Peace Activist Trainee (PAT) Program 2009
The PAT program is a paid month-long summer program for high school students who want to gain skills in organizing for peace and social justice. It is put on by Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation (WWFOR) staff with the partnership of the Abe Keller Peace Education Fund. We learn about peace and justice issues, the practice of non-violence, and gain skills such as public speaking, group leadership, conducting surveys, public relations, outreach and lobbying. We meet individual activists, visit organizations, are introduced to current hot issues, and are mentored by older, more experienced activists.
An important part of the program is when students work together to create an activist project that puts the knowledge they are gaining into action in the community. Past group projects have focused on topics such as police accountability, racism in Seattle, what is terrorism, the military in schools, the war in Iraq, and nonviolence.
So far, the PAT program has graduated over 40 high school students from the greater Seattle area. After returning to their schools, PAT graduates have put what they learned into practice, including launching a school peace group, directing an all-day Martin Luther King Day event, helping organize a city-wide walk-out in opposition to the Iraq war, limiting the Junior ROTC in the school, raising funds for aid to Katrina victims, being a panel member at a large event on the illegality of the Iraq war, and co-teaching a high school class on social change.
The PAT program is challenging, fun, intense, and relaxed. It's a whirlwind of learning that will leave you inspired to work, along with your new friends, to make your world a better place!
Who participates?
This program is for students who:
- have finished their sophomore and junior high school years from the greater Seattle area
- have an interest and passion for peace and justice issues
- want to learn more about how to work to change their communities
- have a variety of previous experiences (don't worry if you haven't done much organizing before)
If you have read this far and are still interested, this program may be for you!
What will we do?
The program sessions include a variety of activities, speakers, mini-workshops, visits to organizations, hands-on practice, and group project work. For some of these sessions, we will be working at the WWFOR office, and for some we will meet at WWFOR and then travel to other locations. We try to cover a wide range of topics and skills, and give trainees lots of time to do their own work.
Can I get school credit?
Participants who want to get independent study, internship, and service learning credits for their high school can arrange with their school and us for that. We are willing to serve as "supervisors" for these sorts of programs. If you are interested in doing that, please ask your school about their requirements and procedure, then talk to us!
What about pay?
Participants will receive a stipend for their time. If you opt to pursue school credit or partial credit, you will probably not be paid for those hours. (This may vary by school.)
Check out photos from previous years.