Happy #InternationalDayOfPeace! To celebrate this important cause, we are proud to spotlight one of our key community partners, Increase The Peace (ITP). ITP is a youth-led, grassroots organization based on Chicago’s Southwest Side. ITP focuses on building youth leadership, preventing violence, and strengthening community power through organizing, civic engagement, and mentorship. Their programs create safe, intentional spaces where young people can step into leadership, develop skills, and take action to transform their neighborhoods.
We asked ITP representative, Monse Ayala, what peace looks like at this pivotal moment in history:
“For us, peace isn’t just the absence of violence; it’s the presence of justice, opportunity, and community belonging. Where our young people and families can live free from fear, whether that’s fear of gun violence, fear of displacement, or fear of being targeted because of their immigration status. With so much xenophobia and attacks on our rights and freedoms happening right now, peace looks like building communities where everyone- regardless of language, culture, or background feels safe, valued, and powerful. It’s about creating spaces of solidarity where we stand up for one another and where youth know they have the right to dream, lead, and thrive.”
She also spoke to the importance of ITP’s programming at this critical moment:
“Young people on the Southwest Side are growing up with immense challenges, from community violence to disinvestment in schools and services. Yet they are also our greatest source of resilience and vision. ITP’s programming is necessary because it provides youth with positive alternatives, career exposure, leadership opportunities, and a platform to use their voice. Especially now, as communities continue to recover from cycles of violence and systemic inequities, investing in youth-led solutions is critical for building lasting peace.”
On this International Day of Peace, we are reminded that peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, opportunity, and belonging. Increase The Peace shows us what it means to build peace from the ground up by investing in youth leadership and community power. We are proud to celebrate their work and uplift their vision of neighborhoods where every young person feels safe, supported, and inspired to lead. If you would like to support this important organization, please spread the word about their ongoing Youth Leadership Programs, which center youth voices in creating solutions to violence and planning next year's Annual Black & Brown Unity Parade. They are also actively recruiting community ambassadors and volunteers, so send them a message if you are interested.
Let today be more than a moment of reflection. Let it be a commitment to action, rooted in hope and driven by community.