Helping
Children, Families, and Individuals
build futures that include self-suffiiciency and positive community involvement
“Deepening our Roots and Growing Stronger”
Every January brings an opportunity to reflect on what we accomplished last year as we set goals/objectives for the next 12 months. I spend time analyzing Peace’s fiscal year-end numbers to build a budget for the next year. It’s always seemed like a function of fiscal responsibility, but over time I have evolved to think about it differently.
You see, having grown up at Peace and served this organization for over 46 years, you begin to see these annual transitions in a different light, more holistically.
I can’t help but think about where Peace started, how far we’ve come as an agency, and where we’re headed. When I look back to Peace’s humble beginnings in 1971 when a diverse group of neighbors sought to create a new community center that could bring about change for new residents on Ann Arbor’s West side to where we are today, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. Wow.
Every year brings its own challenges with opportunities for new learning and growth that builds upon our organization’s experience, extending and deepening our agengy’s impact. Just the way a tree grows—deepening our roots, growing concentric circles outward, and extending our limbs and reach. Generational growth that has extended and deepened our agency’s impact—not just for the people we serve, but also for our wider community.
Those initial seeds planted years ago, have been watered and nurtured—with new seeds planted to respond to our community’s changing needs. To help each person and family who walks through our doors grow along their own path to greatness.
For over 53 years, Peace has been expanding the agency’s reach and our ability to offer more in-depth support for our kids and families with each new initiative and investment we make. Peace has been continually growing and learning—from fine-tuning our youth programs to include age-specific programming for middle school youth and college & career prep for high school students to family enrichment, in-depth case management, and more recently, the Wellness Center program.
Where are we going? We’re poised for even greater growth as we look to launch a new HUB Community Resource Center in Ypsilanti Township—and build new community partnerships to bring about change for our wider community. An exciting opportunity for Peace to expand our footprint and reach.
We look forward to where we have yet to go. With all that we have planted, watered, nurtured and seen bear fruit along the way, this latest growth should prove to be some of the most rewarding yet.
Thank you, Peace Family, for all you have done and continue to do to support our growth, and help this colorful tree grow bigger and get stronger!
With Gratitude,
Bonnie Billups, Jr.
Executive Director
Read our 2022 Annual Report and discover how Peace utilizes your donations. Check out our Stories and Snapshots and learn about the breadth of Peace’s impact over the past 50+ years.
Your Community
18,000 individuals
helped through Washtenaw County
13,000 meals
in youth service
60 young adults
guided into college
Lauren