Mount View Students to Present Award Winning Peace Jam Project at Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts on November 29

Unity, Maine – November 16, 2010 – On Monday, November 29, Mount View High School students will present their award winning work for the international PeaceJam 2010 Global Call to Action Challenge.  Students from the Mount View High School-based PeaceJam group won the award in recognition for their efforts to provide fresh organic produce locally grown and encourage the purchased of locally-sourced food for the Mt. View High School lunch program, as well as instituting a recycling and composting initiative in their cafeteria that is reducing the amount of garbage bound for landfill by over 75 percent.

The PeaceJam Foundation organization encourages young people around the world to create and implement sustainable one billion local service-learning projects by 2018.  The Mount View High School group receives support from the Maine Community Foundation.

The event will take place at the Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, 42 Depot Street in Unity, Maine.  Light refreshments begin at 3:30 p.m. with formal presentations beginning at 4:15 p.m.

Barry Felson, Executive Director of NextGen Leaders, the PeaceJam Northeast affiliate, will be on hand to discuss PeaceJam and its positive effect on local communities.  He will provide information on how to start local PeaceJam programs and clubs in schools, youth-serving organizations, and faith-based youth groups.  He will remain on hand after the formal presentation to offer additional information and answer questions.

The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody.

“PeaceJam is an important educational and community service tool for this region,” said Unity College Vice President for Advancement Rob Constantine.  “This group of students has worked to support sustainable food production in this area of Maine.  Their work is in keeping with the sustainability values and practices of Unity College, and we are proud of this group.”

PeaceJam is an international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to inspire a new generation of peacemakers who will transform their local communities, themselves, and the world. Since its launch in 1996, more than 600,000 youth have participated in the PeaceJam program creating and implementing almost one million service projects. Over 150 PeaceJam youth events have taken place in over 10 different countries throughout the world.

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.