Denver, May 16, 2008 – A service learning project about the Dalai Lama turned into a Peace Parade by Denver's Teller Elementary School. Hundreds of eight foot "windbags" bobbed through the school's Congress Park neighborhood carried by kids half the size. The students chanted, "We want peace. We love peace. No more war." This was the first parade of its kind for the school and stems from collaboration among FrontRange Earth Force, Peace Jam, and Public Achievement. Teller Principal Karti Lyons was the driving force in bringing the groups together.
"It's really important that people, even really young people, understand they can play a role in bringing peace to our world," said Lyons. "The students put a lot of effort into this activity. This event is something they'll remember for a long time."
All but three classes in the school studied the Dalai Lama. Following their learning they came up with the Peace Parade. Students decorated the windbags with sayings about kindness and peace. The medium proved a colorful—and light—way for kids to "carry" the message. A teacher sponsored the purchase of the windbags.
"This is our first time working with Earth Force," said Lyons. "They were wonderfully supportive and embodied peace themselves as they trained us on the process of identifying an issue and creating action around it."