Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments To Change the World

Gr 5–8—Dawson, CEO and cofounder of the global nonprofit Peace First, has spent the last 25 years supporting teens in creating real change. Dawson continues his work in this handbook filled with inspirational stories of young people, ranging in age from 15 to 22, who faced or witnessed injustice and the steps they took to become a peacemaker. The book begins with seven commitments designed to inspire readers into action, including "Put Peace First, Every Day, Open My Heart" and "Take a Stand." Each commitment includes a personal story. Katebah, a 15-year-old girl whose family left Yemen to live in Oakland, saw the students in her school and members of her community growing numb to deaths from gun violence. Katebah found like-minded friends, and together they organized events such as a celebratory march for peace. At the end of each chapter, Dawson includes a helpful step-by-step guide on putting each vision into practice.