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 Peace by Piece event took place on May 26, 2017 at the Boys and Girls Club. The four-hour session offered an opportunity for students from B.M.C. Durfee and Diman Regional High School as well as participants in YouthBuild, to engage in a series of improvisation exercises led by members of The Bit Players of Newport, RI, that explored and expanded their interpersonal communication skills. At the end of the morning, groups were then invited to create a two-minute Public Service Announcement (PSA) with a message about an important issue that young people face. The day got participants engaged in getting to know one another in ways they never had before and learning about both verbal and non-verbal communication. Click here for a 31-minute video of the morning session and here for a 31-minute video of the group PSA presentations. 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) United Neighbors of Fall River Executive Director Wendy Garf-Lipp signs students in and gives them stickers that assign them to one of twelve groups while Linda Hennessey of Health First and Newport Bit Player Rachelle Silvia gathers their group members before Bit Plyer Artistic Director Frank Fusaro gives instructions for the first exercise. (Row two, left) A student responds as SCI Intern Jay Wong and Greater Fall River Re-Creation Program Director Annemarie Holly listen. (Row two, center and right) A student leads her group by pointing to members to create a story one word at a time. (Row three) Bit Players Frank Fusaro and Kevin Killavey elicit responses from students as Fall River Youth Services Coordinator Christian McCloskey and Deshan Ferguson of the Katie Brown Educational Program, right listen. (Row four) Deshan works with his group while Anna Smith encourages her group members. (Row five) School Committee member Paul Coogan talks with Diman Regional School Adjustment Counselor Michaela Hetzler while a YouthBuild staff member engages in an exercise while students watch. (Row six) Annemarie Holly gives some encouragement to a group while Mike Vallear of the Bristol County Sheriff's Office and Sean Connell coach their groups. (Row seven) Bit Player Music Director Ryan O'Sullivan notes a group's music selection while other work on posters and their presentation. (Bottom row) Students help themselves to lunch before returning to give their PSAs to the entire group.