Operation P.E.A.C.E. was founded in 1995 in the Village of Bedford Pine in Atlanta, Georgia, when twenty-five concerned college students came together to help children escape from the crime and drugs that plagued their community. With the financial support of Wingate Management LLC, and the leadership of Edna Moffit (Executive Director, Operation P.E.A.C.E., Atlanta), college students and volunteers from Wingate’s staff joined forces to convert an old laundry room to a computer-learning center.

Operation P.E.AC.E., Executive Directors: Edna Moffit, (one of the original founders of Operation P.E.A.C.E in Atlanta, left) and David Zermeno (Boston, right).

Our Founders
Operation P.E.A.C.E. in Atlanta envisioned a program that would provide children with positive adult role models and educational support. To achieve this vision, the founding members implemented a Teen Mentoring Program, a Summer Academy, and an Afterschool Tutorial program. Furthering their mission, they also established a Computer Competency program, a Senior Activity program, GED classes, and Welfare-to-Work programs for adults. These programs developed literacy and technical skills that nurtured entrepreneurship and leadership. As a result, residents took ownership of their neighborhood and became empowered as a community.

Pleased with the success of Operation P.E.A.C.E. in Atlanta, Wingate Management Company LLC looked to expand to communities of its other housing facilities. On January 23, 2001, Wingate Management LLC opened a second Operation P.E.A.C.E. center at its Peterborough Street Housing location in Boston.