Where Peace Lives attends Youth Convention at the United Nations in New York

From the Ghandi-King Season of Non-violence Conference, March 16, 2007




My parents told me that my generation was going to fix the world. Before this I didn't believe it, but I think I can call myself an optimist again, and can safely say that I'm looking with great anticipation toward the future that my peers and I are going to create." – Jon "Deveraux" Laing of Communications High School in Wall, New Jersey

"Working on the mural project made me feel very peaceful and happy. It made me happy and peaceful because I got to be with my friends and I got to learn how to make a mural." — Alayna Fuller, Grade 4

As we worked to complete this project it became more than just a mural. With each hour devoted to it, and with each brushstroke we each put a part of ourselves into the mural. It was not just an image on a canvas anymore, it was so much more. It was a possibility, it was a future. The mural helped open our eyes to the world and to what the world could be. – Claire Mastellar of Communications High School in Wall, New Jersey

"Working on the mural made me feel happy because I was part of a very big thing with peace and love." — Emily Riha, Grade 3

"Painting the mural showed all of us how peace is achieved. Even though we didn't always agree, we learned to compromise and in turn, we created peace between each other. " — Alexa Squillaro

"Working on the mural made me happy. I liked doing it because it was fun and everyone was able to do it."— Juliana Kosty, Grade 3

"Sometimes, I still like to close my eyes and pretend that we had never finished painting the mural —For that, my friends, is an experience that I will not soon forget. " — Skippy Smith

"Working on this mural taught all of us that people with different ideas can come together and move toward peace. " — Samantha Jasanovsky

"Aside from having a great time and getting in touch with an artistic side of myself that I rarely get to see, what I really feel that I am taking away from the mural project is a true idea of progress. We often worry so much about the details in life that it becomes difficult to keep the big icture in mind, but in this mural, every little detail, every little stroke of the paintrbush, was a step in the right direction. " — Shina Alads

"Working on the mural was a big thing for me because it made me feel happy and it explains what peace is." — Jasmine Blades, Grade 3

"I think the mural helped bring out the peace in everyone." — David Earley, Grade 4

"When I was working on the mural it felt like I was helping someone so I feel happy for when were giving our mural to someone else so they know what peace is to us." — Kyra Erel, Grade 3

"Working on the mural made me feel joyful seeing big and small working together, it made me feel peace." — Shannon Lauder, Grade 3

"Working on the mural made me feel happy because I got to be part of something big, and it was like seeing what peace means." — Michael Velez, Grade 4

"Working on the mural project made me feel very peaceful and happy. It made me happy and peaceful because I got to be with my friends and I got to learn how to make a mural." — Alayna Fuller, Grade 4