An amazing time-lapse video, by photographer Stacey Irvin, captured the making of an incredible peace mural with artist Andee Rudloff, STARS youth and attendees at the MidSouth PeaceJam at Belmont University on January 26.

Exploring issues of peace, violence, social justice and oppression, around 250 Mid-South middle and high school students and Belmont student mentors gathered at Belmont University for Nashville’s first ever PeaceJam in a new joint initiative of Belmont University and Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) which paired youth and college students with a Nobel Peace Laureate, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, for community service projects and a “global cause to action” for their own communities and schools.

Rudloff headed the effort on Belmont’s campus to create a peace mural capturing in a dynamic work of art reflecting the students diverse global peace initiatives which Dr. Ebadi signed.

 

The day-long effort to create the peace mural is captured in this amazing time-lapse video. Take a look.

 

STARS extends a huge thanks to artist Andee Rudloff and photographer Stacey Irvin for sharing their time and talents with our incredible youth! 

 

As we head into Martin Luther King Weekend, it is so perfect that STARS is working with Belmont University and the Tennessean this Sunday to highlight the upcoming PeaceJam on January 25-27 on Belmont’s campus.  This will be Nashville’s first-ever PeaceJam and we are thrilled to be partnering with Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi with around 250 Mid-South youth participating.  

Dr. Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work to protect women’s and children’s rights in Iran and the Middle East. She was the first female judge in Iran at the age of 24, and, despite death threats and imprisonment, continued to work tirelessly on these efforts being forced from the country in 2009 and unable to return home to see her husband. Read more of her heroic peace efforts at www.peacejam.org.

Check out the Sunday, January 20, Tennessean editorial section for guest columns on PeaceJam by STARS CEO Rodger Dinwiddie, Belmont University’s Assistant Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education Dr. Mimi Bernard and Beech High School STARS student Bethany Strother.  

Next week, Dr. Ebadi arrives in Nashville to help lead the PeaceJam where youth, along with their Belmont University student mentors, will take on a Global Call To Action. Students will be exploring issues of peace, violence, social oppression and injustice to determine what they are passionate about and hope to convert into a peace project for their own schools and communities. It could take on the form of anything from bullying prevention to building wells in Africa. In addition, the community is invited to Dr. Ebadi’s talk at 7:00 p.m. Friday night at the Curb Center with free admission. Attendees must have a ticket to enter and go to www.belmont.edu and click on “Events at BU” for ticket information.

Saturday afternoon, January 26, students will head to eight sites across the Nashville area from Habitat for Humanity to the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry to help in a variety of hands-on ways.  And, on Sunday, January 27, stay tuned as we report on the exciting PeaceJam Global Call To Action. Lives are being transformed through a variety of incredible community partnerships!

Helping young people, families and schools throughout Middle Tennessee, here’s a video overview of Students Taking A Right Stand, a nationally recognized and evidenced-based resource for student assistance, training and professional consultation.

Unveiled at the annual STARS benefit, Chair-ish The Night With Vince Gill & Friends,  the amazing video was produced by Nashville Prevention Partnership. Take a look:

 

If you or someone you know needs assistance, give us a call at 615-279-0058.

Hendersonville High School hosted a Red Ribbon Week event on October 26.  With the entire student body assembled in the football stadium, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) landed a helicopter on the field and was greeted by a group of Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) Peer Leaders and NOAHS Promise students who serve as role models for being alcohol/drug free. 

 

 

During Red Ribbon Week, a DEA helicopter landed in the football stadium of Hendersonville High School and was greeted by STARS peer leaders

 

The agents from the DEA spoke to the students about the origins of Red Ribbon Week and challenging our students to choose to be alcohol/drug free. 

 

 

A DEA spokesman explains Red Ribbon Week and challenges students to choose to be alcohol/drug free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entire Hendersonville High School student body gathered for the DEA program STARS helped coordinate for Red Ribbon Week.

 

STARS Specialist Debbie Sheets said, at the end of the program, Agent Jones asked our student body to stand if they were making a commitment to be alcohol/drug free.  

“While not every student stood up, it appeared that over 80% of our students did make that commitment.  HHS Principal, Joni Worsham, closed the program by saying that our faculty cares about their well-being, wants to see their smiling faces each and every day and wants to see them walk the line at graduation.  She acknowledged that one of the agents and one of the pilots were alumni of Hendersonville High School.  One of those alumni is the father of a STARS Peer Leader.  We got to watch as both helicopters turned sideways in unison and lifted out of our stadium.  Our faculty had nothing but high praise for the program with one teacher saying it was a definite “10”.  The student response was also overwhelmingly positive,” Sheets reported.

For more information, contact your school’s STARS specialist or call (615) 279-0058.