The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement community experienced an impactful year as we entered our second decade of operation. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments from some of our Core Collaborators and Grebel Incubator start-ups.
The Centre for Community-Based Research (CCBR) continued to lead transformative research and community engagement across Canada. In 2024, they collaborated on 34 unique projects to build more responsive, supportive, and equitable communities. "The year was packed with achievements and learning," shared Rich Janzen, the executive director of CCBR. "We're grateful to all our partners and community groups who made this work possible." Discover more about the impact CCBR made in 2024 in their Annual Report.
A special highlight for Grand River Friendship Society Women's platform in 2024 was their Women's Day program. This gathering aligned seamlessly with the Intercultural Dialogue Institute's mission, gathering women from Turkish and Canadian communities to discuss mental health and celebrate culture. Additionally, GRFS hosted monthly Book Club meetings, fostering meaningful conversations around 10 books, where members shared personal experiences over tea and homemade cookies.
In 2024, Project Ploughshares advanced peace and security through key initiatives, including advocacy at the 10th Arms Trade Treaty Conference in Geneva and nearly two dozen CBC interviews on responsible investing during the Gaza war. They participated in global consultations on military AI, including the REAIM Summit in Seoul, and contributed to nuclear disarmament at the UN’s NPT Preparatory Meeting.
The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) launched their Conflict Resolution, Peace Building, and Social Justice Training for Trainers program that enables educators across the country to use the TREE curriculum in their classrooms and workplaces and be part of a community of practice. TREE has grown to a staff team of 4 with 10+ volunteer facilitators and various co-op and internship placement students. They received the University of Waterloo 2023 CEE Employer Impact Award for their commitment to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
For Aileen and the team at BeBlended, 2024 was nothing short of transformative. They successfully raised over $220,000 in capital from Canadian and U.S. investors while being named one of Canada's Top 10 Woman-Led Ventures. The team launched Version 2 of BeBlended's platform, enhancing its ability to meet the needs of its growing community. Alongside this technological advancement, BeBlended grew an online community of more than 2,000 hairstylists, clients, and supporters.
In light of recent events in Syria, prisoners were released, and underground prisons were uncovered, shedding light on the ongoing crisis. FindSuri has significantly expanded its operations, experiencing a surge of hundreds of new cases and thousands of new followers on Instagram. Prior to these events FindSuri grew a team of 10 volunteers internationally and was primed to launch their new platform. Founder Dima Aldera, was also nominated for the 2024 Premier’s Award.
In 2024, Green Care Farms celebrated a record-breaking season, welcoming the highest number of new members yet. Their highlights included collaborative planning and planting sessions, harvests and engaging farm animal visits. On a personal level, Green Care Farms lost a beloved member Claudio Petracca but are excited to celebrate new beginnings after Rebekah and her fiancé Jeff welcomed baby boy Maxwell.
In 2024, Michelle Jackett and her team at Just Outcomes completed a multi-year project on trauma-informed restorative practices in Oregon's youth correctional facilities. Michelle attended the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) conference in Washington, D.C., alongside 2,000 other practitioners and had the opportunity to connect with fellow authors from The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding series. Additionally, Just Outcomes led a listening project examining the role of the community in restorative justice programs across Canada. Findings from this project will be published in June 2025.
In 2024, The Centre welcomed Peace for All Canada to the Grebel Peace Incubator program. Peace for All Canada also welcomed students from six new immigrant communities into their homework support program, began transitioning to a self-sustained model, and engaged over 200 participants through nearly 20 circle dialogues. They also hosted a successful event, Soccer for Peace during Peace Week, which united diverse groups within the Waterloo Region.
BWOSS empowered community members to launch and advance their careers, with one member securing a senior position and another beginning a new role within three months of graduation. Co-founder Hana embodied her commitment to supporting individuals in their careers by supporting the co-op students in the Centre for Peace Advancement, creating an environment where they felt valued and cared for as they navigated their careers.
The year’s successes reflect the dedication of those committed to building a more just and peaceful world. We hope to see greater impact and progress in 2025!