ALL EYES AND EARS ON RACISM
TOMPKINS COUNTY COMMUNITY WATCHERS
ABOUT AEER
All Eyes and Ears on Racism (AEER) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Ithaca, NY. It serves as an active, ongoing community watch group whose members are committed to challenging and speaking out against all forms of racial discrimination, wherever and with whomever it occurs.
We believe that racial justice must engage our hearts, not just our politics—everyone's hands must push the "freedom plow." This work requires courage, determination, and deep regard for the inherent worth of all lives.
AEER is committed to advancing racial justice and the awareness that racism harms everyone in a community—dismantling it will take the dedicated effort of all good-minded people. AEER unwaveringly encourages and supports those efforts.
The overarching purpose of AEER is to show that our silence, our hesitance to speak out against racism, nourishes it and strengthens it; our silence makes us part of racism's systemic nature.
AEER was established to uplift individuals who are genuine in their stance against racism—to support and encourage one another in confronting discrimination. AEER gets personally involved, understanding that socially conscious communities work to develop relationships. Knowing one another, respecting one another, and standing up for one another. Recognizing that racial divisions eliminate any notion of the common good is critical.
One hundred percent of our mission is to create change, to create a world where we all can feel safe and welcome.
We keep All Eyes and Ears on Racism—Stand Up, Speak Out.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Peaches Gillette relocated to Ithaca, New York, from Brooklyn approximately nine years ago, bringing a wealth of experience in education, ministry, and social justice advocacy. She holds a master's degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling and was accepted into the prestigious Fulbright program at Fordham University in 2013.
As a veteran educator, poet, essayist, prison chaplain, and advocate for racial harmony, Peaches has cultivated a diverse portfolio of expertise that positions her as an innovative public speaker, minister of peace, and race-relations specialist. Her multifaceted background allows her to approach complex social issues with both scholarly insight and practical compassion.
Peaches's longstanding dedication to racial healing has provided her with exceptional training opportunities, including specialized instruction under Peggy McIntosh, author of "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" and founder of the National SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) project. This foundational training has enhanced her ability to facilitate meaningful conversations about privilege, equity, and inclusion.
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Her expertise is regularly sought after for workshops. She has facilitated workshops nationwide through sponsorship by the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) People of Color Conferences. These workshops demonstrate her commitment to creating educational environments that honor diversity and promote understanding across racial and cultural lines.
Peaches' involvement in transforming communities that fully embrace differences is tireless. Through her work as a minister of peace and race-relations specialist, she continues to build bridges between communities, fostering environments where diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated as a source of strength and enrichment.