PeacePlayers International

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PeacePlayers International

Building peaceful, thriving communities through sport. Visit our website to learn how! Recipient of 2024 Candid (formerly Guidestar) Platinum Transparency seal.

08/11/2026

Celebrating Sandra Idehen, Commissioner of LOVB Pro, and one of our inaugural Court of Change Champions. 🏆💙

Sandra’s leadership journey reminds us why this work is so important. From her early days as a PeacePlayers intern while at Yale Business School to now steering LOVB Pro as commissioner, we are proud of her journey and proud to have her as a key member of the PeacePlayers Global Girls Campaign Committee

Thank you, Sandra, for showing up for girls and women in sport.

The Future Plays Here.

One Volleyball

08/03/2026

Chicago, we felt it. 🏀💙

Court of Change wasn't just an event, it was a room full of people who believe girls deserve every opportunity a court can offer. Athletes. Advocates. Leaders. Supporters. All in one place, during WNBA All-Star Weekend, for one purpose: opening doors for the next generation of girls in sport.

Grateful to ONE Campaign and Noah's Arc Foundation for building this moment with us, and to every Champion, panelist, and guest who showed up and showed out.

This is what it looks like when a community invests in girls.

The Future Plays Here. 🏆

07/16/2026

Women's sports are changing the game, but every athlete's journey starts long before the spotlight.

It starts with a girl, a coach, a community, and the opportunity to play.
That's why we're proud to come together.

For 25 years, PeacePlayers has used sport to build connection and leadership. The ONE Campaign works to ensure young people have the opportunity to survive, thrive, and lead. Noah's Arc Foundation empowers young people through sport, arts, and mentorship.

Together, we're celebrating the pipeline that makes leadership possible, from the first court to the biggest stages.

Because when we invest in girls, we don't just grow the game. We help shape the next generation of leaders.

Stay tuned as we share more from this special event. 🏀✨

ONE

07/02/2026

Watch researcher Mitch McSweeney explain how PeacePlayers US’s Leadership Development Program supports career readiness through soft skills like emotional regulation and communication. This study by the University of Minnesota shows that the change we’re making on and off the court also addresses financial inequality head-on.

Read more from the collaborative study by PeacePlayers US and the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology that measures the impact of the LDP on self-confidence, career readiness, and financial literacy at https://hubs.la/Q04ncPG80.

06/29/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we are the recipient of a grant from the 2026 Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities to support our summer programming at PeacePlayers Chicago! PeacePlayers Chicago’s 6-week-long summer program teaches participants leadership, teamwork, and violence prevention skills through the power of sports. We know how important positive engagement is during the summer, a time that poses multiple risks to youth safety and well-being. With this grant, young leaders will gain a critical outlet during the long summer months, and get the chance to develop their own project to address a local need and bring their community together.

https://hubs.la/Q04mXzP10

06/15/2026

We're excited to share our 2025 Impact Report

This year, thousands of young people stepped onto courts in divided communities and chose connection over conflict. They became leaders, bridge-builders, and proof that peace is possible.

Here's what we accomplished together:

🌍 80 youth leaders from South Africa, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and the U.S. came together at the Friendship Games in Detroit
💻 Launched the Virtual Learning Hub connecting young people across Belfast, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem
🏀 Opened two new basketball courts in South Africa
🏅 Hosted the second Girls Summit in Los Angeles, empowering young women across our U.S. sites

The numbers tell one story. But behind every statistic is a young person who discovered their voice, challenged stereotypes, and decided their future would look different.

This is their story. And it's proof of what happens when we invest in youth.

Read the full 2025 Impact Report here: https://hubs.ly/Q04lsxj_0

PeacePlayers - Northern Ireland
PeacePlayers South Africa
PeacePlayers United States

05/21/2026

Meet the New City Director of PeacePlayers Baltimore!

We’re proud to introduce Myleana Beads Johnson, a daughter of Baltimore, and a leader deeply committed to its future. With a career rooted in public service, she has supported families in crisis, mediated conflicts to keep communities stable, and led violence prevention and engagement efforts through the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. She has consistently shown up for Baltimore’s residents. Now, she’s showing up for PeacePlayers’ young people.

Myleana is stepping in to lead the next chapter of PeacePlayers Baltimore, bringing vision, energy, and purpose to an exciting new partnership with Catholic Charities at the Carolyn E. Fugett Intergenerational Center in West Baltimore. Together, we will create safe spaces and opportunities for hundreds of young people to grow through sports, leadership, and connection.

Because for Myleana, this work is personal. She grew up with a basketball in her hands, learning discipline, resilience, and teamwork long before those became professional values. Today, she brings that same mindset to her leadership: seeing potential where others may not and investing in it fully.

We sat down with Myleana for a few rapid-fire questions to get to know the person behind the mission:

Secret Talent: “I’ve done stand-up comedy—opening for comedians like Mike Epps, Cedric the Entertainer, Tracy Morgan, and Bill Bellamy. I’ve also appeared on shows like Katie Couric and ‘Who’s Got Jokes?’ That experience taught me how to read a room, connect with people, and bring the right energy when it’s needed.”

On-Court Inspiration: “Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Their discipline, mindset, and refusal to settle are things I connect with deeply.”

Words to Live By: “Growth is intentional. Nothing changes unless you’re willing to put in the work to evolve—personally, professionally, and in how you serve others.”

Currently Playing: “Summer Rain” by Carl Thomas

Myleana’s vision is rooted in love for her city: A Baltimore where every young person feels seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.

Welcome to the family, Myleana.

To learn more about Myleana’s vision for the city, check out the link in our bio.

04/28/2026

"I just tried to shut my brain and do it” 🧠

When 14-year-old Omar arrived at the PeacePlayers Friendship Games last summer in Detroit (hosted in partnership with the Detroit Pistons), he was “very shy.” He didn’t know what to expect.

It started with basketball - especially the 3-on-3 tournament - but what stayed with him most was meeting young people his age from around the world.

He really clicked with the team from Northern Ireland. “They had a good sense of humor. And they were pretty nice.”

On the sidelines, the girls from the Middle East taught him Hebrew and Arabic. And then it hit him: “You really are able to see how similar people are, even though we’re in completely different countries.”

Today, he’s still in touch with friends from Northern Ireland, the Middle East, South Africa, and Detroit.

His advice for getting out of your head? “Just be yourself. Go talk to people. Have a great time.” ✨

What’s your best tip for getting out of your comfort zone?

PeacePlayers United States

04/16/2026

“If I didn’t play basketball, I wouldn’t know where I would be right now.” 🏀

Sipheshile ('Sphe') (19) grew up in Umlazi, outside of Durban, and started playing basketball in Grade 5, following his older sister’s lead.

During Sphe's basketball career, women coaches, including his own sister, were a guiding force. Even though in South Africa, basketball coaching is dominated by men, at PeacePlayers, women coaches mentor both boys and girls.

“Being coached by a woman is different,” Sphe says.

Coaches like his sister Olwethu and Thandeka pushed him to think beyond the court and held him accountable in school too: “You can't play a game without your [report card] that shows great progress and that says you’ve passed at school.”

Today, Sphe coaches a girls’ team at Berea Primary School, passing forward what his coaches gave him.

Share with us: who helped shape your path?

03/26/2026

ICYMI 👀 PeacePlayers’ Virtual Learning Hub is live!

We asked ourselves: what are the most essential lessons that truly elevate players, coaches, and educators beyond the game? 💡

The result 👉 PeacePlayers' Virtual Learning Hub, bite-sized, practical modules designed to help you lead with confidence, positivity, and respect—on and off the court.

🌍 The Hub is part of the project “Enhancing Global Connections,” supported by The Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute.

Ready to level up? Learn more here: https://hubs.la/Q048tbVl0

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Telephone

+12024085111

Website

http://www.peaceplayers.org/

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