The annual San Francisco Peacemaker Awards has been a benefit for Community Boards since 2010. The awards honor individuals and organizations working to prevent and reduce violence and conflict throughout San Francisco.
The awards also celebrate Community Boards and its Neighborhood Mediation Program, the oldest, longest-running public conflict resolution and restorative justice center in the US. In addition, they acknowledge the dedication and service of our diverse pool of its 450+ volunteer mediators, conflict coaches, facilitators, and trainers.
Watch the full 2023 Awards Ceremony on Youtube.
Susan Stone
2023 Raymond Shonholtz Visionary Peacemaker Award
Since 2002, Susan Stone has worked primarily inside juvenile halls in the San Francisco Bay Area as a mediator and caseworker in restorative justice programs, bringing youth offenders together with their victims to talk about the crime, its impact, and how to repair the harm to all affected. Over the years Susan has aided community dispute outcomes for San Francisco’s Police Department of Accountability, Community Boards, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, and has served as a restorative justice trainer for the SF District Attorney’s Neighborhood Courts program.
California Lopez
2023 Gail Sadall Rising Peacemaker Award
California Lopez is a 17-year-old San Francisco native and an 11th grader at Mission High School. After being homeschooled by her parents, California began her journey in conflict resolution When she enrolled at Willie Brown Middle School in 8th grade she trained as a peer mediator. At Mission High School, California continues to serve her community mediating conflicts, mentoring younger students, and collaborating with adults.This year alone, California has mediated 30 cases with disputes involving miscommunication, relationship problems, and fights.|
Brava! for Women in the Arts
2023 Community Boards Leadership Peacemaker Award
Brava! for Women in the Arts has been an anchor organization in the Mission District for over 37 years and has owned and operated the Brava Theatre Center for over 27 years. Peacemaking comes in many forms and the Brava offers artistic programming for the public that reflects their communities, youth alternatives to the streets and facilitates community conversation, engagement and problem-solving towards a healthy and vibrant Mission community.
IN THE NEWS
Teens talking it out and chalking up results
Allyson Aleksey, Education Reporter, with California Lopez & Darlene Weide
San Francisco Examiner | June 21, 2023
Kris Welch with Susan Stone & Darlene Weide
KPFA Community Powered Radio | Interview starts @ 1:21:30 | June 16, 2023
SF Peacemaker awardees recognized for preventing violence and conflict
Rose Aguilar with Stacie Powers Cuellar, Susan Stone, California Lopez & Darlene Weide
KALW Public Radio / 91.7 FM | June 7, 2023
Community Boards to honor ‘peacemakers’
Cynthia Laird with Darlene Weide
Bay Area Reporter, News Briefs | June 7, 2023
WE THANK OUR 2023 SPONSORS!
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Adam Green | San Francisco Police Officers Association | Shwiff, Levy & Polo LLC
PARTNERSHIP CIRCLE
Insight Counsel | Lemmon Employment Law & Conflict Resolution | Summitone.io | Michael Tobriner, Family Law & Civil Mediation | Debra & Michael Varner
ADVOCACY CIRCLE
Grassi Investment Management | Karen Hagewood | JAMS Foundation | Marc Martin | Alice Mead | Mediate.com | Beth Parker | Donald Proby | Rebekah Ramos | Christina Sabee | San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project | Kyungah Suk & Dan Landy | TADAccounting | Yolo Conflict Resolution Center | Darlene Weide & Jennifer Morris | Marissa Wertheimer
DONATIONS
Community Boards raises funds to support our Neighborhood Mediation Program, expand our Restorative Justice Program, and award multiple training scholarships. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Through gifts like yours, Community Boards can maintain and strengthen all of our mediation, conflict coaching, facilitation, and training programs.
