The Seeds of Peace has been selected for the 2009 International Leadership Award by ther World Affairs Council of Maine.

Established in 2008 the award honors the achievements of an individual or organization from Maine or with Maine ties demonstrating outstanding leadership in the global
arena. The 2009 award will be presented to Seeds of Peace at a gala celebration in Portland in early summer.

"Seeds of Peace is an outstanding public diplomacy organization that has been focused on the peaceful resolution of conflict for over a decade and their model should be emulated and celebrated," John LaBrie, executive director of the World Affairs Council of
Maine, said in a statement. "For Maine, this is yet another amazing example of how our state has a disproportionate influence on a global map."

Founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace began in the woods of Maine as the Seeds of Peace International Camp, established to bring together young leaders from conflict-torn regions around the world. Seeds of Peace helps young leaders from regions of conflict learn the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and create peaceful coexistence.

After years of focusing exclusively on international crises around the globe, in 2000 Seeds of Peace developed a domestic initiative called "The Portland Project" to address the violence erupting among Americans living in Portland. Since then the program has expanded to include other cities in Maine and is now called "Maine Seeds."

Maine Seeds reflects the diversity and complexity of the state's urban populations: African-American and white teenagers, and immigrants from Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The International Leadership Award will be formally presented to Seeds of Peace at a gala celebration in Portland in the early part of the summer.