Discover peace centers that serve as community hubs for peace efforts, get ideas and be inspired to establish your own.

by Taylor O’Connor and Mustapha Ali | 8 October 2024

“Building peace is more often about creating space, developing relationships, persevering in spite of overwhelming pessimism, and being flexible enough to respond to emerging opportunities, meager as they may be.” – John Paul Lederach

I remember my early days working with peacebuilding groups in Myanmar. I remember that many of them, in their offices had community spaces for events and activities and some also included small libraries with information about peace, human rights, and other associated topics. Some of them even were hang out places where young peacebuilders would meet with each other, participate in peacebuilding trainings, and discuss ideas for launching peace initiatives.

I always felt like this was a unique, informal, yet quite impactful service offered to young peacebuilders from all walks of life. These kinds of spaces where likeminded peacebuilders can come to learn, meet others and formulate plans for action are powerful for building peace. But it wasn’t their main activity. As I traveled to other countries in my work supporting youth peacebuilding I’d see other places like this, serving generally the same purpose.

But it wasn’t until later that I learned that peace centers are actually a thing. They are common. And while mostly an informal space in the office of a peace organization, in some contexts they are more formalized. So I did a bit of research to map peace centers, and to analyze their approaches and activities.

Mapping peace centers

I found that while formal and informal peace centers exist all over the world, most of the formal ones are in the United States and other western countries. Most peace centers don’t have websites, or perhaps they just have a presence on Facebook, but the ones in the United States and western countries often have websites that describe more details about their activities.

So I’ve mapped them below, and have done some analysis of their approaches and activities. I hope this helps inspire you to establish your own peace center, either informal or formal. In this blog post I hope you get some ideas to establish your own peace center or set up a peace center within any peace organization or initiative you are involved with.

Key lessons learned

In researching and mapping peace centers I learned a lot about how they operate. First, I learned that peace centers generally are not focused only on peace, but often frame their efforts as working for ‘peace and justice’, often addressing explicitly a range of interconnected social issues. See below the mapping of key approaches of city peace centers. Also, peace centers conduct a range of activities, mapped below in the section on key activities of peace centers.

Key approaches of city peace centers:

All community peace centers promote peace and nonviolence. Some discuss building a culture of peace.
Most also focus on social justice and/or human rights. Many of them also have names that include ‘peace and justice’. Most discuss specific social inequalities, human rights issues, and talk about combating systemic violence against marginalized communities.
Many also integrate work for economic and environmental justice, as interconnected issues with peace and social justice.
Many also have an explicit anti-war focus. A few of them are explicitly for the abolition of war and/or have activities that challenge the arms industry, promote disarmament or talk about defunding the military.
Most focus on local and/or state-wide issues, many address national issues as well, and some expand their efforts to advocacy for international peace and justice.

Key activities of city peace centers:

Organizing educational workshops, trainings and seminars to raise awareness about social issues or teach about conflict resolution and nonviolence.
Facilitating dialogues, discussions, and community-building activities.
Advocacy campaigns
Coordinated nonviolent actions, protests, and public demonstrations.
Offering resources, books and information on peace, justice, social issue, advocacy, and activism.
Hosting rallies, music festivals, community fairs and other public events to promote peace, highlight important social issues, and encourage civic engagement.
Service as a hub for connecting community groups and serving as a platform for collective action

A mapping of peace centers

I have described below the work of 16 peace centers. Most of them are grassroots efforts, though I found two that are sponsored by local governments. These have been separated accordingly into two sections.

This blog post is explicitly mapping city peace centers, which generally serve as local hubs for resources and information about local efforts for peace and justice, and often coordinate peace actions. More details provided below. While the activities and approaches of peace centers are unique, I’ve written other blog posts associated with similar initiatives. One maps spaces and places of peace, another describes initiatives building peace zones in cities and towns, and still another is about peace parks.

Grassroots peace centers

Below you can find a list of well-established peace centers with brief descriptions of their key activities.

Carolina Peace Resource Center (CPRC) | South Carolina, USA

The Carolina Peace Resource Center (CPRC) works to build a culture of peace by advocating for nonviolent solutions to conflict, raising awareness of social justice issues, and empowering communities to take action. They organize educational events, lead advocacy campaigns, and mobilize citizens to address issues such as racial justice, environmental sustainability, and human rights.

Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (aka Kalamazoo Peace Center) | Kalamazoo, Michigan – USA

The Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW), also known as Kalamazoo Peace Center, works to raise awareness about the impacts of war, militarism, and systemic violence while advocating for peaceful solutions to conflict. They organize educational events, protests, and public discussions in collaboration with local social justice and activist groups.

Modesto Peace & Life Center | Modesto, California – USA

The Modesto Peace & Life Center is works to promote a culture of nonviolence, social justice, and inclusivity through education, activism, and community-building efforts. They provide resources, host workshops, organize peace rallies, and supporting local initiatives for justice and equality. They host an annual peace camp, where attendees of all ages can participate in workshops, hikes, campfires, and thought-provoking discussions.

Nashville Peace and Justice Center | Nashville, Tennessee – USA

The Nashville Peace and Justice Center serves to empower local citizens to engage in activism and advocacy for a variety of causes, including racial justice, economic equity, and environmental sustainability. They organize community workshops, host rallies and public forums, and collaborate with local groups to address systemic injustices and promote nonviolent solutions to conflict.

Peace Action Wellington | Wellington, New Zealand

Peace Action Wellington works to raise awareness and mobilize citizens of Wellington against militarism, the arms trade, and state violence, both locally and internationally. They organize protests, educational events, and community discussions focused on promoting non-violent solutions to global and local conflicts. They also campaign for disarmament and engage in anti-war activism.

Peace Action Maine | Maine, USA

Peace Action Maine organizes grassroots actions to educate the public and mobilize citizens of Maine to take action against militarism, nuclear proliferation, and systemic violence. They organize protests, educational events, and public forums. They also work on campaigns for nuclear disarmament, anti-war efforts, and promoting peaceful foreign policies. Their efforts support the abolition of nuclear weapons, promoting global disarmament, and ending war. Through campaigns that educate, lobby, advocate, and take direct action.

Peace Action Wisconsin | Milwaukee, Wisconsin – USA

Peace Action Wisconsin works to reduce militarism, oppose war, and advocate for nonviolent solutions to conflicts, both locally and globally. They organize educational events, public demonstrations, and advocacy campaigns aimed at reducing military spending, promoting nuclear disarmament, and addressing systemic injustice. They engage community members in activism and host dialogues on peace-related issues.

Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS) | Spokane, Washington – USA

Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS) works to empower individuals and communities to advocate for a more peaceful and just world by addressing issues such as militarism, systemic racism, and inequality. They organize educational events, advocacy campaigns, protests, and community dialogues on topics like police reform, nuclear disarmament, and social justice. Their efforts seek to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and challenge systemic injustices in Spokane and beyond.

Peace and Justice Center of Nevada County | Nevada, USA

Peace and Justice Center of Nevada County works to educate and mobilize communities to advocate against militarism, support disarmament, and address social inequalities. They organize educational workshops, community events, and advocacy campaigns focused on issues such as nuclear disarmament, peace in the Middle East, and ending systemic violence.

Peace Resource Center of San Diego | San Diego, California – USA

The Peace Resource Center of San Diego is a a community center that serves as a clearinghose of information, conversations and actions on peace and social justice issues in San Diego and beyond. Key activities include organizing community dialogues, facilitating training programs on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and advocating for policies that support sustainable development and social cohesion. They are committed to active nonviolence, working towards social justice, equity, and the eradication of both physical and structural violence.

Peninsula Peace and Justice Center | Los Altos, California – USA

The Peninsula Peace and Justice Center (PPJC) works to engage individuals and communities in the pursuit of justice and nonviolent solutions to conflict while fostering inclusive dialogue around critical social issues. They organize educational workshops, public events, and advocacy campaigns that address systemic inequalities, promote community engagement, and work towards legislative changes for a more just society. The Center empowers ordinary people to actively participate in grassroots activism towards the creation of a demilitarized society and economy, and to combat all forms of discrimination.

Sacramento Area Peace Action | Sacramento, California – USA

Sacramento Area Peace Action works to educate and mobilize the community against war, militarism, and systemic injustice while advocating for peace and disarmament. They organize educational forums, rallies, and community events that raise awareness about peace-related issues, such as nuclear disarmament and social equity, while also encouraging civic engagement and activism among community members. They advocate for a non-interventionist and non-nuclear US foreign and military policy, promoting global disarmament, and a reducing military spending.

Tucson Peace Center | Tucson, Arizona – USA

The Tucson Peace Center serves as a platform for sharing information about local events, actions, and resources related to peace and social justice movements. They host their own events including music festivals for peace and an annual peace fair. They also maintain an online calendar that highlights various peace-related events, workshops, and discussions to encourage wider participation. They conduct their work in collaboration with local organizations to foster community engagement and activism.

Burlington Peace and Justice Center | Burlington, Vermont – USA

The Burlington Peace and Justice Center (PJC) promotes community activism through education and advocacy for peace and justice. They work to address issues such as economic inequality, racial justice, and environmental sustainability by facilitating workshops, discussions, and community events. Their activities aim to empower individuals and foster collective action. The collaborate with local organizations and coordinate nonviolent peace actions.

Local government peace centers

Cambridge Peace Commission | Cambridge, UK

The Cambridge Peace Commission is a city department that works to build connections across the community, foster dialogue, and support efforts for conflict resolution and non-violence. The commission organizes public events, facilitates community conversations on challenging topics, supports restorative justice initiatives, and provides resources for residents to engage in peace efforts locally and globally.

The Peace Centre of Antwerp | Antwerp, Belgium

The Peace Centre of Antwerp is a space supported by the local government of Antwerp that conducts peace education activities, workshops, exhibitions, and dialogues. Through collaboration with local partners, the Peace Centre sparks vital conversations, creates opportunities for learning about peace history and war history, and fosters a safe space for Antwerp residents to from all walks of life to be catalysts for positive change in their communities. Activities over the years include exhibitions, lectures, debates, book presentations, commemorative moments, film screenings and the collection of testimonies.

You can establish your own peace center

While you may be involved in other more established peace efforts, I hope you consider the value of establishing a peace center. These hubs serve as vital spaces for collaboration, learning, and action, empowering individuals to engage meaningfully in peace and justice efforts. Whether you’re inspired to create an informal gathering place in your community or to formalize a peace center within an existing organization, I hope that the examples shared here give you some inspiration and ideas. May your peace center be a place where peacebuilders from all walks of life foster connections, share knowledge, and mobilize collective action for peace.

If you found this article helpful and want to find more blog posts like this mapping organizations that build peace across a wide array of themes be sure to check out our Resources page!

If there are any great organizations that are missing on this list and you think it should be added, please submit it at the link HERE. I periodically update my resource posts and use these inputs to help me. Thanks in advance!

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