The Lutheran Settlement House was the 71st organization to be recognized as a Zone of Peace by the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia. LSH was established in 1902, and is a non-profit, community-based organization committed to serving children, adults, and families living in Philadelphia. Over the past century, the programs and services offered by LSH have changed in response to the evolving needs of the community. However, the core mission of Lutheran Settlement House — “to empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through an integrated program of social, educational, and advocacy services” — has remained constant.  Their current initiatives address Adult Education, Homelessness, Senior Services, and Domestic Violence.

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LSH addresses the root causes of violence by feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, educating those left behind by their schools and communities, and helping men choose to be masculine without violence toward others. Even more impressive is its intervention into relationships and families where violence is ongoing. LSH staff respond to those caught in cycles of violence with compassion and respect, building the kind of rapport with survivors and perpetrators of violence that is sustained throughout the long process of learning how to live with others peacefully.