Desmond Tutu greets North High students. photos | courtesy of Steve FloydAs Archbishop Desmond Tutu walks into North High School in North Minneapolis, Minnesota, he passes by young men and women, giving high fives and fist pounds to the eager students. They have been preparing and planning for months to allow the archbishop to come and be a part of this Youthrive event that they hope will inspire thousands of teens to help make this world a more peaceful place. Youthrive is a northern affiliate of an organization called PeaceJam. PeaceJam teaches youth about the lives of Nobel Laureates and then provides for ways for those youth to meet these laureates at peace rallies intended to inspire youth to take an active roll in peacemaking in their communities. The Minneapolis Youthrive peace rally took place on the weekend of April 12th and 13th.

Students distribute food to the needy outside of a Cub Foods grocery store.
photos | courtesy of Steve Floyd


Teens share stories of those who inspire them and then display inspiration candles lit from Naomi Tutu’s candle. photos | courtesy of Steve Floyd


Desmond Tutu encourages every youth to strive for peace. photos | courtesy of Steve FloydEarly on Saturday morning of April 12th, Minnesota youth picked up trash, set up tents, distributed flyers, prepared dances, cooked for guests, created signs, and practiced speeches before thousands of people from the neighborhood, and those bussed in from local schools, arrived. Participants in the Youthrive event heard Desmond Tutu and his daughter Naomi speak, and then participated in one of many community service projects organized by the students who planned the event.

The following day, youth engaged in a ceremony of inspiration, where they were encouraged to share with other youth from around the city someone who inspires them. The students then lit candles using a candle lit by Naomi Tutu. This signifies that one person who stands up for peace can inspire many others. Desmond Tutu then gave a final speech to the students, and representatives from youth programs all over the state presented to Tutu the programs that they have begun to meet humanity’s needs and promote peace.

In September, 2006, ten Nobel laureates launched the “Global Call to Action,” asking youth around the world to mobilize in their communities to address the most pressing issues of our time, such as poverty and human rights. The teens at this Youthrive event showed off how inspired they were by the laureates’ call to action when they presented the service programs that each had chosen. “They now feel like they are part of this movement [because] the Laureates didn’t ask the presidents of these countries around the world to do it; they asked the youth of the world,” says Kate Cumbo, PeaceJam director of programs.

I have never seen public school students so inspired by a speaker as they were when Desmond Tutu spoke. In spite of his failing health, Tutu spoke to the youth with an energetic sense of humor and a playful optimism that touched the young men and women in the audience. “When you are around him, you feel like peace is possible,” explained Taylor Reed, a Youthrive member.

Because of the commitment to peace and personal sacrifice of these young Youthrive members, hungry mouths have been fed, children have received toys, dozens of new programs have been started in schools and teen programs, and members of a North Minneapolis community, which often has been a place known for its violence, were inspired to make peace happen.

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