Together Towards Peace: Understanding and Magnifying Self & Others

“The future belongs to our youth. As some of us near the end of our political careers, younger people must take over. They must seek and cherish the most basic condition for peace, namely unity in our diversity, and finding lasting ways to that goal.” — Nelson Mandela

Together Towards Peace (TTP) is a youth-led program from Praxis Institute that brings high school students from Baker College Prep, Roosevelt High School, DRW College Prep and Highland Park High School together to tackle one of the most urgent issues in their communities: gun violence. It’s a space where young people share their experiences, challenge harmful narratives, and build strategies for change.

Too often, youth voices are dismissed. Society downplays their experiences, making them feel unheard. At TTP, we flip that script. Here, students know their voices matter.

Finding Strength in Boundaries

In our second session of the year, we opened with a check-in:

“Empathy without boundaries is self-destruction. Unconditional love doesn’t mean unconditional tolerance. You gotta train your boundaries to be stronger than your soft heart and your mind to be stronger than your feelings. Otherwise, you’ll be drained. So be kind and take no Sh**.”

At first, silence filled the room. Students hesitated, unsure where to begin. Then, momentum built. One student waved down a facilitator, eager to speak. Others quickly followed, sharing their thoughts on personal boundaries — how they’re set, why they matter, and what they mean to them.

“Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you don’t hold them accountable.” — TTP participant

Some students were still figuring out what boundaries meant for them, while others had already defined and defended theirs. This honest discussion set the stage for the rest of the session.

Honoring Our Needs

Jessica, a founding partner at Praxis, led a mindfulness exercise, encouraging students to check in with themselves.

“Pay attention to your body. Are your hands sweaty? Do you need to stretch? Tune in. Be conscious of others, but always come back to yourself.” — Jessica

Self-awareness isn’t just about reflection — it’s about knowing your limits, setting boundaries, and showing up fully for yourself and others. Recognizing personal needs isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength that allows individuals to navigate challenges while staying true to themselves.

Moments of Connection

To break the ice, we started with a high-energy rock, paper, scissors tournament. The energy in the room was electric as students cheered each other on, laughing and fully engaged.

Then came the Story of Self exercise. Some students felt hesitant, nodding when facilitator Tere asked if anyone was anxious. To break the ice, she shared her own story — how hip-hop helped her navigate tough times, and how her parents, both teachers, experienced the tragic loss of a student to gun violence.

“I’m 45 years old… I’d say I spent 30 years of my life grieving.” — Tere

Students answered the following questions:

1. People: Who is a person that is really important in your life? Describe that person and what they mean to you.
2. Events: Describe an event in your life that had a big impact on who you are.
3. Values: Describe a value that is central to your life. How did you come to hold it? Why is it important to you?
4. Feelings: Share what hurts in this moment and what gives you hope.
5. Motivations: What motivates you to do what you do? What keeps you going?

Students quickly embraced the exercise, first sharing in pairs before a few brave voices spoke up, inspiring many others to follow. Their stories — about the people who shaped them, life-changing events, deeply held values, personal struggles, and sources of motivation — revealed their depth and resilience. The heart of this exercise was clear: to inspire others, you must first understand yourself and feel confident sharing your story. As students reflected on who and what mattered most to them, their voices grew stronger, reinforcing the power of storytelling as a tool for connection and change.

Challenging Harmful Narratives

Next, students learned how to push back against false or harmful narratives. Working in groups, they countered common gun rights arguments, adding their own perspectives and debating which were the strongest. Using markers and sticky notes, they built out counterarguments, each rotation sharpening their critical thinking and refining their responses.

By the end, students weren’t just listing counterpoints — they were strategizing, strengthening their advocacy skills, and preparing to engage in real conversations beyond this space.

Healing and Action

We closed with a healing circle, a space for reflection and visioning. Students explored safety, media narratives, personal experiences, and organizing for change.

Agreements

Students were divided into 6 different circles and asked to abide by the following agreements:

1. Listen with an open heart — limit interruptions by utilizing the talking piece.
2. Respect each other’s experiences — although we may not agree, we can respect each other.
3. Maintain confidentiality — what is shared stays in the group.
4. Use “I” statements — speak from personal experience.
5. Be mindful of time — allow space for everyone’s voice.

Prompts

There were 6 main questions:

Prompt1 : “Think about a time when you felt safe and protected. What did that feel like for you?”

Prompt 2: How do you feel about the way gun violence is discussed in the media or at school

Prompt 3: Has gun violence affected your life or the lives of those around you? How?

Prompt 4: “Think about a time when you felt safe and protected. What did that feel like for you?”

Prompt 5: “What are some powerful ways youth can organize and take action to address gun violence in their communities?”

Prompt 6: “What changes would you like to see in the future?”

Optimistic Closure

We ended with One-word reflections: Share a single word that captures your experience today.

Takeaways — what is one thing you will carry forward?

As discussions unfolded, students shared their thoughts on what safety really means, how media distorts reality, and the power of collective action. It wasn’t just about venting frustrations — it was about figuring out what comes next.

By the end of the session, something had shifted. Students left feeling heard, empowered, and ready to take action. They weren’t just talking about issues but building momentum for change.