After the horrific and unspeakable event of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, so many in our community want to help this shaken town, but don’t know where to turn or what to do. 

I recently learned of a fantastic grassroots group of Newtown residents called Newtown Action Alliance. This group is courageously working towards making a positive change in their community and in this country. They are ordinary residents like us, but have thrown themselves in the middle of this overwhelming task, working tirelessly on a local and a national level.  

Now, the Newtown teens have sprung into action with their group Junior Newtown Action Alliance-- both groups doing everything without the financial backing that some of the other national organizations involved in this mission have. So, we are reaching out to Patch readers and asking for your help in the way of any donation you can make towards this worthy cause.

The first project is this year’s PeaceJam, happening at UCONN over a weekend in early April. They are trying to raise funds in order to help send Newtown students to this international education program. The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. For information about Peacejam visit: http://www.peacejam.org/about.aspx.

Newtown students, from intermediate to high school, have been invited to attend this year's conference on April 6-7, 2013. The PeaceJam Conference will be held at UCONN and The NAA’s new student chapter is raising funds to allow Newtown students this unprecedented opportunity to connect with other teens interested in making positive change from all over New England.

Please consider assisting these deserving kids to attend. It costs about $250 per child for this weekend event. 

To donate a please visit: http://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/10686.

These young people have been working tirelessly as they work to try to turn something so painful into something hopeful and positive for their future.   

What really got to me and pulled at my heartstrings were the words of NAA’s founder, Dave Ackert as he wrote to me:

“The idea of helping kids who are growing up amid the dark cloud of the tragedy of Dec 14^th….helping these future leaders gain the skills needed to apply their life experience toward the pursuit of long term cultural change, is a powerful one. We are setting up a foundation to facilitate these types of opportunities for this entire generation so that they can raise their kids in a safer, saner world…..but that will take a while. In the meantime, we want to be able to send as many kids as possible to PeaceJam to get the ball rolling!!”   

Please consider giving anything you can and then pass this on. If we all give a little, it will add up to a lot for Newtown and these remarkable teens. It is so important for them and for the future of all our children.      

Thank you for your support. It is a way for us to give back to a wonderful town bravely trying to heal.

                                     N.J. Residents For Action ( Against Gun Violence)