Gary Job Corps Organizes Community Peace March

Submitted by Gary Job Corps  Business Community Liaison   Randolph Goodman

Celebrate International Day of Peace

Students from the GARY CORPS CENTER held a peace march beginning at The Calaboose Museum and ending at the Hays Court House as part of the national Job Corps student-led anti-violence initiative, Youth 2 Youth:  Partners 4 Peace. 

The march coincides with the Y2Y mission to promote anti-violence initiatives both on- and off-center.  Students started Youth 2 Youth, or Y2Y, with three basic aims:  to talk about violence and aggression in their communities, to empower one another to prevent violence and aggression, and to share their stories and talk about solutions.  Founded in the spring of 2015, Y2Y is a violence-prevention initiative created by and led by Job Corps students nationwide. 

This initiative is the first national, student-created, and student-led effort to curb youth violence on Job Corps centers, in their surrounding communities, and in the hometowns of students and graduates.  Students recognize that violence—online, in the workplace, and at home—is a critical issue that young people must be equipped to understand, avoid, and address.  By involving the community in Y2Y, students hope to further spread the campaign’s anti-violence message and promote peace.

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution 36/37, the General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”

Pictured are the Gary Job Corps students and local celebrates participating in the Peace Day Parade.  Also pictured at the Hays County Court House, Gary Job Corps students from the Color Guard, Drill Team, Student Government Association, HOPE organization, receiving recognition are Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler, Constable David Peterson, Pastor Dan Matlock, San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Asst. Police Chief Dunn, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Rebecca Ybarra-Ramirez, and Gary Job Corps Center Director Lonnie Hall.