Looking Forward to a Positive Future!
As we look forward to a new more positive normal, helping our youth and families heal and get back on track continues to be essential. I’m very excited to share that we have launched the pilot of Peace’s new Wellness Program, with the main floor of Peace House recently refurbished and reconfigured to serve as our new Wellness Center. Our two licensed clinical social workers have begun meeting with Peace parents to offer personalized counseling support, and two six-week programs will offer weekly yoga and a special support group for moms.
While the last two years have been challenging, I want to emphasize that there have been a lot of positives. It’s not been all bad. We found new and creative ways to use technology to stay connected with each other. We expanded the ways we engage youth, parents, teachers, and our community partners. Before the pandemic we never considered delivering hundreds of home-cooked meals to Peace families and connecting virtually for a shared meal and fun enrichment activities. Teachers even joined us for a virtual literacy night. It was fantastic!
The pandemic also gave Peace the opportunity to strengthen our community partnerships, especially our already strong partnership with the Ann Arbor Public Schools. We learned from each other, found new ways to collaborate, and developed a greater mutual appreciation for the challenges surrounding virtual learning and teaching.
We never lost faith over the last two years. At Peace, we genuinely believe that every challenge is an opportunity to grow and to learn. It’s always been one of our strengths to view obstacles as opportunities.
As we look forward to creating brighter futures for our youth and families, we continue to be inspired by our community’s generosity.
Please know how much we appreciate you and all that you make possible here at Peace. Your annual gifts* help Peace sustain important programs, while giving us the flexibility to respond to changing needs and the capacity to try new things. Your continued support helps ensure everyone in our community has the opportunity to continue to learn and grow.
Peace and Blessings,
Bonnie Billups, Jr.
Executive Director
*Read our 2021 Annual Report and discover how Peace utilizes your donations.
Explore personal stories and program highlights that demonstrate Peace’s impact in people’s lives:
Peace Family,
As we face the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to work with our youth and families—many of whom have experienced extraordinary hardships. We continue to prioritize programming, as well as invest in new initiatives:
- Academic support for youth, including investments in early literacy and child development
- Expanded food distribution and emergency assistance
- A new wellness program to improve our youth and families’ physical, nutritional, and mental health
- Transformational road trips that give older youth extraordinary learning experiences beyond our neighborhood
Please consider a gift to Peace Neighborhood Center through the secure link below. With your continuing support, Peace can continue to change lives. Thank you!
Serving
Children, Families, and Individuals
affected by social and economic problems
Our impact on
Your Community

16,000 individuals
helped through Washtenaw County
13,000 meals
in youth service


60 young adults
guided into college
The Peace Center is like a home away from home. It really is special, both in the summer and during after school programs. This place feels like it is our roots. Even as you grow, you still are with your roots.
Lauren