Here at 2 INSPIRE PEACE, we’re committed to investing our expertise and resources to achieve our cause further. Since 2017, we’ve been supporting our community members in various ways and measuring our success not by monetary size but by more qualitative measurements, such as the scale and effectiveness of our efforts.

 

We have led afterschool programs and been a community partner with Dade Middle School; served as Creative writing instructors at the South Dallas Cultural Center; Founded the South Dallas Youth Poetry Contest; served as VP of Dade Middle School SBDM; Over 1000 combined volunteer hours with Park South YMCA, CitySquare and Lincoln High School.  

 

Also, as an organization, we have led mentoring programs, such as The BeYouTiful Girls at Lincoln High, participated in the Clean Sunny South Dallas initiative; participated in youth-driven programs with Pan African Connection Bookstore and Art Gallery, MLK center, and provided meditation sessions for the staff and the community; and volunteer hours with St Philips School and Community Center.

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A Big Thought DCOL Grant recipient, DCOL Leadership participant, and recipient of the Neighbor Award in 2020; highlighted as Winner of the We Shall Overcome Fund with The Highlander Center of Education, Hot Mama Award for Mother Entrepreneurs on Fire; featured on Voyage Dallas, members of Alternate Roots, and created and delivered art inspired SEL programs for Desoto ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, and The Texas Discovery Garden. Our founders have won national poetry awards and artist of the year awards nationwide.

 

 

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Founded by Alternate Roots Members King Shakur, Nikisha Patton Handy, and GNO, The Art-Inspired Healing Collective is dedicated to providing a forum and opportunity to have the voices of our community be heard. We seek to stop the silence and the shame that has served to stifle our truths which ultimately contributes to the mental, emotional, and physical illnesses of those affected. The PH (Poetry and Healing) Balanced Open Mic sessions have brought people from all over the Dallas/Ft. Worth region together in a safe space.

 

And each experience has been a magical session of people releasing. We are mental health first aid certified to work with youth and adults. We continue to partner with other organizations and businesses to inspire peace. This has led to curriculums and workshops to help people dig deeper and get to the root of their pain.