Since its beginnings in 1974, On Earth Peace has been a branch growing on the tree of peace and justice. The fruit of this work is the intergenerational leadership that has been growing for the past 45 years, which is visible through the Just Peace Leaders whose stories we have been proud to share with you this month! As rain sustains a tree, your support is what helps us grow and continue to support leaders in peace and justice. 

We hope hearing from the leaders OEP has supported will inspire you to support us- we hope you will feel led to share these stories with others and donate to help support future leaders in OEP. Let these stories inspire you in your own work towards building a more peaceful, just world.  

For our second June newsletter, we are excited to share the story of one of our core staff members, Marie Benner-Rhoades! 

Marie Benner-Rhoades

Gen Y (1980-2000)

As the current Youth and Young Adult Peace Formation Director for On Earth Peace, Marie is a lifelong fighter for justice and peace, having been involved in Church of the Brethren peacebuilding activities since she was a youth herself. Marie’s commitment to peace and justice can be seen on many different scales. Whether on the national scale with OEP, with Open Doors English in her hometown of Ithaca, NY, or in her family life teaching her kids principles of peacebuilding, acceptance, and allyship, she is constantly dedicating herself to fighting for justice and peace and standing up to violence and oppression wherever it is found. 

When it comes to how On Earth Peace has supported her in this journey, Marie says “OEP’s value of intergenerational leadership development has impacted my work for justice and peace -- first as a youth through their peace retreats, then as a young adult staff person providing a decentralized work culture that allowed me to move and grow without changing my job, and now as a parent and professional welcoming my children into OEP spaces and inviting me to participate in organizational leadership at OEP and with our partners.” 

We at On Earth Peace are proud to have supported Marie since she was a youth and we look forward to continuing to support her and other leaders like her in the upcoming years! Please visit Marie’s profile or click here to help us continue this work! 

Marie’s favorite sticker from our Just Peace Outfitter’s store demonstrates her dual commitments of lifting up silenced voices and inspiring kids and young adults as peacemakers.