Advocating Social-Emotional Learning at Montessori Event 2025 Conference

At Play for Peace, we believe in the transformative power of laughter, compassion, and experiential learning to turn conflict into opportunities for peace. This belief took center stage at the recent Montessori Event 2025 conference in Denver, where we had the privilege of connecting with hundreds of passionate educators and community leaders who are equally committed to youth development and peacebuilding. A special thank you goes to Paul Bareis, whose dedication and vision made our participation at the conference possible.

Engaging Educators, Spreading Peace

While our booth was tucked away in a quieter corner of the Exhibit Hall, we were determined not to let that hinder our ability to connect with the conference’s attendees. Thanks to an innovative idea from Mary Bareis-Golumb, our other representative at the event, we brought our message directly to the entrance. Armed with colorful stickers and informative flyers, we spread the word about our mission of social impact and intercultural understanding to everyone who passed by. The result? We had meaningful, inspiring conversations with over 500 educators.

As these educators reflect on the materials we shared, we hope they will be motivated to take the next step: committing to The Peace Pledge. This simple but powerful pledge encourages educators to foster inclusive communities and inspire positive change within their classrooms and schools, sparking a ripple effect that can transform entire communities. By taking the Peace Pledge, educators commit to making peacemaking a stand-alone subject or a top priority in their classroom, taught and practiced daily.

If you would like to pledge, you’ll receive complimentary access to the PAX Curriculum, a powerful, experiential social-emotional learning program designed to help K-5 students build essential life skills through play and connection.

A Vision for the Future

The Montessori Event 2025 was more than just a platform to showcase our work—it was a poignant reminder of the incredible power of human connection in creating a more peaceful world. The energy and enthusiasm we felt at the conference reaffirmed our belief that, through collaboration and shared commitment, we can pave the way toward lasting peace.

We are immensely grateful for the support and connections we made at the event, and we eagerly look forward to seeing how these fresh ideas will continue to inspire change. For those educators and organizations eager to bring experiential learning and peacebuilding into their communities, we invite you to explore our resources and join us in our mission to create a world where peace is not just an ideal, but a daily practice.

Together, let’s make a lasting impact—through play, through learning, through peace.

Join us on this journey, take the pledge today playforpeace.org/peacepledge

#PeaceThroughPlay #ExperientialLearning #YouthDevelopment #NonviolentCommunication #InclusiveCommunities #SocialImpact