Two months ago, Generation Peace Academy (GPA) suspended all in-person activities due to the ongoing pandemic. However, after two 40 day condition periods, the participants, their parents, and the GPA staff have made it clear that the home-based model was not adequately fulfilling the purpose that GPA serves.  GPA helps young adults use a growth mindset model to develop their faith in the application of spiritual principles. At the time of writing this, the CDC has reported 29 million cases of Covid-19 and over 526 thousand deaths across the United States. These are big numbers, but it really hits home when we consider the pain experienced by each family member who suffers the loss of their loved one. It reminds us that we must do our part to prevent any more spread of this virus. The GPA staff and I thoroughly understand the gravity of the situation and have made safety from this virus our top priority in addition to the overall health and safety of the participants and their families.

After researching and consulting with medical professionals and other operating faith-based and service-based youth organizations, the GPA staff developed a comprehensive Covid preparedness and prevention plan that is compliant with CDC guidelines and state guidelines. With this in mind, we are restarting a modified version of the GPA in-person program on March 25 as long as the protocol requirements are met.

In addition to wearing masks, social distancing, weekly testing, and operating in small groups with no large gatherings, we have a zero tolerance policy for any participant that does not show proof of a negative Covid-19 test result before re-entering the program, during the program, and before returning home. To ensure consistency in application of this new Covid prevention policy, all staff and captains are required to undergo a Covid-19 prevention training followed by a knowledge exam. GPA staff will maintain detailed documentation with daily reports of any protocol transgressions, and the corrective action that was taken.

The GPA Parents Association together with GPA participants themselves, believe and want this program to continue in some form. While they are aware of the risks involved in participating in any type of program outside of the home, the staff and I have worked tirelessly to ensure that we do everything within our power to keep them as safe as possible. This Covid prevention policy is continually evolving and developing to ensure that we are using the most up-to-date information available. We are also monitoring and re-evaluating the program on a regular basis in part and as a whole.

The bottom line is that safety is our top priority. This is my promise to the participants and the parents through regular reporting and active cooperation with Family Federation and the GPA Parent’s Association.

If anyone has any additional concerns or questions, please contact me at mstephensgpa@gmail.com.