In 2003 it became clear to PEACE Foundation co-founder, Minneapolis City Council Member Don Samuels representing the Northside, that local government would never be sufficient to deal with community-wide problems like endemic violence and isolated poverty. So he partnered with current Executive Director, Michelle Martin, from Southwest Minneapolis to create the PEACE Foundation in late 2003 to bring the strength and resolve of neighbors on violence weary blocks together with the good will and resources of the broader community.
Their premise: To solve the problem of isolated poverty and violence, the broader community must join with emerging Northside leaders – adults and youth – spearheading the effort to end local violence in their own neighborhood.
The PEACE Foundation now functions as a platform or "foundation" on which to discuss local violence and its roots, identify and support emerging leaders from North Minneapolis, enlist the time and resources of the broader community, and uncover and help implement effective, local solutions. Its strategy is not to provide services but to inspire meaningful involvement by the broader community in the fate of struggling parts of the city.
As awareness, empathy and connection grows across traditional divides of race, geography and class, the PEACE Foundation will help to feed resources from the broader community to capable, local organizations and individuals – both existing and emerging. North Minneapolis, with its frightening crime statistics, and disturbing socio-economic indicators has been the PEACE Foundation's initial target area.
Currently, Don Samuels serves on the Board of Directors of the PEACE Foundation, while his wife Sondra Samuels now serves as a full-time President.
Executive management is led by the PEACE Foundation director and co-founder Michelle Martin, with participation from a host of individuals and organizations, and with oversight and direction from the Board of Directors.
