Finalists Concrete Plans to Make a Positive Change

“ In our predominantly white society and nation, there’s an imbalance in opportunity in the sector of criminal justice. Coming from someone who has always been passionate about helping others, as a person of color and someone who has experienced situations lacking in resources, I aspire to help stop the negative cycle our society has been stuck in for centuries.”

“ I hope to create a positive change in my community and world by creating art like painting murals in my school and community. I hope my art can bring joy to others, and bring people together.”

“ I hope to create change by improving access to support for students who may struggle academically or personally. I want to be involved in tutoring, mentoring, or programs that give people the tools and motivation they need to succeed. “

“ I want to go to school to become a civil engineer and through becoming one I hope to make new solutions to the infrastructure around us that will overall have a more positive impact on our planet.”

“I want to create prosthesis for impaired people.”

“I hope to change the way all people treat and look at each other. Instead of hate it should be with love and compassion”

“I think ever since I was a kid I wanted to help others. Growing up I dreamed of being a firefighter, climbing into buildings And rescuing people. But looking around and thinking of the people that helped me through out my life I want to be like them. If there’s even a chance I could effect someone’s life how mine was effected I want to take that chance.”

“I want to serve others through activism. I believe that change comes from persistent efforts of those who speak for those who cannot. I hope to make a change in the brown community in these times of uncertainty. I want to create a space where more hispanic and brown voices feel and find the courage to raise their voices. “

“I hope to serve women and children now and in my future career. I hope to become a nurse practitioner to assist women who are struggling with health problems and child birth. “

“I want to be a reliable example of peace, love, joy, kindness, patience, and self control. If people have these things people will work better together and understand each other. “

Check out their Peace Hero’s Grab a hanky…because you are going to need one

My peace hero is one of my teachers, Tracy Holecek. Mrs. Holecek works at Denfeld High School as a nursing instructor.Mrs. Holecek works harder than any teacher I know to ensure that her students understand the lessons and are heard for their needs. In her class, I have learned how to save someone's life using CPR, the Heimlich, first aid, and so many skills that will help me as I work towards my nursing degree. I am a very reserved person with high anxiety, but when I am in Mrs. Holeceks' classroom, I feel like I can be myself. She has helped me open myself up to other students, which has helped me make new friends. I will always remember Mrs. Holecek as I move on to college.

My peace hero is David Dellinger, who was against the Vietnam war as well as WWII. Dellinger wanted to 'fight' the war with kindness, love, and compassion rather than with firearms and ammunition. He was jailed at one point because of his defiance from the war but still holds a meaningful piece in history.  

My Peace Hero is my English teacher Mr.Jungman. He has the undeniable ability to spread peace and bring the whole school together. He speaks up on injustices and fights for what is right at all times, trying to educate us on social injustices. I truly look up to him so much and the changes he has made in our school's environment.

My Peace Hero is Frida Khalo. She used her raw emotion and art to create change in the world. She was never afraid to speak on her pain, female rage, and emotions. She made a community for those who struggle with breastfeeding, miscarriages, and physical injuries from motherhood. She changed the art world with her cultural Mexican techniques and established a unique global art concept. She stood for minority groups and fought for them even when she was physically bed ridden.

My Peace Hero is Billie Eilish. She actually fights a lot for helping our environment and she uses her platform of being famous and a musician in order to help save our planet. She inspires me to use future education and interests and to do the same.

My chosen Peace Hero is Kristen Chedarquist. She was my Global Friendships teacher in elementary school. Everyday she made a concrete effort to spread equality and connection from our classroom to kids around the world. We maintained pen pals with children from less fortunate areas of the world and learned truly all about different aspects of the planet we live on.

My Peace Hero is Phill Homere, he shows up for me and everyone that’s around him no matter what and he has taught me how to hold my self to a higher standard. Because of him there’s people all around Duluth trying to be better than they were yesterday and holding themselves accountable to being and doing more.

My Peace Hero is Ethelind Kaba. Her unwavering advocacy embodies peace through empathy, service, and action. She leads with compassion, purpose, and persistence to create lasting opportunities for women and girls across Minnesota. Her passion as a fierce advocate for women and girls is admirable, and she continuously exercises this advocacy through The Stargirl Initiative, the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and The Jeremiah Program. She’s recognized in Minnesota as a Changemaker and one of Minnesota’s 50 Black Leaders to Know. Kaba shows what true peace leadership looks like.

My mom is my peace hero because she shows strength, kindness, and resilience every single day. She may not be famous, but the impact she has on me and the people around her is powerful. What makes her a peace hero is her ability to create a sense of calm and support, even in stressful situations. She leads by example, showing me that peace starts with how you treat others and how you respond to challenges. Because of her, I've learned to be more understanding, patient, and motivated to help others in my community.

My peace hero is my Late Grandpa Oscar.

He was and still is my Peace Hero because he represented and taught me in the time we had together what helping out in a community looked like in his community he graduated from my School now too as well Denfeld and he would Volunteer here and still before he passed during the summer for CJ Hamm summer camps for youth sporting and they got to knowing and working together pretty well as he did it over those few years to help other youth and his grandkids see the impact that helping out in a community like that gave to people. He also showed me this by actively taking me when he would volunteer and support at the boys and girls club of duluth since he was close friends with the person who ran it Ashley at the time and would show me what he would do and explain to me how it helped kids and that it was his way of supporting his community West Duluth and that I too could follow in his foot steps and do the same which I have strived to do in every aspect and way I can since his passing. He also was involved in his community through his local pool club which showed me when I would get to stop in how being involved and bonded to a group of people like a team could leave a impact on other people in the community and create a positive environment. He also supported and offered funding to causes and community events like Little Miss West Duluth and the West Duluth Sewing dress shop because he wanted to show me as a little girl that anything was possible and the impact it left helping out community places and events for people in are community and how that helped keep are West Duluth Community thriving. He also for Spirit days would donate and display some of his old cars and current cars for the car shows there and take me and show me the smiles it brought to other little faces and people and the little impact it had though small left a big impact and how it made him and the people in the community feel. So that is why I consider my Late Grandpa Oscar my Peace Hero and I strive to continue on his legacy and values with everything I do and graduate from his school Denfeld like he told me as we toured the school right before my Freshmen year was his last dying wish to see me as his eldest grandchild and like his youngest daughter to see me from the sky cross his stage and that he was proud to be a hunter with a smile as he observed all the little things that were the same and that were different around the school and that even without him I too could leave a impact and he knew that I would and he would be watching as I carried on our legacy. So that is why my Late Grandpa Oscar is my own personal Peace Hero.

My mother is my peace maker. She has always made sure she's created a safe environment for her kids to grow and achieve their goals. She's made sure no matter the struggle she makes our lives a safe. She's always been the rock no matter what life throws her way. She is the reason I am who I am, a persevering, smart, strong, intelligent young woman.

My Peace Hero is Kamala Harris. She has advocated for gun violence prevention, reproductive rights and social justice, including police accountability efforts. I love the example as a person she sets for everyone in the world and how she promotes peace for everyone.

My peace hero is Jesus Christ. As a Christian we are called in Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." With this Christians are to be like Christ, so we should exemplify His traits like peace, kindness, patience, goodness, and love.