2022 PEC Annual Meeting
Congratulations to our Peacemaker award winners!
Carol Siemon, Ingham County Prosecutor
Jerry and Shannon Norris, co-founders of The Fledge
Lynn Bartley, Greater Lansing United Nations Association
Efren Paredes Jr., incarcerated tri-chair of the MI Poor People’s Campaign
2022 Tom Schneider Peacemaker Awardees:
Lauren Beck, St. Johns High School
Jake Lasceski, St. Johns High School
According to the City Pulse:
Siemon was among seven people honored last week for promoting peace and justice around mid-Michigan. Annually for decades, the center honors one or more residents with its Peacemaker of the Year Award. This year’s event also included honorees from 2021 after the event was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
Claiming law enforcement has stood in the way of police reforms, Siemon made headlines in 2020 for refusing to accept endorsements or contributions from police unions. Siemon also announced last July that people pulled over by police in traffic stops will not be charged for non-public safety-related issues, which studies show happens disproportionally to Black and brown people.
Jerry and Shannon Norris were named Peacemakers of the Year for 2021 for their work creating the Fledge Foundation to eradicate hunger and address violence in the Greater Lansing area. The Fledge identifies itself as a “radically inclusive” organization.
The Lifetime Peacemaker award went to Efrén Paredes Jr. Paredes, who was sentenced in 1989 for murder and armed robbery. He was 15 years old at the time and an honor student at Lakeshore High School. He claims on his website that he is innocent. Paredes is the first incarcerated individual to receive an award. He organized reform efforts to remedy the treatment of incarcerated minors convicted as adults. In addition, he serves as the vice-chairman of the Michigan Poor People’s Campaign.
After decades of work with students and colleagues to address international peace concerns, Lynn Bartley of East Lansing was awarded the 2021 Lifetime Peacemaker Award. She worked as a special education teacher, resource teacher and associate principal at Haslett High School. She centered her work on expanding youth understanding and perspectives related to responsible and active citizens of the world community.
Also, two seniors at St. Johns High School were given the Tom Schneider Peacemaker Award scholarship. “based on their passion and commitment toward building a more peaceful and just world.”
Lauren Beck won the award for raising awareness around social justice issues. Her work also included raising tolerance and understanding at her school. Jake Lasceski received a scholarship for his work organizing his fellow students to honor and commemorate victims of gun violence in schools.