United in Gratitude
Dear Friends,
 
You and 200 others put JPB over the top!  After an extremely challenging year, you chose to advance peace and understanding like never before in our ten-year history.  Donations to our Winter 2020 Holiday Appeal increased by 30% to set a record with $180,000 in gifts.  
 
On behalf of the 2,382 women, men and teens from 100 communities across the Holy Lands with whom JPB worked in 2020, please allow me to thank you for your generosity.  On behalf of the JPB staff and volunteers who lead our programs, please allow me to thank you for your commitment and trust.

A Word of Thank You from Noelle
Thank You from Noelle
A Word of Thank You from Sarah and Yardena
Thank You from Sarah & Yardena
Thank You from John
Thank You from John

This year, JPB begins the second decade of its educational mission of peace and interfaith reconciliation. Your generosity ensures that JPB can expand needed peace programs for teachers and youth across Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine. Your trust and commitment empower JPB to engage with other constituencies involved in the conflict, such as women's groups, the police and local politicians.  Thank you.
 
2021 will be a year of strategic planning for JPB, as we determine how best to leverage our accomplishments and vitality for further positive, systemic impact on the religious, educational and attitudinal dynamics that reinforce the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  To support these strategic initiatives, JPB is establishing the Second Decade Fund with $125,000 from the Winter Holiday Appeal donations.
 
Thank you for making this possible.  Know that as plans advance, we will be keeping you informed and inviting your prayers and participation in these new peace initiatives.  

In Gratitude,

Peace, שלום ,سلام
  
(The Rev. Canon) Nicholas and Dorothy Porter
Founding Directors
MAJOR SCHOOL PROGRAM LED IN HOUSTON 
350+ Students, faculty, staff participate in intensive week
Volunteers and students engage in a dialogue about racism and social justice
Months of planning and preparation paid off as JPB successfully led a week of peacebuilding intensives for 9th-12th grade students at The Emery/Weiner School in early January. In total, over 350+ students, faculty, JPB staff, alumni and volunteers participated in the Winter Programs. 9th-11th graders engaged in half-day sessions crafted around the four main themes of  identity, communication, recognizing and managing conflict. 12th graders joined a three-day program covering each of the themes and more (check out our press coverage in the Jewish Herald Voice). We were pleased to have our colleagues and alumni from the Holy Lands join us for powerful panel discussions and storytelling workshops, as well as members of the Parents Circle - Families Forum. After completing the program, one student remarked:
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"I will engage differently with the world because of the 
skills I gained in JPB by trying to be a unifier and 
speak out about what I believe in."
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                                                                  ~ Alexander, 12th Grade Participant
NEW STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM IN WEST BANK
Partnership with Taygheer supports cross-border work
In November, JPB Leadership Development's Crossroads Initiative launched its first round of a special Staff Training program with our new partners Taghyeer - a key youth peacebuilding organization based in multiple cities in the West Bank. The training focused on using English language development as a tool to enhance leadership and peacebuilding skills among the staff. Together, a dynamic group of 12 adults learned how to understand their identities, gain new communication skills and develop strategies for managing external and internal conflict. Program evaluations were very positive and we are now well-positioned to advance our partnership with future program opportunities.
JPB ALUM WINS REGIONAL STORYTELLERS EVENT!
Listen to Sarah A. and Sarah B.'s powerful story
ALLMEP, B8 of Hope, and Pendulum's Mideast Storytellers Online Festival was a big success! Our Israeli and Palestinian staff spoke about their experience building peace in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As if their stories weren't enough, one of JPB's outstanding alumni, Malak, won the top prize for a story about her grandmother! Listen to Malak's story here. And watch the actual event and reading of stories here.  We share our congratulations to all the amazing storytellers and give thanks for their work.
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP HELD BEFORE LOCKDOWN 
Sde Eliyahu Kibbutz safely welcomes JPB educators
Students enjoy a socially distanced icebreaker activity
Our Israeli and Palestinian Jerusalem Regional Co-Directors recently ran a face-to-face leadership and peacebuilding session at the Sde Eliyahu Kibbutz in northern Israel. The workshop was held outside and run in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines. For the students, it was their first time ever meeting a Palestinian. They were very curious and asked numerous questions. The program is now back online because of the national lockdown, but we hope to be back in person soon!
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Having successfully navigated a 2020 shaped by COVID-19, Jerusalem Peacebuilders confidently looks forward to building on our strengths and taking innovative directions for an expansive future. One initiative will be to strengthen communications with participants, alumni, and donors, so that we can be seen in a fuller light.  Our newsletter will appear less frequently, but with more expansive, substantive content. We welcome your ideas as to the kind of information you find interesting and inspiring.  We enter 2021 with an optimism born of having recently been recognized as one of the leading peacebuilding organizations for youth in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict!
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Because the future of Jerusalem is the future of the world