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.

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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.

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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.

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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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In a ceremony hosted by the city of Ocoee and open to the public, descendants laid white roses at the park’s Memorial Wall.

Erected in 2024, the Memorial Wall — two black panels, opening accordion-style and etched with white writing — lists the names of Ocoee’s 263 Black residents who were murdered, maimed or forced from their property in 1920 by the white mob bent on retribution because the Black men, Mose Norman and Julius “July” Perry, tried to vote.

Read the full article here.

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