December 4, 2023 – The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative is proud to announce that its Domestic Harmonizer Program will be expanding its programming beyond California and to the State of Washington through a new and groundbreaking partnership with the Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD). The purpose of this collaboration is to propose the DHP’s peace education tools to the school districts in the NWESD’s reach in northwestern Washington. This collaborative effort aims to empower students, educators, and parents with the essential skills needed to navigate conflicts peacefully and build stronger, more resilient school communities.
NWESD is a regional educational advisory body that provides a centralized point for the set of services and information relevant to K-12 education in Washington. NWESD serves 35 school districts, Tribal Education Compact Schools and several private schools in Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. The partnership with WPDI, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, reflects a shared commitment to fostering a culture of tolerance, empathy, and cooperation in school communities building on the active participation of educators and learners. Under this collaboration, WPDI and NWESD will work collaboratively to develop and implement comprehensive conflict resolution programs tailored for students, educators, and parents and these offerings will be made available to the 35 school districts within the reach of NWESD. “We are delighted to partner with NWESD to champion peace education in their schools,” says Monya Kian, Domestic Harmonizer’s Program Director. “This marks an expansion of a program that, so far, has been rooted in Southern California, and we are eager to expand our reach with such a committed and earnest educational partner.”
Key initiatives Include providing professional development workshops for educators focused on equipping them with specialized knowledge and tools to effectively teach conflict resolution education concepts in the classroom. The partnership will also offer parents our virtual series to reinforce these principles at home. In addition, WPDI and NWESD aim to jointly develop and integrate conflict resolution modules into school curricula so that students access and incorporate these essential skills into everyday learning. Last but not least, we aim to conduct awareness campaigns to promote the broader adoption of peace education practices, extending the impact even further.
“We are excited for this opportunity to partner with the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative,” says Fran McCarthy, Director Special Programs & Services, NWESD. “We will work alongside them over the next three years to benefit staff, students, families, and the community. This will provide opportunity for growth and development in multiple areas. We are honored to be part of the initiative’s Washington state expansion.”
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