Brooklyn for Peace, formerly Brooklyn Families for Peace, was founded in 1984 by a group of Brooklyn parents, neighbors, and educators who came together to create peaceful alternatives to the growing militarism in our society. In fact, immediately after September 11, 2001, individuals and organizations turned to them for guidance and support.

Dr. Charlotte Phillips, one of the original founders of Brooklyn for Peace, along with Nora Gordon, the outgoing Program Coordinator, and Edward Askew McWilliams, the incoming Program Coordinator, came to the Lower Manhattan StoryBooth to talk about the inspiration for the organization and some of its earlier and current initiatives around peace and justice.

A quote from the short story writer, poet, and political activist Grace Paley captures the essence of Brooklyn for Peace’s activism, “The only recognizable feature of hope is action.”