Peace X Peace began in 2002 when Patricia Smith Melton, a poet, playwright, film maker, and photographer, gathered six experts in peace and women’s rights from around the world to discuss how they might respond as women to the violence of 9/11/2001. The organization was incorporated as a 501(c )(3) nonprofit to connect women internationally to build peace. It launched a website and an online news service and began connecting women, across geographic and cultural divides, via the internet.

In 2010, our expanding community includes women and men in more than 100 nations. Kimberly Weichel serves as our new CEO and Founder Patricia Smith Melton is an active member of the Board of Directors.

Our Mission

Peace X Peace is the international organization that lifts and multiplies women’s voices, strengthens women’s capacity to connect across divides, promotes leadership and gender equity, and nurtures a global network of peacebuilders in 120 countries.

Our Programs

Women have experiences and solutions for peace that have not been sufficiently recognized or valued. Peace X Peace strives to right this imbalance by implementing a number of unique programs.

• Blogs: Our  daily articles show how women are building peace, reaching 20,000 subscribers in 120 countries.

• Connection Point: We link Arab and Muslim women with Western women in a vibrant online community to facilitate dialogue, increase understanding, and reduce stereotypes.

• Mentorship: We match experienced peacebuilders with young women at the beginning of their careers.

• Women, Power, and Peace Awards: Our annual Awards honor extraordinary women & men on the frontlines of peacebuilding.

• Advocacy: We advocated for effective, sustained policies and programs that support and advance women.

• UN Collaboration: We engage with UN Women and the Commission on the Status of Women.

• Other media:  Our book 60 Years, 60 Voices: Israeli and Palestinian Women, the CATALYST video series, and the documentary Women  on the Frontlines all highlight women in conflict regions who work for peace.

Our Theory of Change

We know the world needs women’s perspectives and skills to build sustainable peace rooted in justice. We have identified eight requirements as necessary Pillars of Peace: conflict transformation, cross-cultural understanding, economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, health and well-being, interfaith dialogue, and justice and good governance.

Because circles are a powerful, traditionally feminine peacebuilding force, Circle Principles like Communicate honestly and thoughtfully inform the interactions and communications in Peace X Peace member activities. When we share our work to raise the Pillars and our Circle experience of connection through Peace X Peace e-media, day by day, person by person and peace by peace, we are coming closer to the global tipping point where peace becomes the new norm.