From ‘Teen Takeover’ to ‘Peace Takeover’: A New Change Chosen by Atlanta
From ‘Teen Takeover’ to ‘Peace Takeover’: A New Change Chosen by Atlanta
As we all know, the United States is a country where gun ownership is permitted. As a result, it is true that many problems involving teenagers and gun possession occur. We have also heard news of students becoming victims of school shootings. Among these stories, today I would like to talk about peace education in Atlanta.
Atlanta is a city in the state of Georgia, USA. Here, a serious youth problem called “Teen Takeover” has emerged. Teen Takeover refers to unauthorized takeovers caused by teenagers. These incidents often take place in shopping malls, streets, parks, parking lots, and other public spaces. The problems that arise from this include fights, property damage, theft, suffering and safety concerns, and gun-related incidents.
This cannot be viewed simply as teenage delinquency. Therefore, the community, beyond just families and schools, had been seeking ways to address the problem. Eventually, the conclusion reached by people in Atlanta was none other than “peace education.”
▎ P.L.A.Y. Begins with Dialogue
What is P.L.A.Y.? It stands for Peace Leadership Academy for Youth. Teenagers cannot simply be controlled unilaterally through rules or restrictions. However, through education, their way of thinking can change, and as a result, their behavior can also change. It is important to understand why teenagers behave in such ways and what they want. In addition, when they develop a sense of belonging and connect with peers who understand them, they can feel that their existence is recognized both socially and emotionally. As a result, their thoughts and relationships can change. This is the result of peace education.
What can students learn through P.L.A.Y.? They learn how to communicate when conflicts arise, how to manage their emotions, and how to understand other people's perspectives, applying these skills to their everyday lives. At Shiloh High School, this education was provided in the form of an after-school club. Students also planned and operated the program themselves. Let us take a look at an interview with the leader of the P.L.A.Y. club. “World peace is the greatest legacy we can leave to future generations, and it begins with the P.L.A.Y. club at Shiloh High School.”
P.L.A.Y. is a youth peace education program designed specifically for the Atlanta area of Georgia. It is based on HWPL peace education and helps young people learn the values and spirit of peace and grow into peaceful citizens. It also presents practical ways to address school violence in the state of Georgia.
This peace education spread throughout Atlanta within three years. In addition, at the “Atlanta Youth Peace Summit,” peace education was simultaneously conducted for three weeks at a total of seven regional hubs(hotspots) through the P.L.A.Y. program. These hotspots refer to local partner organizations where peace education was intensively operated during this period.
▎ Understanding, Not Punishment
P.L.A.Y. is an ongoing program that actually changes behavioral patterns. Mr. Telly X also implemented P.L.A.Y. at one of the hotspots. Through this program, he came to believe that an approach based on understanding rather than punishment can bring about meaningful changes in young people. If young people continue to learn peaceful ways of responding, perhaps the culture of Teen Takeover can also change.
Mr. Telly X said “I believe peace education can completely change the culture of gatherings like Teen Takeover over time. Most young people are looking for connection, belonging, and a sense of purpose in life. When we teach conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, responsibility, and leadership, young people begin to make different choices in heated situations. Instead of reacting emotionally or following negative influences, they learn how to de-escalate conflicts and become positive influences among their peers. Our goal is to create a generation of young leaders who can transform potential chaos into opportunities for unity, respect, and community.
Peace education creates opportunities for both sides to understand one another. Many young people have developed distrust through their past experiences, while many police officers, on the other hand, often do not fully understand the challenges these young people face every day. Peace education creates a safe space for dialogue, relationship-building, and mutual respect. When young people and police officers begin to see one another as human beings rather than as people they need to be wary of, barriers begin to break down. Healing begins with communication, understanding, and responsibility, and peace education provides a foundation for all three.”
I cannot help but wonder whether the violent culture these young people experienced could have changed if, during this transitional period of their lives, they had had even one good adult by their side, or if an individual, organization, or group exerting a positive influence had supported them. Everyone makes individual choices. However, those choices create relationships, and these relationships have an overall impact on a person's character development.
In the United States, conflicts between racial groups are also intensifying, and in particular, distrust between young people and police has become an obstacle to solving problems, making it difficult to cross that boundary. However, peace education is becoming a bridge that breaks down this long-standing distrust. The young people who participated in this peace education said they were proud of their efforts and dedication. They will apply the changes they have experienced to the communities they belong to and create lasting change.
▎ Violence Is Not Something People Are Born With
Ms. Katie Garduno conducted P.L.A.Y. at another hotspot. She said that through this program, she came to realize that violence is not something people are born with. In particular, she said that her perspectives on “forgiveness” and “conflict” had changed. Let us take a look at her interview.
“The moment that stood out to me the most was when we talked about ‘forgiveness.’ I realized that forgiveness does not mean saying that the other person's actions were okay or justifying what they did. Rather, it means finding peace for yourself and choosing not to carry that hurt for the rest of your life. This made forgiveness feel like something I was doing for myself, rather than for someone else. Before the P.L.A.Y. program, I mainly thought that conflicts were resolved when both sides communicated and worked together to find a solution. I still believe communication is important, but now I think about the larger systems that create conflict. Rather than addressing only individual conflicts, I believe we need to dismantle the systems themselves and address the root causes.
People are not born violent. They simply grow up with limited resources and support and have very few opportunities to encounter different ways of responding to conflict. So they choose what they see around them. In many ways, they are navigating a system that has placed obstacles in their path from the very beginning. This program did not change my view of young people. Since I have already worked with young people, I already believed that they deserve empathy and understanding. But that belief has become even stronger. These are not inherently violent children. They simply need help and a different form of support that they are not receiving right now.
I think if all young people in Atlanta, as well as the younger generations, received peace education, Atlanta would become a more peaceful and connected city. Peace education gives young people the tools to communicate and understand one another. Above all, the very fact that young people feel that there is someone willing to invest time and resources in them is a powerful force. It makes them realize, ‘Oh, I am important. I would like to tell young people in other cities that peace education is not only about creating peace within a community, but also about finding peace within yourself. Personal peace is often the foundation of peace within a community.”
▎ Not Only for Young People, but Also for Families
Ms. Tekecia Shields conducted P.L.A.Y. at another hotspot. She is the representative of Mothers Against Gang Violence (MAGV). She mentioned the breakdown in communication between young people and their guardians as a problem. Here is her interview:
“I felt that the community, including parents and guardians, was not listening enough to the voices of our youth and young adults. That is why Teen Takeover happened. So our program also provided responsibility education for parents, and through this education, I came to support clearer communication. If I could say something to young people around the world, I would tell them that ‘self-determination’ is important. I would tell them to think for themselves about what is influencing them and what affects their decision to remain in a positive state.”
Education at school is important for children to grow into adults, but education at home is also important. If we can become people who practice peace starting from our own homes, could we not create safer and different communities? Peace cannot be achieved through the efforts of just one person. If we care for one another, think one more time, and listen to what the other person has to say one more time, perhaps the problems we face can be resolved.
▎ A Handshake Is Easier Than Being Mean
Let us take a look at interviews with students who participated in P.L.A.Y.
Damon Pearson, a student at Georgia College Park Vocational School, said “I think the lessons I learned are valuable information that I can share with my community. Because we need unity. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to actually play soccer without being excluded because of how I looked. This place always taught me how to think of others first. As we moved away from the streets and created a movement together, I realized that violence has no meaning. It takes more effort to be mean to someone than simply offering them a handshake.”
Naomi Ward, a student, said “Before this program, I thought peace was simply a state in which nobody was fighting. Now I believe peace also includes treating others with kindness, listening to what other people have to say, and solving problems in a respectful way. This program helped me realize that even though I am young, my words and actions can create change. I learned that I can be a leader, speak up for what is right, and encourage others to make positive choices.”
Zakaila Barnes, a student at Georgia Fairburn Global Impact High School, said “Before participating in the peace education program, Teen Takeover seemed fun and exciting, but I felt that when unaccompanied teenagers gathered together, various problems could arise. The moment that impressed me the most was the lesson about the different ways to achieve peace and how to share them with the people around me, such as friends and family. This program helped me realize that what happens around me affects me. It can have either a negative or positive impact, but in the end, I learned that whether it becomes negative or peaceful is something I choose.”
▎ What Atlanta Has Shown Us
Three years after this peace education was implemented, Atlanta experienced many changes. Through this, students, parents, police officers, and young people learned how to understand one another by learning how to communicate, how to manage emotions, how to respect others, how to resolve conflicts, and how to recognize that they are members of the community. It grew into a local movement. The peace education conducted at seven hotspots was not a one-time campaign. It was an educational program that could bring about real change in the community. I hope that we can build peace together and practice it in our everyday lives.
Reference : https://vo.la/UbAkWQX











