Meet 2026 ‘Peace Portraits’ Honoree Steven Perkins

Meet Peace Portraits honoree Steven Perkins, Director of Field Instruction at Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI). Perkins is a foundational part of MPI’s Metropolitan Peace Academy (MPA), a multi-disciplinary training facility designed to professionalize the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workforce.

In his role, Perkins trains and facilitates emerging CVI leaders, while also strategizing and overseeing outreach work across Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), a coalition of CVI organizations convened by MPI that serve neighborhoods with the highest levels of violence.

Peace Portraits, presented by the Illinois Peace Project, is a visual series dedicated to spotlighting the incredible individuals making a difference in Illinois. This year’s six honorees embody the spirit of Peace Portraits, as they work tirelessly to strengthen their communities, empower residents, inspire change, and foster peace and harmony in their communities.

When Perkins discovered CVI work, it became immediately clear that he would dedicate his life to it. “I knew right away this is what I wanted to do. I felt I was purposed for it,” Perkins explains. “When I saw the barriers people were experiencing, I knew it was more than just a job or profession. It was more of a calling.”

“Peace to me is the ability to exist, to have the capacity to operate and navigate the world without pressure — with choice,” says Perkins. “I [think that’s] my purpose — to give people choice, to provide alternative routes, to alleviate some of the pressure that people in the community are going through.”

Read Perkins’ story and check out the entire project here.