Mel Poeppelmeyer

A couple of years ago, Mel Poeppelmeyer, of Superior Homes Realty. Inc., was introduced to a school-community peace-skill building initiative, titled, Catch the Peace Spirit.

The mission of this initiative was to create, develop and enhance peaceful strategies in the South Linden community.

The initial component included the purchase and distribution of 200 Catch the Peace Spririt residential signs in South Linden.

The signs promoted four strategies for solving conflicts -- Talk it Out, Say I'm Sorry, Say Kind Words and Walk Away.

The distribution had a tremendous impact in the community. Media coverage highlighted the peace effort as parents, staff and students walked the South Linden neighborhood placing Catch the Peace Spirit signs in resident yards.

Mel believed in this project so much that he funded the intial purchase of the 200 signs in 2002 and has help fund the project again this year.

Says Mel on the Catch the Peace Spirit project, "I can't take all the credit. I was only one of a team that made this happen for a second time. We helped kids at elementary schools learn to be peace makers by taking a `Peace Pledge' and distributing the signs."

Linda Willis, Principal, Hamilton Altenative Elementary, says "A community is only as strong as its investments by its investors. Mel should be commended for believing that change begins with a personal commitment to facilitate a process."