"Personally, City at Peace has meant nothing but change for me. When I began, almost four years ago, I was just beginning to break old habits. I admit I was set on changing a large part of who I was, or more honestly, who I was pretending I was. I realize that it might be the age-old story of an adolescent trying to herself. But after I got rid of all the ideas and opinions that weren¹t my own, it was very easy, and City at Peace helped

with that. City at Peace also introduced me to a broader spectrum of spoken word, something I¹ve come to love"

 

"City at Peace, don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t a place where everything is hunky-dory and we’re peaceful 24/7. There’s head banging, bickering, celebrating, etc. but it is the maturity that we acquire here that everyone is different and that our differences add up to our diversity”.

 

"City at Peace is not always what the name suggests. As teens, we come together and most of the time we do not get along, but we find ways to work out our problems without resulting in a fight or unresolved tension. When the problems are unresolved, we put our minds together and out comes a show that portrays our lives”.

 

"At City at Peace I kept finding out new things about myself than I knew existed, a more emotional side, and a more artistic side. City at Peace has taught me to listen to other people’s points of view and take them into account”.

 

"City at Peace has changed my life. The program has really helped me in terms of voicing my opinions and communicating with other people. I feel as though City at Peace is my home away from home. It’s a place where I can say anything and trust that I won't be judged. The program has really opened my eyes to some of the issues in my community that I was unaware of. To hear the stories of the other teens in City at Peace has really inspired me to want to get up and take action. If I didn't have City at Peace, I don't know where I would be today. City at Peace is one of the best things that ever happened to me."
 

"City at Peace has given me an opportunity to meet new people and have a chance to be myself. It’s also given me a chance to bond with others and listen to their frustrations and real life stories. Growing up in a poor environment, I never got a chance to interact with different cultures. City at Peace gave me a chance to bond with different types of people- young and old, rich and poor. Having that bond, we can make the communities see a world without violence and self-destruction!"

 

 

"Before attending City at Peace, I didn’t have much confidence. The City at Peace process made me open up to new things. It built up my self-esteem and made me more understanding."

 

"City At Peace has made me realize how huge our world really is. It has changed me and has allowed me to open my eyes and really see and understand what happens in the world around me. Not only has it changed my opinions about my surroundings, but also who I am. I have developed as a person and even my mother says I'm different. But, I also love performing and this has been an excellent opportunity for me. City At Peace really is like my second proverbial family. I love every minute of it when I'm there with my fellow cast members. I don't know what I would do without the program."

 

"City at Peace is a great experience. You meet new people, make new friends, and build memories. At City at Peace you take off the mask you wear in everyday life. You can relate to pretty much every person there and it’s like a load off your shoulders. The group is more like a family and the program is like a second home. CAP has changed me as a person. You start looking at things in a whole different perspective. When your going through stuff, you just think about how you’re not the only one. You start appreciating things. And it feels GREAT!!"

 

"City at Peace to me is a sanctuary, a peaceful palace built by Los Angeles' kids who are trying to commence a change in the world. Every kid is unique, and CAP treasures that. CAP gave me my Voice to speak my mind and they helped me find myself. CAP is a place where you won't be judged, but in contrast cared for and nurtured. Singing and dancing may not be your greatest strength, but everyday as we warmed up the directors said, " If you can walk you can dance, if you can talk you can sing." They gave me the tools, and I ran with it. They gave me the push and they watched me fly."