Abe Keller Peace Education Fund


P r o j e c t s

Request for Proposals

from Public Access television and radio stations.

The Abe Keller Peace Education Fund is soliciting proposals from individuals and organizations for the purpose of producing media programming that addresses the continuing threat of nuclear weapons development and proliferation. Programming could be designed for either television or radio, or both. It could be in the form of complete programs or as segments that would be used in larger program formats. For further information, please refer to the RFP document (Word, 28K).

Projects in 2007

Peace Activists in Training

Through student scholarships, the Abe Keller organization sponsors an intensive four-week Peace Activist Training (PAT) program for local high-school students. Prospective interns each year are interviewed and selected on the basis of several criteria. The training is provided and administered by the Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation (WWFOR), and the students participate in a variety of assignments including soap-box public speaking, street-side surveys, forums, and research. The students are provided with several options for study topics, and they must come to a consensus about which topic they will focus on during the training program.

Think Peace: Peacemaking in a Troubled World

In 2007, there were six students who participated in PAT, each from a different high school. Based on recent events in Seattle and an informative forum with local law-enforcement personnel, the students chose to focus their efforts on the topic of police brutality. However, in addition to this main area of focus, each student was allowed to pursue their own interests in peace and justice, and these secondary topics ranged from sexual discrimination to military training programs. Two of the students provided an oral recap of their internships during a recent meeting of the Abe Keller fund. The students reported that PAT was a tremendous experience for them, and they learned skills that they'll be able to apply in future leadership roles.

An excellent article on the success of the PAT program, based on the 2005 internships, can be found in the WWFOR Pacific Call newsletter for September-October 2005. Refer to the article entitled A Great July for WWFOR Peace Activist Trainees by Ellen Finkelstein, WWFOR Organizer.

Think Peace: Peacemaking in a Troubled World

This is a monthly video program by the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund. Program topics cover a variety of issues related to peace; for example, the program in February focused on humanitarian relief efforts, and the program in March looked at nuclear weapons proliferation. The program is shown on SCAN TV (Seattle Community Access Network) on the third Tuesday of each month, at 6 PM. It is available in the Seattle area on cable 77 (Comcast) or 29 (Millennium), or you can watch it anywhere with an Internet connection as a live video stream at scantv.org.

Washington Truth in Recruiting (WaTiR)

The mission of WaTiR is "Connecting with students and parents, to provide objective information for critical life choices involving the military." The Pentagon spends $4 billion marketing and recruiting per year. It's important for students and parents to understand the truth about what joining the military really means. WaTiR works toward this goal by identifying channels (parents, teachers, etc.), informing them of the WaTiR mission, recommending printed brochures, identifying qualified presenters, and providing training. Further information is available at the WaTiR web site.

Projects in 2005

Our goal for 2005 is to continue the grant to the Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation (WWFOR) in support of the peace activist trainees (see 2004 projects) and to organize forums that expand our work in peace education. The annual meeting program is our first event in this effort. Our web site provides a useful resource on peace education materials. Links to other relevant web sites are also provided. Your support will help us move forward with plans for a comprehensive "Keller Peace Education Resource (KPER) Center" online.

Projects in 2004

During 2004, we continued our support of the Peace Activist Trainee Project, in which five Seattle high-school juniors and seniors worked 20 hours per week for four weeks, from early July to early August. They received guidance, supervision and training from Mike and Ruth Yarrow, Marcia Mullins, and other staff of the WWFOR. Their activities included event planning, guerilla theatre, and engaging the public on issues of peace and disarmament, as well as numerous seminars with WWFOR staff on how to develop their passion for peace into meaningful and effective action.

Also, in early December we had a very successful fun-raising event that included Klezmer music and a video presentation featuring the peace activist trainees.

Projects in 2003

The Abe Keller Peace Education Fund awarded grants to the following organizations during 2003.

	Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation (WWFOR) Student intern program.
	Lawyers Alliance for World Security Speaker series.
	Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) "Avoiding Armageddon" series.
		Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action Contact: 360-377-2586 In recognition of Jackie Hudson.
	Hiroshima with Hope
	Mothers for Police Accountability Contact: 206-329-2033
	Black Dollar Days

Grant Recipients in Previous Years

	Canyon Creek Elementary School ASB for Humanitarian Assemblies (Bothell WA) In a response to increased bullying at the school, the ASB at Canyon Creek began sponsoring a series of assemblies to promote diversity awareness. The objective has been to teach the meaning of humanitarianism and to help students appreciate people who are different than themselves. The ASB has solicited outside resources, such as Seattle Seahawk players, to participate in these assemblies. The Abe Keller fund helped the ASB support this diversity education program.
	Floyd Schmoe Peace Scholarship (Seattle WA) Contact: 206-365-7865 This scholarship was established to offer an alternative to military scholarships. It honors Floyd Schmoe, who at 105 years of age continues to support peace efforts. Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Floyd worked to help war victims, build orphanages, repair hospitals, and dig irrigation ditches. The Peace Scholarship is cash award given to an outstanding senior attending Shorecrest High School who is involved humanitarian causes, to help with their future education.
	Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action (Poulsbo WA) Contact: 360-377-2586 Founded in 1977, the Ground Zero Center provides a means for witnessing to and resisting nuclear weapons, particularly the Trident missle. The organization works toward a nonviolent world by practicing nonviolence right next to the Bangor Trident submarine base. They maintain the house and grounds at Ground Zero as an “oasis of peace,” distribute leaflets, organize vigils and actions at Bangor, and help build the movement for nuclear abolition.
	Mothers for Police Accountability (Seattle WA) Contact: 206-329-2033 Since 1990 this organization has worked to eliminate police violence and misconduct, and to protect the communities. A United Way agency, the group is committed to supporting the victims of police violence. In 1996, the organization worked with the Puget Sound Council of Senior Citizens, the county mental health practitioners, and the Seattle Police Department to develop a humane response to people having a mental health crisis.
	Namaste Peace Project (Seattle WA) This program provides non-violence training for church congregations and to school assemblies.
	Seattle Peace Chorus (Seattle WA) Contact: www.word-ware.com/spc 206-264-5532 The mission of the Seattle Peace Chorus is to communicate through music the desire for a just and peaceful world; to celebrate life in all its diversity; and to inspire commitment to harmonious relationships. In 1999 the 44-member group enjoyed a 2-week tour of Cuba, performing in 11 concerts including a show at the Teatre Grande in Havana. The donation by the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund helped the chorus update their brochure and support their outreach efforts.

Grant-Making Policies

Any individual or group may seek financial assistance, and each request will be honored by issuing a copy of "Grant Application Guidelines." No unsolicited proposal will be considered unless preceded by a query letter and subsequent invitation to submit a proposal. Only invited proposals will be evaluated for further consideration. The Board's decision will be final in each instance. At the Board's discretion, the Fund may solicit proposals consistent with its peace education objectives. Grant awards will give consideration to how the funds can help recipients perform more effectively and achieve broad community outreach that encompasses religious organizations, public and private schools, businesses, labor organizations, community service groups, etc.

The Board shall establish criteria and processes for (1) determining which grant proposals will be invited, (2) evaluating grant proposals, and (3) deciding which proposals will be granted during the current grant cycle. The "Grant Applications Guidelines" will attempt to communicate these criteria and processes. The Board shall also establish means for monitoring and tracking granted projects to assure responsible and effective use of funds.

If you wish to apply for a grant to support a peace-education project, contact us to submit a letter of inquiry.

If you wish to contribute to the Fund, your tax-deductible donation will be gladly accepted.