City at Peace was launched in New York through the initiative of a local network of concerned parents, educators, artists, celebrities, business professionals and community organizers. This growing network of volunteers is committed to sustaining and expanding City at Peace in New York and is inspired by its proven record in positively effecting the lives of teenagers.

City at Peace was established in 1994 in Washington, D.C., in response to the increasing segregation, racial hatred and violence engulfing youth, and declining opportunities for teens to build community across racial and cultural divisions. Response was so extraordinary that the program was featured on Nightline with Ted Koppel and became the subject of a full-length HBO documentary titled city at peace. Callers from around the country inundated the offices, hoping to initiate programs in their own communities.

With overwhelming demand for the program growing, City at Peace convened a team of national leaders to take part in a strategic planning process to determine how to best assist these communities. The outcome was Cities at Peace, Inc. (dba City at Peace-National).

City at Peace-National now has a central office in New York City, and active programs in New York City, Los Angeles (CA), Washington, D.C., Santa Barbara (CA), Charlotte (NC), and Baton Rouge (LA). The organization also works in partnership with the Israel Association of Community Centers to conduct 12 City at Peace programs involving nearly 600 youth in 20 communities in Israel.