We teach peace. By equipping people of all ages with skills to prevent, resolve, and transform conflict, we help interrupt cycles of violence and grow a culture of care and nonviolence — one person, one community at a time.
LFFP proudly partners with churches, schools, and nonprofits across the DC metropolitan area to build relationships rooted in peace. Together, we are creating pathways for healing, cooperation, and transformation in our world. Together, we can transform our world!
For more information about LFFP, check out our 2025 Year in Review document!
MJ and Jerry Park are lifelong peace educators with over 35 years of experience leading year-round programs for children and adults. They founded Little Friends for Peace in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1981, and expanded their mission after moving their family to Mount Rainier, Maryland, in 1988, bringing peace-building programs to the D.C. Metropolitan Area.
In 1999, LFFP became a founding organization of the Perry School Community Services Center, where MJ and Jerry established a Peace Room serving the Youth Development Department and the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Their peace curriculum has since reached communities across the United States and internationally, including China and El Salvador.
Proud parents of six children, MJ and Jerry have always lived by the belief that peace is not just something to teach—it is a way of life. In 2006, LFFP was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and today it continues to thrive through the generosity of dedicated donors and the commitment of its community partners.
Little Friends for Peace co-founders MJ and Jerry Park started this journey more than 40 years ago with the belief that peace begins with the little things — small acts of kindness, listening, and care that ripple outward to transform families, schools, and communities. The name Little Friends for Peace was born from that vision.
Over the decades, thousands of children, teachers, families, and community members have joined us in this mission. They become our “little friends” spreading peace in their classrooms, neighborhoods, workplaces, and across the world.
Little: Reminds us that peace is not abstract or unreachable. It grows in everyday actions, often beginning with children, and expands as we learn to practice it in our own lives.
Friends: Reflects our commitment to building relationships. Peace is not a solo endeavor — it flourishes in community, connection, and respect.
For Peace: Grounds us in our purpose: to teach, model, and spread the skills of peace. We believe that everyone — no matter their age, background, or life experience — can become a peacemaker.
Our name is both a reminder and an invitation. Every person has the power to be a friend for peace.
Hometown: Carlinville, Illinois
Education: University of Notre Dame — B.A. Global Affairs and Arabic
Brigid believes that understanding the interconnectedness of people and cultures is key to creating a more inclusive and equitable world and brings a passion for justice, collaboration, and compassion to Little Friends for Peace.
For Brigid, a peaceful world is one where the dignity of every individual is honored, communities rely on one another, and people work together to solve shared challenges. She is excited to grow in her own peacebuilding journey while helping others discover the power of empathy, collaboration, and collective action.
Brigid draws inspiration from St. Oscar Romero, who fearlessly advocated for the poor and stood against oppression in El Salvador, even at the cost of his life. His unwavering dedication to justice and compassion reminds Brigid that standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity, can change the world.
Whether organizing volunteers, coaching, or learning from those around her, Brigid carries a spirit of curiosity, courage, and hope to LFFP, ready to build bridges and foster peace wherever she goes.
Hometown: Elkhart, Indiana Education: Eastern Mennonite University B.A.: Peacebuilding & Development | Bible, Religion, & Theology M.A.: Conflict Transformation Philip has a big heart for people and a deep curiosity about the world around him. He believes that understanding both human communities and faith traditions can help build bridges and bring people closer together.
For Philip, a peaceful world begins with recognizing the humanity in one another. He dreams of a world where people choose nonviolence, listening replaces judgment, and respect extends not only to each other but also to the earth that sustains us. Philip draws inspiration from Corrie ten Boom, who courageously protected Dutch Jews during World War II. Her faith, courage, and unwavering belief in human dignity remind him that even small acts of compassion can ripple outward to change the world. Whether studying, sharing stories, or learning from others’ experiences, Philip carries a spirit of curiosity, kindness, and hope. He is eager to continue growing, listening, and building peace—one relationship at a time.
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia Education: Virginia Tech — B.A.: Sports Media & Analytics; Minors: French & Language Sciences Sam brings a love of storytelling and community to his work at Little Friends for Peace. As a trombone player through college, he believes that peace is like a major chord, where different voices come together in harmony to make a beautiful sound.
For Sam, a peaceful world is one where people’s differences are celebrated rather than used to divide, where everyone’s gifts are recognized, and respect guides our interactions. He is especially excited to coach and learn from children and neighbors of all backgrounds in the DMV, sharing in their curiosity, humor, and joy.
One of Sam’s favorite peace heroes is Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ, who showed that the only loving response to violence is peace, friendship, and joy. He hopes to share in Fr. Berrigan’s courage, wit, unwavering respect for life —and his love of that ice cream!
