P.E.A.C.E. stands for: Partnership in Economic Alliance for Community Empowerment.

P.E.A.C.E is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to lift the quality of life for children, adults, and seniors in the greater Ypsilanti area and beyond. 

Reverends Joe Nathaniel Crout and Reverend David Crout founded P.E.A.CE. in 2003. Alongside their board of directors, the reverends are leading this entity.

Witnessing the existing systemic issues of the community, Reverend Joe Nathaniel Crout was inspired to establish The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative on January 26, 2003, to support the quality of life for residents of the West Willow community of Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. He was particularly concerned to help the community’s children and seniors have a safe space for indoor recreation, education, and birthing future community empowerment.

As the need for a community center continued, years later in 2014, the Michigan Engaging Community through the Classroom Initiative (MECC), as well as the University of Michigan’s A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, partnered to help New West Willow Neighborhood Association (NWWNA) address its community’s needs as well as how to improve the quality of life for its residents. Results from their work demonstrated an urgent need for a community center in the West Willow neighborhood of Ypsilanti Township. The entities chronicled their insights and findings into a report called, “From Needs to Opportunities: Strategies for the West Willow Neighborhood”.

The findings of the report validated the work of The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative and the need for its community center to promote positive change. Today, The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative offers greater collaboration with sponsors and partners to make the community center become a reality. We invite you to join The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative in this effort!

The initial cost of the building is $6 million.

The goal is for the community center to be opened by 2025 or 2026. The team hopes that they will be able to obtain the funding needed for the building soon so that its groundbreaking can begin in 2023 or 2024.

All residents in the greater Ypsilanti, Michigan area and beyond. 

The P.E.A.C.E. Community Center will offer holistic programs to improve the quality of life for residents in some of the following areas social and emotional learning (SEL); academic support; work-based learning; nutrition and physical activity; as well as so much more.

Our team is delighted that you are considering donating to further the vision and mission of The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative! We can’t thank you enough! On behalf of our team, we want to assure that regardless of how much you give, every amount gets us closer to making our vison become a reality. Every amount makes an impact in some way. You can donate to us via our Go Fund Us page or you can set up a pledge on the Donations page of our website.

If you have any further questions regarding The P.E.A.C.E. Initiative, we welcome for you to contact us directly on our website’s Contact page or via email at hello@peacemichigan.org.