In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, we put together this list of websites which address a variety of issues surrounding peacmaking and violence in our culture.
Find a wealth of faith-based resources on the “Annotated Peace Resource List for Parents.”
Offers a variety of print resources and curricula on topics from overcoming, racial injustice, reducing poverty, interfaith relations and many more.
A brand new website “for people interested in parents and children and their explorations and discussions of war, peacemaking, and terrorism.” This website is facilitated by Church of the Brethren teacher and author Judy Myers Walls and her colleagues at Purdue University and offers an outstanding wealth of activities, articles, curriculum guides, and other resources for parents, kids, youth, and educators.
Domestic Violence:
Abuse response and prevention site has solid resources addressing violence from a faith perspective.
Offers excellent articles, resources and fact sheets covering child abuse, domestic violence, general violence, crime, human rights, peacemaking, youth violence and many more.
This report was commissioned in the UK for the Greater London Authority, but provides an excellent rationale for involving faith communities in issues surrounding domestic violence.
Offers a web resource for faith communities with practical suggestions for congregations wishing to reach out to victims of domestic violence.
Media Violence:
Web-based resources for homes and childcare centers regarding media violence. On the same site, there are educational resources on early violence prevention, conflict resolution, discipline and managing anger.
The website of Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman. Excellent resources connecting media influences to violence in kids, youth and young adults. Check out the latest research showing the link between exposure to violent video games and movies and reduced cognitive brain function.
This is a research-based organization documenting the positive and harmful effects of media on children and youth. Find research, ratings of movies and video games. They help you “watch what our kids watch.”
Gun Violence:
Find a wealth of reports and articles addressing gun violence in the United States, including its recently released report, “No Gun Left Behind: The Gun Lobby's Campaign to Push Guns Into Colleges and Schools.”
This is a national coalition of 44 civic, professional and religious organizations and 100,00 individual members that advocate for a ban on the sale and possession of handguns and assault weapons. Find research, fact sheets and ways to get involved.
Poverty Issues:
The primary mission of the Annie E. Casey Foundation is to foster public policy, human service reforms and community supports to meet the needs of children and families. Check out the Knowledge Center for resources on a variety of topics, including the needs of children of immigrants, reducing the child poverty rate, and reducing juvenile violence.
Resources for advocacy on issues facing children including the latest CDF Gun violence report.
You can find a great number of resources for educating yourself on child poverty issues at this site.
Racism and other bias
an inter-faith ministry dedicated to dismantling racism offers training, resources, and a bibliography of relevant readings on its site.
An Anabaptist anti-racism training and skill development program, this program offers workshops and resources for dismantling racism. Informational newsletters are archived on site. A program of Mennonite Central Committee.
Excellent secular resources for teachers, parents, teens and kids learning to combat racism and other biases in our society. One idea: National Mix-It-Up-at-Lunch Day, where students challenge their peers to mix with each other beyond their usual peer groups.
