Sponsored by the Bristol County District Attorney's Office, the Fall River Shannon Community Safety Initiative, Saint Anne's Hospital,  Southcoast Hospitals, United Neighbors and Partners, this year's event offered an opportunity to learn from Phil Boyte of Learning for Living. Phil established Learning for Living in 1984 from his vision for building communities of care on campuses around the country. He brought his unique approach to building and strengthening relationship skills to about thirty human service professionals who work with youth in Greater Fall River. This 45-minute session got participants engaged in getting to know one another in ways they never had before, demonstrating how a caring culture can be created in schools and youth programs. Click here for a 47-minute video of the event. For more information about Peace By Piece, contact Wendy Garf-Lipp at 508-324-7900 or Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey at 508-679-0922, Ext. 110.

(Top row) Phil Boyte of Learning for Living chats over dinner with Pat Roberts of Family Service Association as Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Peter McCarthy helps himself to dinner and Suzanne Ramos, right, of Diman Regional High School chats with Allison Hague of Family Service, Marcia Picard of Partners, Linda Hennessey of Health First and Anne Medeiros.of CFC Family Planning. (Row two) United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp introduces Phil Boyte to State Representative Paul Schmid before starting his presentation with some jokes. (Row three) Phil speaks as Tashma Vasquez, Linda Hennessey, Pat Roberts and Allison Hague listen. (Row four) Dana Hubbard and Michaela Hetzler participate in the first exercise along with Christian Barrios and Christian McCloskey before getting instructions for the next exercise. (Row five) Tashma and Anne talk in the next exercise along with Joe Jorge and Linda Hennessy and Chris Vongkhamkeo and Peter McCarthy. (Row six) SCI Volunteer Jay Wong laughs as Fall River Youth Coordinator Christian McCloskey strikes a pose before Phil Boyte gives instructions for the next exercise. (Row seven) The group engages in a game of tic-tack-toe pitting the men against the women.  (Row eight) Tom Khoury, left, and Jay Wong, right, recall some of what he recalls from the previous exercises as Phil Boyte sums up the evening.