Seminole County Public Schools is an “A” rated district, and ranked among the top in the State of Florida.

Read Robin’s bio here.

Read the Invocation

For the last few years, I have worked and studied with the Peace and Justice Institute. PJI’s mission is to build communities of respect, and they have developed what are called Principles for How We Treat One Another. There are 13 principles and a kid friendly version, as well. I would like to share a few of the principles this evening as we begin a new year and work to continue positive dialogue and respectful relationships throughout our community, with the students as our top priority.

• Create a hospitable and accountable community. Welcome others, be kind and assume others will be kind to you.

• Listen deeply and intently to what is said and strive to achieve a balance between listening and reflecting, speaking and acting.

• Practice asking honest and open questions. If you don’t understand something, just ask.

• Respect silence-when others begin to talk, let them finish and leave a moment of silence, showing them that you are listening.

• Suspend judgement and identify assumptions. Set aside your judgements and understand that our assumptions define our worldview. When we do this, we can open our viewpoints to greater possibilities.

• Speak your truth and turn to wonder when you disagree with someone. Ask yourself, I wonder why this person feels this way? Or I wonder what my reaction teaches me?

• Finally, all voices have value. Respect everyone’s ideas even if they are different from yours. Be curious and you may learn something new from the other person.

As we begin another school year, my prayer for all of us is that we can work together collaboratively, practice and model these principles, especially with our children, and remember that we are here to serve children and everything else is secondary to that mission and vision.

The post The Principles Are Spreading Across Seminole County Schools appeared first on Peace and Justice Institute.

Florida’s August 18 election is commonly called a “primary,” but that name does not tell the whole story. PJI is reframing this important day as Florida’s First Election because some of the races that most directly affect our communities may be decided before November arrives.

School board members and county and circuit court judges run in nonpartisan elections open to every registered voter, regardless of political affiliation. If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on August 18, that candidate is elected—there is no second vote in November. Only races in which no candidate earns a majority proceed to a runoff.

The First Election can determine who helps shape the education of our children and how justice is administered in our communities. Yet August elections often receive far less attention—and far lower voter participation—than November elections.

If you are registered, now is the time to make your voting plan. Early voting begins soon, and Election Day is Tuesday, August 18.

Don’t wait for November. Democracy begins in August. 

The post Florida’s First Election—When Local Leadership Is Decided appeared first on Peace and Justice Institute.

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Thirty-one years ago, when I got sober, I was a young woman who appeared to have much of what mattered: a marriage, an education, and what many might have called a meaningful life. Yet I knew something essential was missing. I did not yet understand how to love deeply.

When I chose sobriety, my goal was clear: I wanted to become a loving woman.

That desire set me on a lifelong journey of facing my own history—the harms I had caused, the ways I had fallen short, and the apologies I needed to make not only with words, but through living amends. Over time, that journey required me to face my biases, assumptions, fears, and the gaps in my own understanding that had limited my compassion.

That personal work helped shape the vision that guides the Peace and Justice Institute: All People. All Voices. All Matter.

Democracy, too, asks something of us. It asks us to consider whether we can live in relationship with people whose experiences, beliefs, and values may differ from our own. It asks us to listen, to learn, to repair harm, and to keep choosing the common good.

America’s founding promise, that all people are created equal and possess inherent rights has always been aspirational. Our history includes extraordinary courage and creativity, but also enslavement, exclusion, violence, displacement, protest, and long struggles to extend dignity and participation to more people. To face that history honestly is not to reject our country. It is to love it enough to help it become fully what it has long claimed to be.

At PJI, we take the word all seriously. All does not mean that every idea is equally wise or that harmful behavior should be excused. It means that every human being has inherent worth. It means that democracy is strengthened when people are treated with dignity, when voices are heard, and when we choose curiosity over contempt.

This is not easy work. It never has been. No generation has fully realized the values it claims to hold. Each generation is given the opportunity and responsibility to move our country closer to its highest ideals.

Like sobriety, democracy is not a destination. It is a practice. It is a continuing invitation to mature, to expand our awareness, and to increase our capacity to love.

As we celebrate 250 years of the United States, may we honor both the promise and the unfinished work of this country. May we strengthen our relationships, hold the complexity of our differences, and continue building communities where every person thrives.

May we collectively create a world at peace where all people belong, and, in doing so, help strengthen the American vision of democracy.

Happy Birthday, USA.

Warmly,

Rachel and the PJI Team.

The post Facing History Can Help Us Become the Country We Aspire to Be appeared first on Peace and Justice Institute.

Looking back across decades of service, Lauren can trace a common thread through every chapter of her life. “I remember asking God, ‘What is my purpose?’ What I heard in my spirit
was, ‘Save the children.’”

That calling would guide her through a career dedicated to helping others. A Valencia College alumna, Lauren graduated in 1981 before continuing her education and later earning a degree in Criminal Justice from UCF. Along the way, she built a career dedicated to helping others through criminal justice, youth mentorship, and community service.

“When I took a juvenile delinquency class, it just clicked,” she says. “I knew I wanted to help people who had made mistakes.” For more than 40 years, she worked to support, mentor, and advocate for others. Whether serving in criminal justice, volunteering with youth programs, or participating in community initiatives, Lauren remained committed to helping people find opportunities for growth and success.

In 2015, her journey brought her back to Valencia College—this time as an educator and leader in the Criminal Justice program. Returning to Valencia felt especially meaningful because it allowed her to give back to the institution that had first helped shape her own journey.

It was there that she first encountered the Peace and Justice Institute (PJI). “I didn’t know about PJI until I came back to Valencia,” she says. “But once I started attending their events and discussions, I fell in love with the work.”

What resonated most with Lauren were PJI’s Principles for How We Treat Each Other. The principles encourage participants to suspend judgment, listen deeply, welcome all voices, and approach others with curiosity and compassion.
For Lauren, the principles became more than discussion guidelines—they became a lens through which she viewed her students, colleagues, and community.

“If somebody was acting out, I would stop and turn to wonder, ‘Why is thestudent doing that?’” she says.
Through PJI, Lauren was introduced to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which deepened her understanding of how life experiences shape behavior.

“Everybody has a journey,” she says. “Everybody is carrying something.” The concepts reinforced values she had long  carried throughout her career: empathy, compassion, and respect. Former students often tell her that while she maintained high expectations, they always felt respected and supported. “They said, ‘You keep the rules, but you do it in a loving way,’” she recalls.

Today, retirement has not ended her connection to PJI. In many ways, it has strengthened it. Lauren continues to attend conferences, facilitate trainings, and teach workshops focused on emotional intelligence, resilience, ACEs, and the
principles that have become central to her life and work.

“I’ve never gone to anything and not felt better about the world,” she says. “You walk into a PJI workshop and you’re walking out with a nugget.”

For her, PJI represents the power of connection and the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. As she reflects on her journey, Lauren sees a life shaped by faith, service, and meaningful relationships.

“I look back now, and every piece seems to fit together,” she says. “I’m grateful for the people, the experiences, and the opportunities I was given to make a difference.” Through her continued involvement with PJI, Lauren remains committed
to the calling that has guided her for decades. Whether working with students, educators, public safety professionals, or community members, she continues to invest in people and their potential.

Her story is a reminder that when we choose compassion, listen deeply, and invest in one another, we help build stronger communities for everyone.

This impact story was written by Stuart Bogue, PJI friend and volunteer.

The post Every Body Has a Journey and Sometimes They Circle Back appeared first on Peace and Justice Institute.

First, understand that Goldsboro is now part of Sanford, but it started life in 1891 as the second Black incorporated municipality, founded by William Clarke (his brother, Joseph Clarke, helped found Eatonville, the first Black incorporated municipality, in 1887). The town thrived until 1911 when Sanford city lawmakers took steps to dissolve the city’s charter and, with it, its independence, wealth and identity.

That history set the stage for ongoing strained relationships between the two communities.

All these years later, the commemorative quilt and its permanent place inside City Hall is the first big step of Sanford’s Race, Equality, Equity and Inclusion Committee in a project called “Pathways to Reconciliation.” Posted next to the quilt is a proclamation acknowledging “Historic Goldsboro Day,” and apologizing to Goldsboro for past wrongs.

Proclamation

Tuesday’s outdoor event outside the Sanford City Hall was packed. Every folding chair was full and a standing-room-only crowd ringed the seating area.

“I’m blown away by the attendance and the support…all over a quilt!” laughed quilter Charlotte Carter before she began her remarks. “That shows you, it’s more than just a quilt.”

“We hope that the purpose of this quilt – the thread that will bind and heal our community – goes forth, and reminds our community, our children and our grandchildren what Goldsboro once was and still is – it’s a community of pride,” Carter continued.

Descendants of Goldsboro’s founder, William Clarke, traveled to Sanford for the occasion, with Beatrice Clarke Haynes addressing the crowd.

“I stand before you with pride to be part of the legacy of Mr. William Clarke, also known as Papa Clarke, who had a vision in 1891, which was only 26 years past the abolishment of slavery,” said Clarke Haynes.

Then, Sanford Mayor Art Woodruff took the stage to read the Historic Goldsboro Day proclamation, which includes a formal apology and acknowledgement of wrongs — and the audience learned something new:

Mayor Woodruff is the great-grandson of a man named D.L. Thrasher, who was Sanford’s Mayor in 1911 and helped dissolve Goldsboro’s charter.

Descendant to descendant

And so it was that the descendants of Goldsboro’s founder were present on Tuesday, February 9, 2026, Historic Goldsboro Day, to receive an apology from the descendant of the mayor who helped dissolve it.

REEI Co-Chair Barbara Coleman-Foster’s voice caught as she emphasized that circumstance to the crowd.

“I don’t know if you all really understand the significance of having Mayor Woodruff, whose [great-]grandfather was instrumental in revoking the charter of Goldsboro, present with the descendants of Mr. William Clarke, here to recognize the commemorative Goldsboro quilt. I just don’t know if you recognize how important and meaningful that is. There is no way we could have orchestrated for this to happen. It was meant to be,” Coleman-Foster said, noting that this event had originally been planned for a different day.

Personal connection

When I spoke to Mayor Woodruff, he emphasized the quilt unveiling and the work of unifying the community. He was uncomfortable making it about himself, he said, preferring to center the people of Goldsboro.

“My family’s been in Sanford for a very long time,” said Woodruff. “They arrived in 1844 and I knew that my great-grandfather, Frank Woodruff, had been the mayor of the city of Sanford for a number of terms… This past summer, when we were talking about doing the quilt and we were working on the proclamation, and I started doing some research. I discovered that another great-grandfather of mine, D.L. Thrasher, had also been mayor of Sanford, and I discovered that he was the mayor of Sanford in 1911 when the city passed the resolution asking the state to revoke the charter of Goldsboro.”

“That was quite a surprise to me,” he added. “It made the whole thing a little more personal.”

Woodruff notified the city government, the quilters, and everyone else involved of his personal connection. He didn’t want any of the stakeholders to be surprised by this information. “I didn’t feel like I could do that proclamation without sharing what I knew,” he said, adding that the responses he received were supportive and generally pointed to how his family’s past connected him more directly to the moment.

Woodruff found meeting William Clarke’s descendants very meaningful. “I did not know they were going to be there until, I think, a day or two ahead of time,” he said.

“I thought, what are the odds that descendants of the founder of the city and the descendant of one of the people who work to get the charter revoked are going to be at the same place at the same time, 100 years later?” Woodruff added. “The realization of the connection, and that I’m in the position to do something about it now, I think was meaningful to me – that this was something that one of my ancestors did, and I’m trying to right that.”

Woodruff said he looks forward to the continuing work of the “Pathways to Reconciliation” project and continuing to build bridges within the community.

“I hope we continue to get past some of the hurt and the anger,” he said. “I mean, I have been able to feel that and see that, and over the years, speaking with people in Goldsboro. I hope this helps us move past that. There are a lot of good things going on in Goldsboro right now, and I think that’ll continue. I think the fact that we have made this statement sort of commits us to continuing to do things, not just in Goldsboro, but that we’re going to do things for the entire city.”

The Goldsboro quilt and the proclamation are on permanent display inside Sanford City Hall.

This project was made possible through the partnership of the City of Sanford’s REEI Advisory Committee, Sanford Museum, City of Sanford Historic Preservation, UCF RICHES Program, City of Sanford Public Art Commission, and the Peace and Justice Institute.

Read the full article here.

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Read the full article here. Also, learn more here.

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Readers offered hundreds of suggestions for the 15th annual installment of  “101 Things to Love about Central Florida.” Some are old favorites. Some are new entries. All help make Central Florida unique.

Read the full article here.

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Kevlon was exposed to PJI in 2016 when he attended four Orlando Speaks events, a community dialogue series intended to strengthen relations between police and residents throughout the City of Orlando. He participated in a session at Lake Nona High School and was immediately moved by the openness, trust, and genuine connections made.“It made me think differently about myself and others,” he recalls. Energized by the experience, he continued volunteering and was eventually invited to serve on a PJI Advisory Council. That invitation was a turning point in his PJI involvement.

Through his growing involvement with PJI, Kevlon discovered a space that encouraged vulnerability, reflection, and honest dialogue, something he believes the world needs a lot more of. “PJI taught me how to be vulnerable in spaces where I normally wouldn’t,” he reflects. Kevlon continued, “It helped me embrace being honest and sincere, not just with others, but with myself.”

This transformation also had a powerful impact on his professional life. Kevlon became a more thoughtful presenter. “It’s about windows and mirrors,” he explains. “I’ve learned how to help others see themselves, and also expand the lens through which I see people.”

At the core, PJI gave Kevlon permission and encouragement to lead with love. He now approaches his daily life with more compassion and intention. Whether it’s greeting someone with a smile, asking how they’re doing, or simply pausing to breathe in a stressful moment, he carries the lessons of PJI with him. “Everyone is going through something,” he says. “We have to be mindful of our words. You could be talking to someone who’s hurting or talking to an angel.” For Kevlon, PJI represents more than a series of workshops or initiatives. It’s a practice of togetherness. It’s a community built on empathy and shared humanity. And it’s a place where people can discover how to become better versions of themselves. “PJI helps you reflect,” he says. “You come away understanding yourself more, and ways to be a better person for others.” Looking to the future, Kevlon sees PJI continuing to shape his path. Its principles align deeply with his philosophy and desire to live a purposeful life. Inspired by the poem The Dash, which speaks to the space between the dates on a gravestone, Kevlon is focused on filling his “dash” with love, growth, and connection. “It’s about leading with love always.” He encourages others to run toward PJI and embrace everything it has to offer. Written by high school seniors Alice Wenrich and Shailee Patel, PJI Volunteers.

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