Call the mayor and offer to serve on a task force of religious leaders charged with reviewing human rights issues that surface in your community.
Survey your members to identify other needs your congregation might address relating to peaceful conflict resolution, and then work on them.
Investigate a Martin Luther King, Jr./Idaho Human Rights Day program to combine high member involvement and low cost. Sponsor a forum on peaceful conflict resolution. Invite an outside expert in to talk about it and the implications for bettering your community.*
Earmark the church offering at a particular service or during a month to pay for books and videos for your religious organization's library about peaceful conflict resolution.*
Offer evening programs or training on peaceful conflict resolution (for example, Wednesday night programs or for Sunday School). Provide child care for members with children.
- Have children make posters for a display depicting their way people should live together in your community.
- Plan a children's musical or drama that relates to peaceful conflict resolution. Contact your local high school or college drama department for help. Then present it to your religious organization or the whole community.
Organize support groups. People benefit from sharing their concerns about neighborhood conflicts in a safe forum.
Make peaceful conflict resolution a regular topic in your congregation newsletter.
Ask someone in your congregation to be responsible for a peaceful conflict resolution column on a regular basis.
Advertise in your newsletter about peaceful conflict resolution services and training available in your community.
Publicize activities of other "Communities That Work" groups, including other religious organizations.
Consider sponsoring a float in your holiday parade to promote peaceful conflict resolution and peaceful communities.
*There are many resources, good books and videos available on the subject. See the resource list or contact the Idaho Human Rights Commission for more information.
