Praise 4 Peace was initiated on June of 2003. Pastor Rodney and Serita Campbell, and administrator, Rosezina Campbell, saw the plight of young people dying in the city and decided that a movement had to take place to make a positive change and help save innocent lives. The initial rally started out with a small group on the parking lot of Holy Mt. Carmel with Pastor Rodney working with youth in the Johnson Park community. The movement later evolved into a larger rally involving 4 non-profit organizations, and several neighboring churches supporting the movement. The Nehemiah Project Inc. Pepsi Inc., Milwaukee Youth Group, Mother’s Against Gun Violence, along with the newly established Crossing Jordan Ministries, with the support of Walking in the Way of Christ Church and Perfecting Holiness Evangelistic Ministries, birth the 2nd annual Praise 4 Peace march and rally to establish a cease fire in our communities on June 26th, 2004.
Since that day the support for this movement has continued to grow stronger. Now with more than 14 local businesses, non-profit organizations, and ministries from throughout the city, including, Uniting Garden Homes, Pastor’s United, The Nehemiah Project Inc. UNBREAKABLE Publishing, L.L.E.A.D, Youth Development Program, Wescare Milwaukee, 30th Street Corridor, Northwest Side CDC, Pitts Mortuary, The Office of Violence Prevention (City of Milwaukee), Senator Lena Taylor, Common Counsel President Ashanti Hamilton, County Supervisor Michael Mayo, and a host of neighborhood businesses including Lena’s Food Market, Monk’s Barbershop, Ace Barbershop, Hot Spot Food Market, just to mention a few. Praise 4 Peace has been an ongoing movement for 14 going on 15 years, unlike other movements that have faded away, Praise 4 Peace continues to go strong and get stronger every year, with more support and with a greater mission, “One STOP at a time…putting a halt to violence. Praise 4 Peace has left a legacy in each neighborhood and with plans to continue the mission throughout the City of Milwaukee.
