Core Curriculum
Conflict resolution education improves empathy, reduces aggression, and improves emotional awareness.
Art and Music enhance creativity, innovative thinking, and confidence.
Media Literacy provides tools that encourage respectful discourse and reduces cyber bullying.
Connecting with nature reduces stress and enhances a value for community and close relationships.
Mindfulness strengthens concentration and enhances social and emotional learning.
History
Peace Village began in 1996 as a summer day camp, created in collaboration between the Congregational Church of Lincoln City, the Pacific University Peace Studies department, and the Native Youth Council of the Siletz Nation. Since our inception, thousands of people, from varied backgrounds and all walks of life, have participated in our programs across the globe.
Peace Village Global has over 25 years of experience addressing some of the most challenging issues in our communities. We teach practical skills in resolving conflict, building empathy, creating inner peace, connecting with the natural world, and developing collaborative leadership.
Based in conflict resolution theory, modern neuroscience, and ancient mindfulness practices, PVG helps each person cultivate a calm center and provides a safe space to practice peace building together. We now have over 30 programs across the country and abroad, including those for children, families and adults.
Executive Director
Elizabeth Wilson
Elizabeth Wilson co-founded Peace Village Global in 1996 along with Wintry Whitt. The two went on to create the curricula, direct camps, and educate both camp directors and new trainers. Elizabeth was an adjunct professor in the Peace and Social Justice Department at Pacific University for over 20 years where she developed and led programs for students. She enjoys teaching outside the classroom and has worked in a UN camp for SE Asian refugees, with the Navajo Nation, and for many years leading expeditions in the wilderness. She has studied natural medicine, yoga and meditation for over 25 years, and delights in playing and teaching music, being outside and spending time with family.
Board of Directors
Donna B Andrews
Board President
Donna brings a lifelong passion for peace and justice, as well as experience in non-profit and technology. As a researcher in the tech industry she helps product teams put humans at the center of their work through listening and empathy. As a linguist she brings a focus on communication and understanding. Having lived in 3 other countries, she knows what it means to be the “new person” in a strange world, and find one’s own cultural assumptions challenged. She believes that being open and accepting of differences prompts reflection and connection with others. Donna volunteers with Peace Village because empathy, understanding, and acceptance are the most important lessons we can teach, and learn. Donna began volunteering with PVG in 2020, and joined the Board of Directors in 2022.
Yahya Kane
Board Member
Yahya Kane moved to the United States more than 20 years ago and was granted political asylum in 2003. His country, Mauritania is in northwestern Africa. He moved to Oregon 18 years ago, enrolled at Portland State University in the International Studies Department, and worked with in a group home with Adults with Developmental Disabilities. In 2014, he started working with Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR) a program of the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. He is a case manager Assistant and a School Educational Specialist. One of the most important parts of his job is to work with newcomers in schools and lead a Cultural Orientation class. He recently started working with SOAR Youth Mentorship Program.
Stacy Renfro
Treasurer / Secretary
Stacy Renfro came to Peace Village in 2015 with over 20 years of experience in environmental and outdoor education, non-profit administration, and adventure guiding with an emphasis on natural history. The parent of 4 amazing teenagers, Stacy lives the practice of empowering young people to own their walk in this world and take responsibility to make it a better place. Stacy serves to fortify the operations of Peace Village so that it will continue enabling children to practice peace through connection and understanding of nature, art, media, and conflict resolution. Stacy enjoys playing with her family and friends; gardening, skiing, kiteboarding, sailing, kayaking, attending art installations and theater productions, She also volunteers with her kids' school and extracurricular pursuits.
Sara Huston
Board Member
Sara Huston is a craftsperson, designer, curator and educator. Her studio, The Last Attempt at Greatness, engages the fields of design, craft, art, and architecture. Her work explores rural life, community, progress, expectation, perception and value through community engagement and everyday household objects. Sara is currently the Lecturer Director at the Columbia Grange in Corbett, Oregon, and an Assistant Professor at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). She has also made significant contributions to the design community as a curator at White Box Visual Laboratory and a member of the League of Women Designers. Sara spends her weekends with her two dogs and partner John, renovating their 1929 home and restoring the 8 acres it sits on. She contributes to PVG by bringing keen attention to detail, organizational strategy, and systems thinking, and she has 16 years of educational experience!
Alia Alhumaid
Board Member
Alia Alhumaid MD has been a PVG board member since 2023. She is the founder of and sole provider at Evergreen Geriatrics, LLC, a private geriatric medicine practice located in Lake Oswego, OR. Alia completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins University in 2010. She completed an Internal Medicine residency at Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA in 2009 after graduating from The George Washington University School of Medicine in 2006. She has been passionate about Public Health throughout her career.
Larry Strober
Board Member
Brooklyn born, Larry has always loved the challenge of making an impact, sometimes under challenging circumstances. As a 1stLieutenant, Signal Corps, he helped establish the Defense Communications Satellite Program earning the Army Commendation Medal for his efforts. That started a 35-year career helping Silicon Valley startups and small tech companies adapt to ever-changing market opportunities. In recent years, Larry's focus expanded to mentoring small businesses and advising non-profits, while also serving as the Economic Facilitator for the City of Lafayette tasked with forming and growing a Downtown Association. Larry has been a Rotarian for almost ten years and is the current director of the Rotary Peace Pole Project. He has been a board member at PVG for 8 years, for Elevate Him since 2022 and provides mentoring as part of the Portland Peace Initiative.