Prayer, Education, and Action (PEA) was initiated in the spring of 2006 by Clare Mackie, Bryan Miller, and Phoebe Sheftel, members of the Peacemaking Task Force of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. They wanted to respond in a meaningful way to the growing number of senseless deaths in the Philadelphia area from illegal handguns.

They believed that people of all faiths should speak with one voice to call attention to the constant killing, and should act with one initiative to take steps to stem the flow of illegal handguns.

Accordingly, a small group of concerned residents and clergy of all faiths were invited to help plan a day designed to empower all members of our community, in Philadelphia and its suburbs, to come together in an effort to make our streets and schools safe for everyone.