nonviolence for our children. Given the world's history, it is hard to imagine a peaceful future. Yet, history is being made in new ways.

Children and youth have been significant participants in today's international peace movement. The movement has grown vastly in the last year, reaching out to multitudes of people throughout the world. With the United States leading the push for military force in Iraq, the clear and persistent voices from the peace movement have played a critical role in offering an alternative vision of the future. Many of the most powerful and creative voices come from youth. They have a keen part to play in shaping our world's future.

Teaching to Change LA has created this Peace Page for young people to reflect on what it means to build a “culture of peace and non-violence.” We invite you to share your voice by submitting stories, questions, poetry, reflections, drawings, pictures, or photographs about peace. We also invite teachers to share their reflections, lessons, and learning resources on peace.

If it helps, consider these questions.

• What does peace-making mean to you?
• What do you do as a peace-maker?
• What questions about peace are you asking these days?
• What resources or thinkers do you draw on to understand and create a culture of peace and nonviolence?
• What do you learn in school to help you think about and do something about peace?
• How is peace-making important to our democracy?
• How would your school need to change to "build a culture of peace and non-violence?”