Spotlight On: Krystle!
Krystle Arnold is an instructional coach for Yes Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. Her students first participated in TGPP during the 2013-14 school year. She was then instrumental in securing our second collaboration with Yes Prep in 2017-18. Krystle recently joined us as our newest Board member. We’re thrilled to have her!
TGPP: Describe your role(s) at TGPP.
KA: I was the teacher/sponsor for a group of students who attended the retreat in the summer of 2014.
TGPP: How did you initially become involved with TGPP?
KA: I became involved when I met Jacqueline during a professional development session she was facilitating and I was attending.
TGPP: What made you want to be a part of this particular organization?
KA: Jacqueline sharing that social justice and equity were embedded in TGPP’s mission were an instant no-brainer that I wanted to be in on this project.
TGPP: What is it that keeps you interested and active in continuing your peacemaking efforts with us?
KA: The goal, the mission, the people, and the work that still needs to be done, keeps me grounded in this work.
TGPP: What does a typical retreat day look like?
KA: Team building, learning new skills, working collaboratively toward a service project that pushes the goal/mission of TGPP forward.
TGPP: Describe a favorite peace project that you worked on either during a retreat or during the school year. Why was it special?
KA: My favorite peace projects during the year my students participated included feeding the homeless, a clothing drive for fellow students, and a community garden.
TGPP: Share a moment or an experience that occurred at one of the retreats that was particularly meaningful to you.
KA: Learning how to swim at the summer retreat of 2014 will forever remain my most meaningful memory. It was great teaching my students that you’re never too old to learn a new skill.
TGPP: What is peace to you?
KA: To me peace is the presence of minimal conflict. I believe there will always be some level of conflict due to differences of personality and opinion.
TGPP: What does it look like?
KA: Peace, in my mind, looks like a collaborative effort between people who have chosen to put their pride and differences aside for a greater good.
TGPP: How is it achieved?
KA: Peace is achieved through planning and implementing said plan(s) based on the situation you’re desiring to be peaceful.
TGPP: How is TGPP succeeding at bringing more peace into the world? How can we continue to improve at that goal?
KA: TGPP does an excellent job of raising students’ awareness of the world/community around them.
TGPP: As you know, we often talk about this question, “Can there be peace in the world, if people are hungry?” What’s your feeling about that?
KA: No, I do not believe peace can exist when people are lacking the most basic necessities like food, water, and electricity.
TGPP: Imagine for a moment that you have the ability to completely eliminate a problem that is threatening our peaceful future. Which problem would you choose? How would you solve it?
KA: My goal would be to work diligently in helping to close not only the achievement gap, but the racial wealth gap. I think a peaceful future for our black and brown children is the absence of these two things.
TGPP: Have you had any peaceful successes in your life/family/community as a result of the work we do together?
KA: With the help of TGPP’s generous donation I was able to provide families who were affected by Hurricane Harvey with gift cards to assist with them getting back on their feet. I think peace comes in knowing families were able to have one less thing to worry about, even if only temporary.
TGPP: Anything else you would like to share?
KA: It has been an absolute pleasure being involved with TGPP. I wish nothing but the best for the organization as well as past, present, and future participants.
Thank you, Krystle! We appreciate you!
