Peace Neighborhood Center

Peace Family,

Our response to the Covid-19 national emergency is focused on mitigating the effects this is having on our families in these three major areas:

  1. Food insecurity
  2. Academic support
  3. Lost wages and emergency assistance.

If you are inclined to help, donations made through the PayPal link below will go to help assist our families with food insecurity, continued academic support throughout the summer and, perhaps most importantly, to aid those families facing lost wages due to childcare and other factors to avoid possible eviction or utility shutoff with emergency funds provided through our case management.

 

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A Message from Bonnie
To all of our youth and everyone with school-age children, congratulations on finishing out the school year!  We are so proud of all of your accomplishments throughout this year, but especially in your perseverance through unanticipated difficulties over the last few months.
 
The events unfolding over this time have revealed inequities in our nation that have been here some 400 years.  Hopefully,  the current outrage will help to unify hearts and actions to do the tough work ahead and truly “Make America Great” with laws and actions that live up to the creed that our country is founded on: “That all men are created equal”.  Thus helping to create a world where the Oneness of Mankind is not just treated as a lofty goal, but a reality. A world where justice, access, opportunities are held in all of our hands.  The Covid-19 virus has revealed heathcare disparities between black and white, rich and poor. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have punctuated and made aware to the world some of the injustices faced daily by black lives.
 
While I do not feel it is my place as the director of this organization to make a sweeping political statement, I do think that it is entirely appropriate to encourage everyone to familiarize yourself with the subject of race and the systemic inequities and injustices that are a part of our culture. I feel that if every one of us were to work harder in our own lives to seek understanding and to broaden our perspectives, then it would be easier to come together as one as opposed to splintered groups.  With this in mind, I urge all of you – all of my fellow members of the Peace Family – to step outside of your comfort zones and listen to others.  Have uncomfortable conversations.  Learn from others different from you.  Based on those efforts, it will be up to each of us to plot, plan, strategize, organize and mobilize in order to affect the change in our society that will lead to the world that we have envisioned in our hearts and dreams. A world Unified, Just and Fair for all.
 
If you wish to broaden your understanding on the realities lived by people of color, I would recommend watching any or all of the following films.  They are all good starting points to deepen your perspective on what the issue of racism is, and to launch conversations about what to do about it.
 
On Netflix:
The 13th
When They See Us
American Son
Time: The Kalief Browder Story
 
On Amazon Prime:
The African Americans
Just Mercy
I am Not Your Negro
 
We here at Peace want all the members of the Peace Family along with everyone in our community to know that we as an organization stand always on the side of love and justice.  It is our hope that the difficult and uncomfortable conversations that need to be had are done with civility and that the fruits of those conversations grow a better future for us all.  
In Peace,
 
Bonnie Billups, Jr.
Executive Director

Peace Neighborhood Center

1 day ago

Peace Neighborhood Center

We wanted to take a moment to introduce our newest Peace staffer - Alexa Wutt, Peace's Development Manager and Kevin Lill's replacement. Big shoes to fill, indeed! Alexa's work at Peace merges her past experience in fundraising and education, and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to support Peace's impactful work and connect with its amazing donors. Alexa is a longtime member of the Peace family, having tutored a 2nd-grade student at Peace during her time as an undergrad at the University of Michigan.

Feel free to comment on this post to share your well-wishes or ask her a question - as long as it's not, "Alexa, what's the weather?" (to quote a common question asked of the Amazon Alexa, Amazon's virtual assistant) ... See MoreSee Less

We wanted to take a moment to introduce our newest Peace staffer - Alexa Wutt, Peaces Development Manager and Kevin Lills replacement. Big shoes to fill, indeed! Alexas work at Peace merges her past experience in fundraising and education, and she is deeply grateful for the opportunity to support Peaces impactful work and connect with its amazing donors. Alexa is a longtime member of the Peace family, having tutored a 2nd-grade student at Peace during her time as an undergrad at the University of Michigan. Feel free to comment on this post to share your well-wishes or ask her a question - as long as its not, Alexa, whats the weather? (to quote a common question asked of the Amazon Alexa, Amazons virtual assistant)
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Welcome, Alexa!

She already doing a great job! Can't wait until she really gets things rolling.

Welcome to the Peace community team!

Peace Neighborhood Center

1 week ago

Peace Neighborhood Center

United Way of Washtenaw County's 2020 Virtual Campaign Kickoff is only 45 minutes away (12-12:45 pm)! Hope to see you there. Peace staff members will be attending the kickoff - feel free to join us at the link below. United Way has been a generous partner over the years, investing in Peace's efforts to break the cycle of poverty, one person at a time. We are grateful for UW's support of our community, and we are excited for the opportunity to spread the word about this campaign. #unitedforequityThe Virtual Campaign Kick-Off is less than 90 minutes away. Click the link to join us. We look forward to seeing you at 12pm.

hopin.to/events/united-way-campaign-kick-off-9af50202-e92a-4797-8364-887d83609813 ... See MoreSee Less

United Way of Washtenaw Countys 2020 Virtual Campaign Kickoff is only 45 minutes away (12-12:45 pm)! Hope to see you there. Peace staff members will be attending the kickoff - feel free to join us at the link below. United Way has been a generous partner over the years, investing in Peaces efforts to break the cycle of poverty, one person at a time. We are grateful for UWs support of our community, and we are excited for the opportunity to spread the word about this campaign. #unitedforequity
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Thanks Peace for your support!

Peace Neighborhood Center

1 week ago

Peace Neighborhood Center

Peace's Executive Director, Bonnie Billups, has been invited to participate in the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation​'s community panel this afternoon. The discussion will center around how local nonprofits have stepped up to combat COVID-19 among vulnerable populations and how foundations, organizations, and individuals can make a difference in their neighborhoods. Want to attend? The event is this afternoon from 3:30 to 5 pm. Register at the link below - even if you can't make it, you'll receive a recording of the event!

www.aaacf.org/About/News-Updates/All-News/ArticleID/102/conversation-starter ... See MoreSee Less

Peaces Executive Director, Bonnie Billups, has been invited to participate in the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation​s community panel this afternoon. The discussion will center around how local nonprofits have stepped up to combat COVID-19 among vulnerable populations and how foundations, organizations, and individuals can make a difference in their neighborhoods. Want to attend? The event is this afternoon from 3:30 to 5 pm. Register at the link below - even if you cant make it, youll receive a recording of the event! https://www.aaacf.org/About/News-Updates/All-News/ArticleID/102/conversation-starter
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Mr. Billups is a community treasure.

You are on the circuit! I had to miss today but will see you tomorrow for the United Way of Washtenaw County! Shine on, friend!

Man.of.the.Year. 🥰

Peace Neighborhood Center

2 weeks ago

Peace Neighborhood Center

During a very busy first week of programs, we at Peace are immensely grateful for our new social work interns. They have dived into the challenge of facilitating virtual learning and maintaining order alongside our staff.

For instance, we discovered that many children's class schedules incorporate 15 minute breaks at irregular intervals. On day one of Zoom classes, our interns read books to children and supervised other improvised activities to fill this time productively.

We are excited to watch them learn and grow and introduce new ideas in their chosen profession as programs progress! Pictured from left to right in first image below: Kayla Jarrells (U-M), Monica Weston (EMU), Daria Donelson (EMU), and Emily Giovanelli (U-M). ... See MoreSee Less

During a very busy first week of programs, we at Peace are immensely grateful for our new social work interns. They have dived into the challenge of facilitating virtual learning and maintaining order alongside our staff. For instance, we discovered that many childrens class schedules incorporate 15 minute breaks at irregular intervals. On day one of Zoom classes, our interns read books to children and supervised other improvised activities to fill this time productively. We are excited to watch them learn and grow and introduce new ideas in their chosen profession as programs progress! Pictured from left to right in first image below: Kayla Jarrells (U-M), Monica Weston (EMU), Daria Donelson (EMU), and Emily Giovanelli (U-M).
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Thanks for all of your help getting the kids connected and filling those breaks!! They did a great job today!

Thank you for all of your help and support with our students!

Great job PNC!

Our impact on

Your Community

16,000 individuals

helped through Washtenaw County

13,000 meals

in youth service

60 young adults

guided into college

Events

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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 Comer

Lauren

Locations

We are in your neighborhood

Main Facility

1111 N. Maple Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 662-3564

Maple Meadows Satellite Center

880 S. Maple Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

West Arbor Satellite Center

717 N. Maple Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Peace House

1111 N. Maple Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103