(Saint Paul, Minn., Sept. xx, 2009) — The Saint Paul-based nonprofit youthrive is inviting high school-age students, college mentors, and community groups committed to youth leadership to apprentice with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum of Guatemala to focus on community-based solutions to the problems of violence. The peacebuilding initiative, which will focus on the theme of “Healing Communities Torn by Racism and Violence,” will kick off with a PeaceJam Slam on October 24, 2009, followed by a PeaceJam conference April 24 – 26, 2010, attended by Menchú Tum. The University of Minnesota, in partnership with the University YMCA, will serve as the host site.

“The PeaceJam curriculum, events and interaction with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates provide young people the opportunity to enhance their skills as leaders,” said Donna Gillen, executive director of youthrive. “We are delighted that Rigoberta has accepted our invitation, and that youth attending will also benefit from the educational resources and energy of our new hosts, the University of Minnesota in partnership with the University YMCA.”

In previous years, youthrive has brought youth together with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Betty Williams of Northern Ireland, Adolfo Pé rez Esquivel of Argentina, Dr. Shirin Ebadi of Iran, and Wangari Maathai of Kenya. Menchú Tum, a Mayan Indian from Guatemala, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 for her work in social justice and the rights of indigenous peoples.

“Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, many of whom have come from environments of extreme violence and oppression, are an inspiring reminder that each of us can take nonviolent action to make positive changes in our communities,” said Gillen. “Rigoberta’s message of how to move beyond the hurt to actual healing is important and timely for many communities. The opportunity for youth to learn from each other and from Rigoberta, combined with the opportunity to benefit from the University of Minnesota and the University YMCA, promises to make this an incredible PeaceJam experience.”

“If ever there was a time to get involved in your community and change the world, the time is now,” said University YMCA Student Board member Lauren Randall. “PeaceJam starts local and turns global; the possibilities are endless. It’s a platform for your dreams; who doesn’t want to get involved with that?”

“The University YMCA is honored to be a cosponsor of this great event along with the University of Minnesota,” stated Dr. Hedy Lemar-Walls, executive director of the University YMCA. “As a co-sponsor of PeaceJam, we can broaden the experiences of our college students in addressing global issues as well as work with local youth, which helps to strengthen our mission of building ethical leadership capacities of young adults in a context of social justice issues.”

Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jerry Rinehart agrees. “We are pleased that many University of Minnesota students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to interact with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum. The PeaceJam Club at the University of Minnesota has played an important role in bringing this opportunity to the University; their members are actively involved in planning the events and will be working with the high school youth from across the region.”

youthrive serves as the Upper Midwest affiliate of PeaceJam International. For information on how youth may participate in the PeaceJam Slam in October and the April PeaceJam conference, contact Callie Aguilar of youthrive at (651) 224-3066. College students interested in serving as mentors are invited to contact Lauren Randall of the University YMCA at Student.Board@ymcampls.org. For more information on youthrive, visit youthrive.net.

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