MISSION STATEMENT
Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA) works to promote justice and peace by educating and mobilizing Chicago Area residents and students to promote human and planet oriented policies.
VISION
Our vision is a world in which justice prevails for all, free of the devastation caused by war, racism, poverty, nuclear weapons, and environmental degradation.
WHO WE ARE
We are a grassroots Chicago-based nonprofit, and an affiliate of the national organization Peace Action, that seeks to transform our nation’s priorities towards justice, peace and environmental stewardship.
WHAT WE DO
We educate and mobilize Chicago area activists to advocate for policies that reflect our vision and values through letter writing campaigns, petitions, direct action, online advocacy, lobbying our legislators, and more.
Chicago Area Peace Action was originally organized as North Shore Peace Initiative (NSPI) in 1978 by Bob Cleland and Mel Traylor. Our initial executive director of 14 years, Allan Howe, spearheaded the group into becoming a major factor in organizing the 1982 Illinois Nuclear Freeze Campaign.
In 1984 our organization worked nationally with Peace Action and other groups to get a Nuclear Freeze Bill through the U. S. Senate. Since then, we’ve expanded the issues to include reducing military spending, stopping armed conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and addressing climate change.
In 2011, we changed our name to Chicago Area Peace Action, CAPA; to not only expand our reach to the greater Chicago area, but also to become an affiliate of a national organization, Peace Action, the largest grassroots peace network in the nation, with chapters and affiliates across the country. Through Peace Action, CAPA has been able to ensure the Chicago Area’s voice is heard and pressure is applied to policymakers. As an affiliate of Peace Action we are fortunate to share in collaborative efforts with, and the resources of this national organization and its expert staff.
One way that you can engage with the CAPA community is to join our CAPA-Sharing Google Group. It’s a place where any member of the group can post articles and share information that would be of interest to people working for justice through peace and environmental advocacy. To join, send an email to capa-sharing+subscribe@googlegroups.com and we can add you to the group. You can unsubscribe at any time.
CAPA partners with organizations from around the Chicago Area and across the nation to achieve its mission
Dedicated Chicagoans are responsible for the day-to-day outreach and work achieved at CAPA
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS
Nashra Mohammed
Gail Schechter
TREASURER
PRESIDENT
David Borris
ORGANIZING & ADVOCACY DIRECTOR
Lizzie Turner
Lizzie Turner – Organizing & Advocacy Director
As CAPA’s Organizing & Advocacy Director, Lizzie supports and trains organizers, activists, and regular folks who want to shift US foreign policy towards diplomacy and mutual understanding. She has led creative efforts, including a video that was shared on Sen. Durbin’s Twitter, worked directly with legislative offices for economic sanctions relief, and lobbied legislators to end the war in Yemen.
Lizzie believes in the validity of all forms of activism: from those that sign online petitions to the full-time organizers. Lizzie wants to counteract the individualistic ‘all or nothing’ capitalist culture by celebrating and empowering activists in all forms, as well as uplifting the importance of a joyful personal life outside of the work – the movement starts at home.
If you would like more information, to volunteer, or intern for CAPA please contact us
