Student Peace Alliance represents a network of youth around the country who organize in support of peacebuilding legislation and community service initiatives aimed at preventing and reducing violence.  Chapters actively advocate for legislation through grassroots actions and local lobbying meetings, while working to educate their local community about effective violence prevention programs. SPA chapters also recognize the need to support such programs locally and work to become peacebuilders within their communities.

Student Peace Alliance chapters…

• Educate their campuses and communities about the Youth PROMISE Act and the Department of Peace- what they are, why they are needed and what they would do. Education focuses on the programs, organizations and techniques that effectively reducing and preventing violence, both domestically and internationally. Education is often done through local events, partnership with classes, and research.  Currently our efforts around the Department of Peace focus on research to build a strong foundation for an infrastructure in the federal government that makes peace a priority.

• Work in the local communities by volunteering with those same organizations and programs, offering their time and energy to developing a network of successful violence prevention programs. Youth come to understand the reasons why these programs work, what hinders their success, and what is needed to improve effectiveness and sustainability. This community engagement aspect allows SPA chapters to truly become a part of the peacebuilding process on an immediate and day-to-day level.

• Combine the above education and experience to deepen their understanding of the need for government infrastructures that support peacebuilding. Students and youth draw on such understanding and passion when they lobby their local Representatives and Senators for a our policy initiatives. Chapters also partner with volunteers from The Peace Alliance, creating a strong and inter-generational front for their efforts.

National Actions

Student Peace Alliance chapters participate in several National Actions throughout the year. National Actions connect youth from around the country as they work simultaneously on the same legislative actions. By coordinating and focusing our efforts we are able to create a wave of momentum across the nation. Two favorite actions of the organization are the International Day of Peace Call-In Action and February Valentines to Congress.  This year our national actions will focus on our programmatic policy initiatives, such as The Youth PROMISE Act.