This book explores multiple lenses of identity, so whether you’re an activist, educator, parent, leader, grandparent or caring citizen, this book & club is for you! Join the authors for illuminating discussions about the intersections of peace and justice, as well as living and being in alignment with the Five Peace Actions. Explore peacelearning with children and schools while keeping grounded to your role(s) in the community.

Book Club: Empowering Peace and Justice Education

In March, 2025, World BEYOND War will be holding a weekly discussion each of four weeks of the book Empowering Peace and Justice Education: An Actionable Framework for Elementary Educators and Learners with the authors Julie Lillie and Carey Seeley Dzierzak.

When you register for the club, we'll send you an e-book.

We'll let you know which parts of the book will be discussed each week along with the Zoom details to access the discussions.

When:

For one hour on March 4, 2025, beginning at UTC 00:30, which is March 3 at 2:30 p.m. in Honolulu, 4:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. in Mexico City, 7:30 p.m. in New York, and March 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Beijing, 9:30 a.m. in Tokyo, 11:30 a.m. in Sydney, and 1:30 p.m. in Auckland.

And (after parts of the world change their clocks) for one hour on March 10, 17, and 24, beginning at UTC 23:30, which is 1:30 p.m. in Honolulu, 4:30 p.m. in Los Angeles, 5:30 p.m. in Mexico City, 7:30 p.m. in New York, and the next day at 7:30 a.m. in Beijing, 8:30 a.m. in Tokyo, 10:30 a.m. in Sydney, and 12:30 p.m. in Auckland.

Where: Zoom (details to be shared upon registration).

This is a small group series with limited space of up to 18 people. Sign up to reserve your spot. We look forward to reading and discussing this important book with you!

About the Book:

Learn how to thoughtfully embed the tenants of peace education into your own life, classroom, curriculum and school culture with this practical and timely guidebook that features action steps across developmental levels. Rooted in hope, empowerment, culturally relevant pedagogy and trauma informed care, this book provides an overview of peace education and the peace actions; sample lessons and practices; and resources for supporting you in implementing these ideas across content areas, with an emphasis on literacy, language, and social emotional learning. The book details how creating a culture of peace is an opportunity for all students and educators to flourish, to create the space to meet students where they are, bringing their assets to the forefront and building culturally affirming systems. Providing kind, practical recommendations in an accessible and eye-opening way, Empowering Peace and Justice Education is an essential read for any teacher or school leader who wants to move from vision to action in co-creating brave democratic spaces and realizing a more just and peaceful world.

Table of Contents:

1. What is Peace Education? 2. Peace Actions: A Flexible Framework 3. Seek Peace Within Yourself 4. Seek Peace With Others 5. Respect Diversity 6. Protect Our Environment 7. Reach Out In Service 8. Be A Responsible Citizen Of The World 9. Becoming Trauma Informed: Best Practices of Peace Guides, Educators & Leaders 10. Staying the Course: Peace Education in the Face of Obstacles & Challenges 11. Leadership & Peace Site Guidance 12: Belonging & Harmony Unit of Lessons

Praise for the Book:

This empowering book explores the intersection of peace and justice for culturally relevant teaching. It offers a valuable framework for elementary educators, ranging from transformative insights to practical strategies.

Dr. Namrata Sharma, State University of New York, USA

A wonderful addition to the growing literature in peace education by its timely inclusion of newer topics, including the necessity of recognizing trauma informed care and our understanding of culturally relevant pedagogy. The authors, both experienced educators, offer both philosophical and very practical hands-on ways of implementing peace education practice in a variety of settings.

Mary Lee Morrison, Ph.D. co-author Peace Education 3rd edition (McFarland)

I love, love, love the lessons.

Jodie Wellman, 4th Grade Teacher

One of the most needed and seminal books on education of our time. A theoretical and practical guide on shaping a future where education plays its most important role - building a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world for all.

Gal Kleinman, Director, Education for Global Peace

So many of us carry the scars inflicted by a world that has not recovered from its addiction to violence. We are injured by the quiet violence of apathy and isolation. We are plagued by the systemic violence of ableism, sexism, racism, and classism. We are broken by the overt violence of conflict and war.

So many of us are connected to the institutions that do the scarring — indentured by our paychecks, our loyalties, our histories, our fears.

In this, we are both perpetrator and victim. And we are not okay. We need a different kind of journey. I think that for a lot of us, this book can be the first steps on that odyssey.

Cornelius Minor, Brooklyn Based Educator, Author

This book gives students a voice to show how they belong and connect with their community members.

Melissa, Public Montessori Educator

Your work is greatly needed, and I admire your passion.

Melinda, Teacher of Gifted & Talented Students

As a peacebuilding professional and now as a grandfather, I’ve long been looking for a book that would help teachers and parents introduce our field to children in their formative years. Here it is.

Charles Hauss, Senior Fellow for Innovation, Alliance for Peacebuilding

I believe this work is vital in our world today. As educators, we are plagued with witnessing and participating in a system that in many ways is oppressive and breaking down. As individuals we can be proponents for peace, working with purpose to make a difference for students, families and our communities. Being dedicated to peace education is a powerful and radical act. Let's lean in with love and lean into the movement to create a peaceful world!

Montessori Teacher, M.Ed., MAHS

Julie Lillie and Carey Seeley Dzierzak have adopted World Citizen Peace’s Five Peace Actions to create a well-researched and deeply grounded framework for peacelearning. If we want to see peaceful change in our schools, we must take up the challenge and be the change. Empowering Peace and Justice Education demystifies that challenge, offering teachers and students a transformational path to becoming peacemakers and world citizens together. We are proud that World Citizen Peace’s Five Peace Actions have inspired this important work.

Caren Stelson, Author, Educator and Board Chair of World Citizen Peace

About the Authors:

Julie Lillie, M.S., is a peace-centered educator with over 15 years of experience in diverse PreK-12 settings, including as a teacher, instructional leader, literacy specialist, equity coach and curriculum developer. More at www.thepeacepad.org

Carey Seeley Dzierzak, Ed.D., is a dedicated social-justice centered educator involved in education for over 25 years working in diverse settings. She has been a 1st-grade and literacy teacher, instructional coach, curriculum director, assistant principal and principal.