
NOTE: Since its beginning, the Youth & Peace Conference has been a collaborative undertaking involving a diverse collection of organizations and individuals in the Tucson community. These “partners” are crucial for the ongoing success and sustainability of the conference. The Culture of Peace Alliance provides the nonprofit status for the Youth & Peace Conference and is responsible for calling the various partners together each year to start the planning process.
OUR PARTNERS
Center for Community Dialogue & Training / A Program of Our Family Services
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The Center for Community Dialogue & Training has been helping Southern Arizonans talk about challenging issues in a skilled, civil and respectful way for over 40 years. The Center has been partnering with the Youth & Peace Conference since it began in 2011, especially by conducting Dialogue Circle Facilitation Training for youth and young adults and organizing dialogue circles so all participating youth can have their voices hear regarding the central theme of the conference.
THE CENTER OFFERS:
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Community Forums & Dialogue events - Center staff and volunteers expertly facilitate dialogue processes for large Community Forums and small topic-centered groups, empowering respectful and productive discussions in which all voices are heard.
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Community Mediation - Highly skilled, trained and certified volunteer community mediators conduct confidential mediation processes in which they help disputing parties communicate and design their own solutions – safely, with respect, and without going to court.
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Strategic Planning - Center staff use highly interactive methods that fully engage all members of the organization, board of directors, department, coalition or special project to set priorities, focus energy, allocate resources, identify obstacles and determine achievable actions.
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Training for individuals, families and professionals - Gain and enhance skills in conflict management, conflict resolution, dialogue facilitation, effective communication, and running productive meetings.
Contact: Connect with us at ourfamilyservices.org/training

PAXIS Institute
PAXIS Institute develops simple, proven strategies—with leading scientists and advocates—to improve education, health, wealth, and well-being around the world. These proven, low-cost strategies can also avert or prevent lifetime educational disparities, mental illnesses, poverty, poor health, suicide, violence, and addictions in communities, states or provinces, and countries around the world. PAXIS Institute trains individuals, organizations and governments how to use these proven strategies to mend historic disparities and injustices—thus, to better our world now and in the future.
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PAXIS Institute presently operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Indigenous communities with more 80 staff. Millions of lives have been measurably benefited by the prevention science curated and made accessible for people from all walks of life by PAXIS Institute. Our name is based on the Latin word for peace, productivity, health, and happiness (PAX), coupled with the verb to be. Thus, PAX IS made by our daily actions with others.
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Contact: Dr. Dennis Embry, 520-299-6770; dde@paxis.org

Pima Community College
Pima Community College is a comprehensive two-year institution serving students and employers throughout Pima County in Arizona and beyond. We welcome everyone striving to achieve a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. Students have access to a broad range of high quality programs that prepare them with the skills needed by today’s employers and to transfer successfully into four-year programs. Students benefit from Pima’s lower tuition costs and thrive at the highest levels once they transfer.
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Pima is in rapid transition to a high-tech institution serving the needs of our region’s growing aerospace, defense and healthcare industries. Developing Centers for Excellence in key areas such as Applied Technology, Information Technology and Health Professions, Pima is focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding employer engagement in order to ensure that today’s students are prepared now and for many years to come.
Have a general question or don't know who to contact? We're happy to help!
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Call us at 520.206.4500 (toll-free: 1.800.860.PIMA)
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Send email to infocenter@pima.edu

Metropolitan Education Commission (MEC)
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The Metropolitan Education Commission (MEC), established by joint Pima County and City of Tucson Resolutions in 1990, is composed of 34 citizen commissioners who represent education, business, government, youth, and ethnic communities and who advise and serve as advocates in all areas that affect the educational welfare of the citizens of Pima County. The MEC’s Vision is that students of all ages and backgrounds are academically prepared, successfully graduate, pursue a post-secondary pathway, secure a career of their choice, and contribute to a highly skilled workforce. The MEC’s Mission is to advocate for a quality and affordable education from preschool to post-secondary for all residents of the City of Tucson and Pima County.
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The MEC’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) was established in 1992 as the youth advisory body to the Commission and, in turn, to the Tucson Mayor & City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors. The YAC is a program that offers youth leadership and civic engagement training and opportunities, and has partnered with the Youth and Peace Conference for the last three years
Contact: Metropolitan Education Commission
1080 S. 10th Avenue; Tucson, AZ 85701
Culture of Peace Alliance (COPA)
The Culture of Peace Alliance (COPA) operates as a nonprofit umbrella organization for affiliated & fiscally sponsored groups and programs that work to build peace, empower youth, and create a cultural shift towards compassion, nonviolence, civility, and sustainability in Tucson and beyond. COPA provides 501(c)(3) coverage for these groups and networking that builds the synergy of working cooperatively with diverse organizations. COPA is the fiscal agent for the Youth & Peace Conference (EIN 86-0707194). COPA welcomes groups who need nonprofit coverage and don’t wish to go it alone. DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED!
Contact: 520-991-6781 or 520-490-1165
Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse
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Emerge has a wide array of programs to meet the needs of people experiencing domestic abuse. This includes a 24/7/365 multilingual hotline, emergency shelter, community-based (non-residential) services, court-based advocacy, housing stabilization programs (permanent and transitional housing assistance), and child and family services. Through each program, Emerge offers core services including: risk/lethality assessment, safety planning, crisis intervention, case management, basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene items), DV education, support groups, lay-legal assistance, life-skills education, financial literacy, connections to community resources, transportation assistance, parenting education, family support services, age-appropriate services for children, etc. Emerge also provides community outreach via presentations and trainings, and operates a Men’s Education Program to help men identify and address beliefs and behaviors that create risk for their partners.
Contact: www.emergecenter.org
24/7 Multilingual Hotline = 520-795-4266
Admin number re: donations, volunteering, etc. = 520-795-8001

Chapman Automotive
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Chapman Automotive has been deeply rooted and committed to delivering the best car ownership experience possible to our local residents since 1966. We feel a great responsibility to our Southern Arizona community, which is why we are passionate about investing time and resources into the most important areas to our employees, customers, and the communities where we live and work. Here at Chapman Honda, employees make a difference in the lives of others by choice. From volunteering during our Annual Team Honda Week of Service, to hosting pet adoption events and donating to our local schools and neighborhoods, our employees take pride in helping others. Every opportunity to give back is a chance to make a difference in the community they work and live in.
Contact: Chapman Honda
4426 E. 22nd St; Tucson, AZ 85711

Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF)
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The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) formed in 1997 as the result of a merger of three Tucson-based AIDS service organizations. In November 2014, SAAF acquired Wingspan, Southern Arizona’s LGBT Community Center. SAAF’s mission is to “cultivate a healthy and stigma-free society through transformative action.” Collectively, through its predecessor agencies, SAAF has served the community for more than 30 years by providing services to enhance the health and quality of life for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to assist people in preventing HIV, Substance Abuse, Hepatitis C, and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). SAAF continually works to meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, and focuses on evidence-based prevention programs to reach at-risk populations.”
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Contact - Main Address: 375 S Euclid Ave, Tucson AZ 85719
Phone: 520-628-7223 or 800-771-9054 (toll free); Fax: 520-628-7222

Pima County Superintendent of Schools Office
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The Pima County School Superintendent's Office promotes educational excellence through leadership, service, and collaboration. We believe all students can succeed and we invite all stakeholders to join our mission. The elected Pima County School Superintendent is Dustin J. Williams, a native Tucsonan and educator for more than 20 years.
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Contact: Jeanette Velasquez, Special Staff Assistant to Pima County Schools Superintendent, 520-724-8453, Jeanette.velaquez@pima.gov