One of more than 36 Peace Poles created by 25 local organizations was "planted" at the Matthew J. Kuss Middle School on June 15, 2011. The event was one of several initiatives aimed at creating a more peaceful community by raising awareness and promoting empowerment, collaboration and connection to reduce and prevent violence. Students involved in the LEADS (Leadership for Educational Attainment Developed through Service) project based at UMass-Dartmouth worked on a Peace Pole for five weeks following the completion of a video production on fitness. The students have finished the pole put together a ceremony that they used to unveil their peace pole in the Kuss auditorium with seven classrooms present at the event. Speakers included United Neighbors director Wendy Garf-Lipp, Neighborhood Coordinator Perry Long speaking for Mayor Flanagan, and CD-REC staffer Annemarie Sharkey. Click here for the first Peace Pole planting at Griffin Park. For more information, contact either Jarrad Plante at 508-496-9284 or Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900..