In the News
The Peace and Justice Institute is often recognized by the community in a variety of media mentions. PJI media mentions include a collection of articles, videos, and more.
2021
January 2021
The Peace and Justice Institute's partnership in training on bias, diversity, and inclusion is mentioned in this recent column, "Racial bias in foster care must be addressed," by the Orlando Sentinel.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
2020
November 2020
Peace and Justice Institute Director, Rachel Allen was quoted in the recent Smithsonian Magazine article, "The Little-Known Story of America's Deadliest Election Day Massacre."
- Article: Smithsonian Magazine
The PJI Principles for How We Treat Each Other were cited in a recent blog post "How Will We Treat Each Other Now?" all the way from Spokane, Washington!
- Blog: Spokane Friends Meeting
October 2020
Peace and Justice Institute Director, Rachel Allen was interviewed by Tammie Fields of Spectrum News 13 on the topic of ending systemic racism in the United States.
- Article: Spectrum News 13
Peace and Justice Institute Director, Rachel Allen is quoted in the article Official narrative of the terror for decades was obscured or excused by a whitewashing of the facts by the Orlando Sentinel's Stephen Hudak. This special report is about the story of the Ocooee Massacre finally being told 100 years after it happened.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
The Peace and Justice Institute and the College Park Neighborhood Association received a shout out for delivering powerful community workshops in the Community Paper's October Publisher's Desk article: A Season of Thanksgiving like none other.
- Article: The Community Paper
September 2020
The Peace and Justice Institute's Rachel Allen, was interviewed by Cox Media Group's Public Affairs Producer, Beth Perrell about PJI's vision and the work currently happening at Valencia and beyond.
- Audio File: COX Media Interview
- Air date: 9/20/20 WCFB, WPYP, WMMO, WDBO, WWKA
June 2020
The Peace and Justice Institute's Rachel Allen, Hank Van Putten and Rudy Darden are all guests on the "Moving Justice Forward" episode of Vanessa Echols’ Colorblind Podcast.
- Podcast: Colorblind Podcast
May 2020
PJI Director Rachel Allen wrote an article that was published in The Grove titled "A Lesson in Resilience" chronicling the story of hosting the 2020 Creating a Resilient Community: From Trauma to Healing conference in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis.
- Article: The Grove
April 2020
Dr. Heather Bryson is a guest on the “S.I.S: Sister In Solidarity (Being a Racial Ally)" episode of Jennifer Tomlinson’s Black Woman Be Well Podcast.
- Podcast: Black Woman Be Well, Episode 14
February 2020
Valencia Professor and PJI Facilitator Rudy Darden is a guest on the “Sis, you need a gender ally!” episode of Jennifer Tomlinson’s Black Woman Be Well Podcast.
- Podcast: Black Woman Be Well, Episode 13
January 2020
Guest Columnists Rachel Allen and Dr. Judi Addelston co-wrote an article that was published in the Orlando Sentinel in January, 2020 titled "Ending Cycle of Violence Starts with Making Children Priority." The article focuses on the Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACE Study) and how that informs how we should be working with individuals who have suffered from trauma and what we can do to build a more resilient Central Florida. Rachel C. Allen is the director of the Peace and Justice Institute at Valencia College and Dr. Judi Addelston is a professor of psychology at Valencia College.
- Guest Column: Orlando Sentinel
2019
September 2019
PJI and Oasis Church of Winter Garden have partnered to provide a workshop dialogue series titled "RISE: Conversations on Race and Unity" to give the community a place and the tools to talk about these important topics. This was highlighted in an article by the West Orange Times & Observer on September 5, 2019.
- Article: West Orange Times & Observer
June 2019
On June 21, 2019, PJI partnered with the Equal Justice Initiative to unveil a historical marker memorializing July Perry during a ceremony at the Orange Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. July Perry was lynched 99 years ago for wanting to vote and was one of many casualties during the tragic Ocoee massacre of 1920.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
April 2019
On April 3, 2019 PJI co-hosted a very successful conferences on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) called "Creating a Resilient Community: From Trauma to Healing." From this conference, the blog ACEs Connection Central Florida was launched. Join us there!
January 2019
PJI is featured in David J. Smith’s Book Peacebuilding as a Means to Global Citizenry as an example to illustrate approaches that can be used by community colleges to promote both global knowledge and global engagement—often taking the form of education abroad—using peacebuilding means.
2018
December 2018
PJI is featured in this Community College Daily article about the rise of peace education in community colleges.
- Article: Community College Daily
October 2018
Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon included a mention of Orlando Speaks, a series of workshops facilitated by the Peace and Justice Institute to bring together law enforcement officers and the community.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
September 2018
Coverage of PJI's Director, Rachel Allen's participation in the United Nations Panel on a culture of peace.
- Article: Osceola Star
PJI Director, Rachel Allen was asked to write a chapter in Sally Z Hare and Karen Luke Jackson’s book The Story Mandala: Finding Wholeness in a Divided Word.
August 2018
Rachel Allen, director of Valencia College’s Peace & Justice Institute, was invited to participate in a United Nations panel discussion about creating and sustaining a culture of peace in our society.
- Article: Valencia College
PJI Director, Rachel Allen was listed as one of the “10 people who make Orlando a better place to live.”
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
June 2018
Jacqueline Spencer joins discussion at Orlando Speaks event -- Mother of man shot, killed by Orlando police speaks: 'Profiling is real'
- Article: Click Orlando
March 2018
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies interviews Rachel Allen
- Article: Kroc Institute
Orlando Speaks is mentioned in bringing together officers and residents
- Article: AP News
90.7 WFME's Catherine Welch talked with the Peace and Justice Institute's Rachelle Allen and historian Francine Boykin about events leading up to the massacre.
- Audio Interview: 90.7 WMFE
- Ocoee Discussions - 02/11/2018
February 2018
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies interviews Rachel Allen
Valencia College students offer support to Stoneman Douglas survivors with the Peace and Justice Institute
- Video: WFTV Channel 9
2017
April 2017
Community Leader Jimmie Williams writes in The Orlando Times about the fifth Orlando Speaks that took place on April 12, 2017.
- Article: Orlando Times
PJI Director, Rachel Allen was suggested for Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel's list of 10 people who make Orlando a better place to live
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
2016
November 2016
Scott Maxwell includes Orlando Speaks in his list of 101 Things to Love about Central Florida for 2016.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
February 2016
This article shares details about the third Orlando Speaks series that took place at Howard Middle School on Tuesday, February 16.
- Article: Orlando Weekly
October 2016
PJI facilitated the fourth Orlando Speaks in partnership with the City of Orlando and the Orlando Police Department.
- Video: WESH
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
July 2016
Hillary Clinton holds a roundtable discussion in Orlando following the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. During this discussion, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer recommends Orlando Speaks as a beneficial program for other cities across the nation to follow.
- Video: MSNBC
2015
August 2015, October 2015, and February 2015
Orlando Speaks is a community workshop designed to encourage dialogue between citizens of the City of Orlando and Police Officers with the goal to enhance our community policing initiative.
- Article: WESH
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
2014
May 2014
Members of the Peace and Justice Institute, including Valencia students, faculty, and staff, and local community partners hosting a Bring Back Our Girls rally at Orlando's City Hall to raise awareness of the kidnapped girls in Nigeria.
- Article: WFTV
- Video: Fox 35
2013
August 2013
The Orlando Sentinel covers the Institute's Conflict Analysis Workshop on the Trayvon Martin Case.
- Article: Orlando Sentinel
February 2013
PJI hosts its first student retreat for their core group of student volunteers, the Peace and Justice Ambassadors.
- Article: The Grove
2012
October 2012
PJI hosts its first Valencia Night at the Islamic Society of Central Florida with 200 participants.
- Article: Valencia Voice
September 2012
Valencia College to advocate peace through film
- Article: Valencia Voice
January 2012
Conversation on Compassion
- Article: The Grove
2011
October 2011
Renowned Scholar Visits Valencia
- Article: The Grove