Peer Power
Peer Power offers support at every stage along the spectrum of restorative practice processes, from prevention to intervention. With the guidance of skilled facilitators, our services provide students with opportunities to expand their communication and conflict resolution skills to help build safe and inclusive school communities and opportunities to repair harm to resolve their conflicts with their peers.
Our values
- Mutual Respect
- Embracing the diversity and dignity of all people
- The understanding that with support, people have the capacity to be self reflective, accountable, and capable of change
- The belief that given time and support, conflicts and problems can be resolved and harm repaired
- The feelings, needs, and perspectives of all involved are heard and valued and decisions are made collaboratively
Peer Power
The Peer Power Program at St. Leonard’s Community Services is a dynamic leader in peer support and conflict resolution skill building. Our programs aim to develop essential community building, communication, and conflict resolution skills that empower participants through experiential and activity-based learning. These programs amplify marginalized voices, create inclusive environments, and promote understandings of diverse perspectives.
School Programming
Peer Power aims to support staff and students grades 4-12 in building capacity in communication and conflict resolution skills through the restorative approach. Our facilitators and programs create safe and inclusive communities by empowering students to help themselves and their peers. Programs offered include:
Peer Mediation
Peer Mediation is an effective conflict resolution method where youth mediators facilitate a five-stage mediation process for peers who are in conflict. They provide a safe, respectful, non-judgmental atmosphere that allow for peers to be heard and part of the resolution. The Peer Mediation program is facilitated in secondary schools and Peacemakers is the elementary school mediation program.
Leadership
Peer Power offers support for a variety of leadership initiatives in schools through the restorative approach of mediation-based skills training. Students will explore techniques to enhance their communication and conflict resolution skills in order to understand and demonstrate leadership within their school community. Peer Power is dynamic in their support for leadership initiatives within the school, from team building retreats, grade 9 bridging events, restorative focus groups, to leadership curriculum support and more. The Peer Power team will work closely with staff to ensure the most effective programming to meet the intended outcomes for the school community.
Peer Helpers
Peer Helpers is for secondary school students looking to make a difference in their school communities. These programs are rooted in the knowledge that youth are more likely to turn to their peers rather than adults for help. Students will be equipped and prepared to de-escalate younger students and assist with problem solving. As students integrate peer helping skills into their lives, they gain confidence to better help themselves and their peers through challenging times. Peer Helpers consists of two main programs: Peer Mentors and Peer Tutors.
Classroom Sessions
Moment of Choice is a classroom-based program that aims to support teachers and students in fostering a classroom culture that is safe and inclusive through a restorative approach. One of the intentions of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to recognize that all choices have an impact and subsequent consequences. The other intention is to provide tools and techniques for staff to learn and implement into their classrooms to support the overall culture as well as the development of their students. The program is offered on a case-by-case basis, tailoring sessions to meet the needs of a particular class or group of students as well as the goals and outcomes identified by teachers and/or administrators.
Requesting Programming
Administrators, teachers and other school staff such as learning support teachers and social workers are encouraged to contact the Peer Power team to discuss support for your school community. The team will take into consideration needs of the referral and the capacity of the team when determining the most effective support. If you are a Parent/Guardian that would like to have Peer Power programming at your school, they are encouraged to speak with the Principal or Vice Principal of the school to reach out to Peer Power. Email us at peerpower@slcs.ca or call us at 519-850-3777 extension 224.
Community Programming
Peer Power aims to support youth and adult community organizations across the London-Middlesex Region with restorative mediation-based skill training. There are two programs that are offered:
Peer Mediation
Peer Mediation is an effective conflict resolution method where individuals are trained to be mediators that facilitate a five-stage mediation process for peers who are in conflict. They provide a safe, respectful and non-judgmental atmosphere that allow for peers to be heard and part of the resolution. This program is available to youth (ages 12-18) and adult (ages 18+) serving organizations within the London-Middlesex Region. Community professionals can also be trained in the program to train their own mediation team within their organization.
Peer Mentorship
The Peer Mentorship program provides the opportunity to better understand the importance of how we approach and communicate with others when in a mentoring role. This program will give participants the opportunity to explore a wide variety of skills to enhance their communication and conflict resolution abilities through the restorative lens.
Fee for Service
Peer Power can offer trainings to community organizations for a fee. The fee will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the program and the capacity of the team in determining the most effective support. Contact the Peer Power team at peerpower@slcs.ca or at 519-850-3777 extension 224.
TVDSB Grade 7 TeacherHaving Peer Power come into our Grade 7 classroom was exactly what we needed. After several challenging weeks where my students were struggling socially and with peer conflict, the team-building sessions offered a much-needed restart. The facilitators created a safe and welcoming space through their use of the community circle and thoughtful, activity-based learning. The Peer Power team helped my very energetic class slow down, reflect, and rebuild connections with one another. The activities were engaging and hands-on, and the students responded incredibly well. They were able to explore important topics like communication, respect, and how to respond to conflict, all while having fun and feeling heard. These included a drama game that my students still keep asking to play in our regular classes. What I appreciated most was how the [Peer Power facilitators] modelled meaningful dialogue and gave students tools they could use in real-time in meaningful ways.
By the end of the sessions, I noticed a real shift in the tone of the classroom. There was more cooperation, empathy, and self-awareness among the group. I would highly recommend the Peer Power program to any school looking to strengthen relationships and classroom community. It was a powerful and timely support for students or teachers who are struggling in our schools.
LDCSB Social WorkerI’ve enjoyed working with the staff from St Leonard’s Peer Power for the past 8 years. They have been very professional, knowledgeable, and collaborative with myself and school staff they have worked with. I have participated in their Community Circles programs with junior and intermediates students who commented that they have found the activities, games, and discussions engaging.
Students and teachers often express how much they enjoy the sessions and are disappointed when they end. Peer Power staff have also been very supportive of principals and teachers to help understand the school’s needs as well as assess the peer dynamics that are occurring to help address conflicts by building better communication and collaboration. I’ve witnessed the beginnings of positive changes and improvements in classroom cultures after Peer Power has visited schools that I’ve supported.
