Peacemaking is a community-engaged process that belongs in every neighborhood. The Center has led or collaborated on a number of such initiatives, especially in Milwaukee.

The Peace Works program pre-dated the Center for Peacemaking. It was started in 1994 by Dr. Michael Duffey as an anti-bullying program. The Center has managed the program since 2007, growing it into a fully-developed peace education and violence prevention program. The curriculum emphasizes social emotional learning, restorative practices, and trauma-informed principles. We partner annually with public, private, and parochial schools.

In collaboration with the Near West Side Partners, the Center co-led the Promoting Assets, Reducing Crime (PARC) initiative. This program started in 2015 with the Center for Peacemaking taking on a prominent role in launching and incubating its many projects. The Near West Side Partners continues to address the PARC themes of commercial corridor development, health equity, housing stability, and a safe environment. Through ongoing efforts, we partner annually with area resident, businesses, nonprofits, government, elected representatives, and first responders.

Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee (SWIM) was started by Mike and Amy Lovell in 2018. The organization has operated under the auspices of the Center for Peacemaking since late 2023. SWIM provides free and low-cost wellness programs and services out of the Concordia27 community center in Milwaukee's Near West Side.