Check Out the Winning Artwork from Students for Choose Peace Week
by Donald Rufus-Raphael, Program Coordinator for Choose Peace/Stop Violence at United Way Broward
Every September, Broward County transforms into a canvas of compassion, unity, and hope as schools, families, and community organizations come together to celebrate Peace Week. This dynamic, county-wide initiative empowers young people to take a stand against bullying behaviors and violence as well promotes kindness, tolerance, and emotional well-being.
At the heart of this movement is United Way Broward’s Choose Peace/Stop Violence program, a powerful collaboration that is reshaping school culture and inspiring a generation of changemakers.
Peace Week, held this year from September 22 to 26, is a cornerstone of Broward County’s commitment to fostering safe, inclusive environments for students. The theme for 2025 is “Speak Life. End Bullying,” and it encourages students to use their voices to uplift others and challenge harmful behaviors.
Every day of this week is packed with engaging activities, including our United Way’s annual Peace Poster Contest and Chalk4Peace, where sidewalks become creative expressions of hope and unity. The culmination of Peace Week is Choose Peace Across Broward Day, observed on Friday, September 26, and on this day, students and staff wear white to symbolize peace, unity, and love.
Peace Week is a manifestation of the year-round work led by Choose Peace/Stop Violence, a collaboration among United Way Broward, Broward County Public Schools, and the Children’s Services Council of Broward County. Since its inception in 2010, Choose Peace/Stop Violence has engaged, inspired, and empowered thousands of Broward’s young people to create positive change and prevent violence in their schools and communities.
At the core of Choose Peace/Stop Violence is the Positive Community Norms (PCN) framework, which uses social-norms marketing to shift perceptions and behaviors. Instead of focusing on negative statistics, PCN highlights the positive choices students can make — like showing kindness, resolving conflicts peacefully, and taking a stand against bullying. This approach helps students see that compassion and respect are the norm.
One of the impactful components of Choose Peace/Stop Violence is the Agents of Change (AOC) program. These peer-led groups, operating in over 200 Broward County schools, are guided by school-based facilitators. AOC members meet monthly, follow a structured curriculum, and lead school-wide activities.
Through their involvement, students are developing skills in leadership and communication as well as becoming role models for their peers. Whether organizing a Peace Garden, hosting a meditation session, or distributing “kindness cards,” these young leaders are proving that change starts with the individual and then impacts our larger community.
Peace Week also celebrates creativity as a tool for advocacy. Every year, the Peace Poster Contest invites students across elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to visually express what peace means to them, and the winning entries are displayed across Broward County.
This year, more than 600 students in Broward County’s public schools participated in Peace Week’s poster contest, and here is the outstanding artwork by each of the winners:
All the submissions by Broward’s students were exceptional, and United Way Broward thanks each student/artist for celebrating, promoting, and expanding positive norms in our schools and our entire community.
In addition to Peace Week’s poster contest, activities during this week include Chalk4Peace, which turns school sidewalks into murals of hope, and the Peace Wish Tree, inspired by Yoko Ono and John Lennon, which invites students to write and display their wishes for a better world. These artistic outlets give students a platform to share their dreams for a violence-free future.
Celebrating Peace Week is not limited to Broward’s schools: It extends to our entire community. Families, local businesses, libraries, and after-school programs all participate, reinforcing the message that peace is everyone’s responsibility.
With over 271,000 students exposed to messages from Choose Peace/Stop Violence every year, the impact is undeniable. Schools participating in Choose Peace/Stop Violence have reported a 48% reduction in fighting incidents, proving that students can thrive when they feel safe, supported, and empowered.
In a world often marked by division and conflict, Peace Week offers a refreshing counterpoint. It’s a uniquely powerful time to pause, reflect, and recommit to values such as empathy, respect, and love. Through Choose Peace/Stop Violence initiative, schools in Broward County are teaching students both how to prevent violence and build long-lasting peace.
For questions on how you can become a supporter and advocate for youth opportunity, email Donald Rufus-Raphael, program coordinator for Choose Peace/Stop Violence at United Way Broward, at DRaphael@UnitedWayBroward.org.