On June 12th, 2025, the Illinois Peace Project hosted a powerful screening event at the Metropolitan Peace Academy, celebrating leaders working to end gun violence in Chicago through its Peace Portraits series. Among those honored was Rafi Peterson, the Director of Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) at the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP).

The Peace Portraits project is a visual storytelling series that highlights individuals making meaningful contributions to community violence intervention (CVI) work across Illinois. Rafi, with over 25 years of experience in violence prevention, was recognized for his unwavering commitment to creating safer, healthier neighborhoods on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Through his leadership with CP4P, Rafi has worked tirelessly to build trust, mediate conflicts, and connect residents to resources that promote peace and healing.

The June 12th screening brought together community organizers, peacekeepers, and supporters to view portraits and videos of the honorees, including Rafi’s segment where he emphasized the urgent need for communities to be equipped with the tools to guide and support young people. “Our youth are going through things they shouldn’t have to go through,” Rafi shared. “If we had the proper tools in our communities, we could flip this thing overnight.”

The event served as both a celebration and a call to action, uplifting the stories of frontline leaders like Rafi Peterson and reinforcing the collective effort needed to build lasting peace across Chicago. Check out the video that featured Rafi and the other Peace Portrait Honoree’s and the entire peace portrait project.