June is always a vibrant month at Peace Neighborhood Center, brimming with celebrations and significant milestones. This includes our annual Recognition Night, a heartwarming event where we honor the achievements of our community’s young scholars.

Earlier this month, we proudly celebrated 15 graduating high school seniors, along with our outstanding fifth and eighth grade students who reached key academic milestones. Each of these young achievers has shown remarkable dedication and resilience, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.

Our graduating seniors are set to embark on new journeys, continuing their education at prestigious colleges and universities, including:

• Clark Atlanta University
• DePaul University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Kuyper College
• Marshall University
• Michigan State University
• Washtenaw Community College
• Wayne State University

As is tradition, each senior was presented with the Peace Promise, a unique pledge from Peace Neighborhood Center to support them throughout their college years. This commitment ensures that our graduates have the resources and encouragement they need to earn their degrees and achieve the goals they’ve tirelessly worked toward.

Recognition Night is more than just a ceremony. It is a testament to the strength and spirit of our community. As we celebrate these young individuals, we also reaffirm our dedication to supporting them every step of the way. Here’s to their future success!

The end of the school year at Peace Neighborhood Center was packed with events that brought joy and excitement to everyone in Peace Youth Programs.

Middle school youth enjoyed a lively year-end barbecue, while our elementary students delighted in a fun-filled Year-End Carnival. The carnival featured a variety of activities where our youngest participants showcased their skills in sack races, hula hoop contests, cornhole, tug-of-war, bowling, and much more.

As the kids engaged in these activities, they earned tickets that could be traded for small prizes. However, the biggest reward of all was the shared laughter and fun with their Peace friends, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible volunteers who made the carnival such a success. From face-painting and organizing games to helping with refreshments, their dedication and enthusiasm ensured a great time was had by all. 

Here's to celebrating the joy of community and the spirit of togetherness at Peace Neighborhood Center!

June also means we've been busy planning another full summer of activities for Peace's 2024 Summer Camp programs. Tuesday trips to Silver Lake, field trips to regional parks and local museums, and creative learning experiences with community partners all give our kids a chance to play, learn new skills, and expand their perspectives on what’s possible.

This week, Peace just finshed the first Transformational Road Trip of the summer taking a small group of middle and high school boys to Cocoa Beach in Florida to swim in the ocean and tour the Kennedy Space Center. These Transformational Road Trips have always been an important point of passage for youth in Peace programs. We will have more to share about this amazing adventure next month along with more on this year's Summer Camps. 

Have a great start to summer, Peace Family!