LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Peace Education, a Louisville-based program in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), aims to reduce violence through conflict resolution.

Organizers are teaching young men how to solve disagreements without fists and weapons.

Peace Education’s Navigation Program is teaching Wheatley Elementary 5th grader Dione Bibb how to understand his feelings. 

“When my emotions is high, my thinking is low,” said Bibb.

The program is led by retired JCPS family resource and youth services coordinator Durk Davidson.

“My favorite part about the program is the way that he like teaches us he let us have our fun and let us learn at the same time,” Bibb added. 

Davidson uses cooperative games to teach young men how to resolve problems peacefully. 

“Some of them in their neighborhoods and their surroundings, that's all they see is conflict and negativity,” said Davidson. 

He helps students navigate the difficult and even violent situations they encounter during weekly sessions.

“We’re trying to diffuse those by giving them strategies and techniques that when that happens they can fall back on it and make some positive decisions,” said Davidson. 

Peace Education is in the running for one of State Farm's Neighborhood Assist $25,000 grants to support its efforts. 

The organization is a top 200 finalist out of 4,000 applicants. 

“I vote every day to the max,” said Peace Education’s interim executive director Rose Livingston.

Livingston came out of retirement to expand the reach of the program. Winning the grant would make that goal a reality. 

“There are also other schools in the community and other groups that have asked for the services, so this will help us expand our program to the corners of wherever we can take it,” said Livingston.  

Peace Education has to receive enough votes to land a spot among the top 100 to win one of the grants.

“Especially now during a world that there is chaos taking place everyone and especially students, our future, our children need to be empowered to be able to navigate life in the most positive way,” says Livingston. 

You can vote up to ten times a day through May 6 to help Peace Ed continue to make lifelong impacts. 

“It's been a challenge, but it's been that kind of challenge that's rewarding, not only to me, but just to see the kids growing up and you know, fulfilling their dreams,” says Davidson. 

Grant winners will be announced on June 7, 2022.