Peace Works United: Building Peace That Works
Who We Are
Peace Works United is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization with developed comprehensive frameworks for addressing historical harm and building pathways to justice.
Our mission is to foster a pro-Black space dedicated to trauma informed healing practices
That advance the African Diaspora through intercultural reconciliation, education, dialogue, and shared leadership across generations, proving that Black liberation is the foundation for collective freedom.
The Vision we are working towards is a world where the African diaspora is whole, empowered, and reconciled, a world where peace means justice, healing, and unity across all people. We strives for communities rooted in dignity, cultural strength, and collective liberation, so that the flourishing of the African diaspora leads the way to unity and thriving for all humanity.
Working together to build bridges across communities, organizations & businesses.
In Action.
Guiding every conversation, collaboration, and commitment we make.
Our Core Values
We affirm and uplift the leadership, wisdom, education, and lived experiences of the African diaspora as central to achieving liberation and unity.
We create spaces of care and repair for communities historically harmed by colonialism, slavery, and systemic racism, fostering reconciliation.
We believe our freedom is interconnected. By centering the African diaspora, we advance liberation for all people.
We practice stewardship of people and the planet, ensuring that our solutions are regenerative, sustainable, and rooted in justice.
We cultivate peace not as passivity, but as active solidarity uniting across cultures, generations, and movements to transform systems and build a just future.
Visionaries dedicated to creating lasting change through dialogue and action.
Meet the Team Behind the Mission
Rebecca Rosado
Raised in the Northwest, Rebecca Rosado leads operations as CEO of Peace Works United with a clear mission: Peace Works when we are united. She is a community engagement and project management leader with a track record of turning ambitious ideas into durable, equity-centered systems. She drives complex initiatives that center community power, storytelling, and measurable outcomes of collective liberation. Her current work with Climate Justice Alliance’s Black Caucus leadership team, Sister Cities International, and Social Justice Film Institute is inspired by her passion for storytelling and preserving cultural lessons across the diaspora.
With more than a decade of cross-sector leadership, including executive roles at Peace Works United and Tacoma Ministerial Alliance, and Implementation project management at Abbott Laboratories, Rebecca blends visionary execution with grassroots connection. She is known for her transparent, values-driven models, which build real-world connections and foster radical inclusion.
Our liberation is not a metaphor but a practical framework for how resources are invested, how power is shared, and how all communities thrive.
Melannie Denise Cunningham
Melannie Denise Cunningham is a champion of peace and racial reconciliation whose four-decade commitment to justice has transformed communities and earned global recognition. Known as the 253 Peace Queen, she was awarded the 2018 Greater Tacoma Peace Prize and represented her community at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. The Emmy Award-winning documentary “Peace Queen,” which chronicles this journey, also earned multiple Telly Awards for Its Social Impact.
Born in the Midwest and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Melannie’s career spans transformative roles in federal, state, and local government, higher education, grassroots activism, broadcast production, and entrepreneurship. She spent 18 years at Pacific Lutheran University in senior administrative roles across Admission, Campus Ministry, and Continuing Education. As the Founder and CEO of Peace Works United, she creates spaces for racial healing and anti-racist community building, bringing leaders from various sectors together for honest dialogue. She is also Principal of The Cunningham Network, a consulting firm specializing in anti-racist community building.
Melannie holds a BA in General Studies from Washington State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Pacific Lutheran University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Organizational Development and Change at Fielding Graduate University, focusing on philanthropic contributions to Black community development.
A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Melannie serves on boards including Northwest Harvest, Tacoma Sister City Association, and T.U.P.A.C. (Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center). Her power lies in creating sacred spaces where healing becomes possible, proving that peace is not the absence of conflict but the courageous presence of love, accountability, and truth.
Leading with integrity, accountability & a shared vision for equitable progress.
Our Board of Directors
for transformation across communities.
Our Partners in the Work
