Mid-Missouri Peaceworks

WE ENGAGE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION ADDRESSING NUCLEAR WEAPONS, PEACE CONCERNS, CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY. WE ORGANIZE PROGRAMS CONFERENCES, CLASSES & EVENTS LIKE EARTH DAY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. WE OPERATE THE PEACE NOOK, A NON-PROFIT RESOURCE CENTER TO PROMOTE OUR MISSION.

OPERATION OF THE PEACE NOOK, A LARGELY VOLUNTEER-STAFFED RESOURCE CENTER FOR PEACE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE PEACE NOOK HOUSES OUR OFFICES, A LIBRARY, MEETING SPACE, DISPLAYS, AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO BOOKS AND OTHER INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES FOR PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL AND FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS, AND PRODUCTS WITH EDUCATIONAL MESSAGES RELATED TO OUR MISSION. THE PEACE NOOK IS WHERE WE HOLD OUR CLASSES AND DISCUSSION GROUPS. THE PEACE NOOK IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND SERVES AS AN INFORMATIONAL HUB AND A REFERRAL MID-MISSOURI COMMUNITY. WE ESTIMATE THAT MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE COME TO THE PEACE NOOK TO ACCESS RESOURCES OVER THE COURSE OF EACH YEAR.

PUBLIC EDUCATION ON SAFE, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY OPTIONS, THROUGH OUR PEACEWORKS' MISSOURIANS FOR CLIMATE ACTION PROJECT. WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE BENEFITS OF UTILIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS OPPOSED TO FINITE AND POLLUTING ENERGY SOURCES. MUCH OF OUR EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED AT EDUCATION ON THE NEED TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT. WE HOLD PUBLIC INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS, HOST EXPERT SPEAKERS, HOLD TOWN HALL STYLE MEETINGS, SHOW FILMS AND CONDUCT CLASSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE. WE ALSO FOCUS ON THE CONNECTION OF ENERGY POLICY AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION, A MAJOR CONCERN THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN CONSIDERING THE NUCLEAR POWER OPTION. IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, WE OPERATE A SPEAKERS' BUREAU, AND HAVE A STRONG ON-LINE PRESENCE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING FACEBOOK. WE ALSO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AT A VARIETY OF EVENTS, FAIRS AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS. WE ESTIMATE THAT THROUGH OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMS WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH UPWARDS OF 10,000 PEOPLE.

COORDINATION OF COLUMBIA EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES. THROUGH PROVISION OF STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, OFFICE SPACE, AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT WE FACILITATE THE ANNUAL COLUMBIA AREA EARTH DAY FESTIVAL (CAEDF). THIS EVENT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS. THE FOCAL POINT OF OUR EARTH DAY FESTIVAL IS ECO AVENUE, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 40 BOOTHS ARE SET UP BY AREA ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING EDUCATION. THERE IS ALSO A KIDS' PARK SET UP WHERE HUNDREDS OF AREA FAMILIES BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN NATURE-ORIENTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO HOLD SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS AT THE FESTIVAL. THE CAEDF IS A FREE EVENT. WE ESTIMATE THAT AT LEAST 10,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE EACH YEAR. NOTE THAT IN 2020, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, OUR EARTH DAY FESTIVAL WAS FORCED TO GO VIRTUAL, SO MANY OF THE USUAL ACTIVITIES WERE NOT FEASIBLE. IN 2021, AGAIN DUE TO COVID, WE HELD THREE THREE SMALLER EVENTS. IN 2022, HOWEVER, WE WE ABLE TO HOLD OUR FULL EVENT AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY IN THE YEARS TO COME.