KINGIAN NONVIOLENCE 2 Day Core Orientation with Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. February 8-9, 2013

February 8-9, 2013

9AM – 5PM Each Day
Philadelphia, PA  (Exact Location TBA)

Cost:  $150.00 per participant from community based organizations
              $300.00 per for university or corporate staff
(see below for scholarship info)

What:

Positive Peace Warrior (PPWN) nonviolence trainers will introduce community participants to the Kingian Nonviolence philosophy and the ways Kingian nonviolence, as espoused by Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., might be utilized to work with community leadership in nonviolent conflict reconciliation and story-telling. This 2-day orientation is designed to explore how the philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence has been used to prevent violence and identify violent prone situations.

The course will focus on violence prevention and violent prone situations using the philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence.

Registration: To register for this training, CLICK HERE.

Cost: The full tuition  will cover all expenses, including training manuals, supplies, training fees, travel for the trainers, etc.  Limited scholarships will be available, but will be based on how many participants are able to pay the full tuition, and how much we are able to fundraise.

For More Info: Contact her at Joan.May.Cordova@post.harvard.edu She will be posting updates via Facebook and Twitter @ForCommunities

IDLE NO MORE

The end of the world prediction has come an gone. Some thought the planet was facing end of days, but rather, it seems that the idle apathetic behavior, the silence of the masses, and the acceptance of ineffective governmental policies and politician by the people is what is coming to an end. The indigenous communities are rising up and calling for governments to make good on the treaties the were signed between nations. They are not calling for violence they are calling for negotiations. They are not conducting terrorist acts to raise awareness they are calling for global participation using song, dance, and the power of the drum to bring people of all nations together, and to raise awareness to their plight. Their fight is all of our fight. More People! More Power!! More Progress!!!

In Ottawa Canada, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, finds herself half way through her 22nd day of her showing her commitment to negotiation and change in the form of a hunger strike. As a leader in the indigenous community and of the Attawapiskat Nation she has tried to meet with Canadian political officials and again and again they have refused to meet with her on a Nation-to-Nation level. She would like to discuss the treaties that the Canadian government signed with her nation years ago. It is because of this refusal to negotiate that she began her hunger strike. She is a traditionall women. “Her teepee is situated on an island in the frozen Ottawa River looking up at Parliament Hill.”

I recently traveled to Boston, MA to observe/participate at the Idle No More flash mob in front of Quincy Market on January 31, 2012 and on my way to the event I found an article titles ‘Hunger-strike Games’ posted on a blog called Ottawa Citizen, and here is a quote from the article I wanted to share and explore. The author of the article said the following when he began to describe Chief Spence actions; “Emotional extortion may be reasoned, calculated behaviour on the chief’s part but in no way is it reasonable behaviour in a free and democratic society. If the government gives in to anybody with a grievance who threatens to harm himself, hunger striking will be as common as dieting. Democracy will disintegrate.” I think the author was misguided because this nation is based on Chief Spence type of courage and committment, in fact it resembles the intestinal fortitude of our founding fathers. Her action is evidence that Democracy is alive and well. The government recently did negotiate with a group of people who create a crisis that was motivated by industrial suicidal practices and yet Wall Street Banks received a bailout. I don’t agree with the way the bailout money was distributed and the lack of regulation for what it could be used for, but I do agree with the government doing right by companies that do right by their employee’s. I do agree with company’s putting people before profit and if they don’t, they don’t deserve the financial support from the government, better yet , from the people of the United States of America. If governments around the world want to live up to the promise of democracy they must make good on their agreements. Chief Spence efforts are putting people first and because of that deserves all of our support. Below you will find a statement put forward by Chief Spence on her 20th day of her Hunger Strike.

Positive Peace,

Jonathan L. Lewis
Founder of the Positive Peace Warrior Network

For more information on the Idle No More effort:
click: http://www.ipmo.org
click: http://www.idlenomore.com

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Hunger+strike+games/7760983/story.html#ixzz2GkSxczHg

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/national/manitoba-elder-says-he-ll-join-spence-in-ottawa-as-hunger-strike-continues-1.37714 

From Newtown to a New Town

The time is passing, and the cognitive dissidence has begun. The pain of Newtown has not sparked a new conversation. It has not sparked action but rather expected responses from a gun saturated country. Silenced politicians and profiteering spin doctors progressing private agendas through the pacification  of the American people is sealing our fate to experience more pain. The idea of a gun free society is not what we want nor what I and many others are calling for as the solution. We are calling for an acknowledgement that Chicago has been experiencing  this level of violence for the last 5-10 years. Double digit shootings in a weekend, and murders in a month is common everyday life for the 5-10 year old children in Chicago, where our Presidents political aspirations were molded and the stomping grounds Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last campaign, titled the Poor People’s campaign.

We are asking. New York City not to celebrate 414 murders as a new low but rather a tragedy. ‎This year Chicago reached 500 people shot and killed, while the US Military had experienced 309 casualties in Afghanistan.

“In 2010, nearly 700 Chicago school children were shot and 66 of them died. Last year, Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended a memorial for 260 school children who had been killed in just the previous three years. On several occasions in the past year, tens of people have been shot in a single weekend on the streets of the city. The worst three-day stretch saw 10 killed and 37 wounded in gun fire. But Google the term “Chicago weekend shootings” and the results are far too many deadly weekends to count.” (http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/260-school-children-killed-chicago-3-years-where-are-tears-them)

If the black and brown children who are being gunned down at epidemic proportions is not enough to create a tipping point for change then I hope the horrific destruction of these teachers and white childrens, bodies, dreams, and souls can motivate us to create a new town for all children of all colors to grow up in a safer, healthier, and more hopeful community. Newtown must push us into a new time were the focus is creating a new town for all of our children and adults alike. It must push into a new time where everyone in the new town is our brother & sister. We must begin to realize that our homeland security is protected best not by providing guns to every man women and child but rather erasing the feeling of fear and reality of financial  insecurity of our children and their parents. For many of us the issue of gun violence is now at a heightened  uncomfortable pervasive level compelling us to jump to creating a quick solution, and this quick solution will ultimately foster a false feeling of safety and security. I hesitate to mention that this type of violence has plagued communities like Los, Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Chicago, and New Orleans, to mention a few, for many years. I bring this up not because i want to compare the level of violence that many people of so called color have been experiencing for generations but rather to point out that this phenomena has now reach all corners  of our country. As I type this the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr are pounding in my ears like that first homemade 12″ woofer I had in my trunk as a teenager. His words were, “injustice everywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, and what effects one of us directly effects all of us directly.”

The pain that has been shared by the people of Newtown and all of our towns will be repeated if we do not include nonviolence education in our schools for all children and college students. I am not talking about the passive form of nonviolence or negative peace education that is presented as conflict mediation or resolution, but rather a form that inspires leadership and the desire to actively promote, practice, and reflect positive peace everyday of every moment directed towards everyone of the human race. I am talking about a type of nonviolence that encourages each citizen to reflect the leadership qualities and most importantly their activities. I am talking about a philosophy that was inspired by Gandhi and the youth of the southern states of the United States. I am talking about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy Kingian  Nonviolence. His example and historic leadership of the youth of his time has helped people/nations around the world create a New Town for themselves in the past and it can help us now and in the future. I see all the change we want to achieve as possible but not if we continue to fight each others as leaders, organization, politicians, democrats  republicans, or individual people. Too many of us are making his a job and not their calling. To often, we as so called activist, are putting profit over people. We need to reflect  the type of collaboration and respect towards each other so that others can learn. We must be honest about how the process is painful, far from passive, and is conflict full and worth to pain because the transformation is as beautiful as the process of a Caterpillar  becoming a butterfly. I believe if we as organizers, trainers, educators, and nonprofit organizations can begin to work together to provide the support needed to our communities, the creation of a New Town is possible.

Positive Peace,

Jonathan L. Lewis

Founder of the Positive Peace Warrior Network

Stepping in for a Legend!

Kalyana “5th Elament” Champlain holds a Masters degree in Communication Studies, is a member of PPWN, educator, and hip hop artivist.

Dr. Bernard Lafayette had an unbreakable commitment this past weekend and asked the Founder of the Positive Peace Warrior Network, Jonathan Lewis, to conduct a meeting in Trenton, NJ to explore the institutionalization of Kingian Nonviolence education and leadership development programs. I have joined Doc on many of these types of meetings over the years. 10 years ago I did not know why I should be at those meeting and now today many of Dr. Lafayette’s efforts to help develop me as a leader are cherished with ultimate gratitude. Because of Doc’s efforts yesterday I and many others are ready today.

I met the challenge and brought t warriors (Kalyanna “5th Elament” Champlain and Chief Raymond “Two Hawks” Watson)I have been working with over the years; who are both from my home state of Rhode Island.The task before us can not be accomplished by one only. We must work together and let those who are effective lead.

During the meeting we were asked how is Kingian Nonviolence different to all the other Bullying & Teasing curriculum’s out there? The response is simple but profound. Our focus is not on punishing the bully. Our focus is on the Leadership Development of the entire community and the expression of the bully’s desire to be a leader.

Below is a written reflection of Kalyanna’s experience rollin with PPWN.

PPWN: Sunday in Trenton

November 11, 2012, Trenton, NJ- 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning. My friends are still sleeping in from the night before, but I am awake. I was given an invitation that week that I took with open arms. I check a text message from Jonathan “Globe” Lewis letting me know he is on his way with Ray “2 Hawks” Watson. We are headed to Trenton, New Jersey to offer them a solution toward nonviolence. We are headed to Trenton, New Jersey to be this generations’ cause to stop the wars, internal and external, that are ravaging our communities. We are in the first step, gathering information: talking to the people, finding out what they need. We are in the first principle: driving there courageously to help them find a way. We do so with humility-for all the things that we can offer, but also for all the things that we can receive.

We are greeted by a shared history of struggle and conviction parking next to this old Quaker Church that has called on us for a solution. Its stones and declarations of peace place its position in history; the building stands quiet but strong against the horizon. It is the morning as we pull over on this side street that is adorned with families exiting church in their best Sunday gear. Later it would be desolate except for a street fight that would take place between a gang of middle schoolers, complete with the arrival of a police task force. Welcome to Trenton. where your odds of “being a victim” are 1 in 7.

Much like the times of Civil Rights we are greeted by all races, religions, and backgrounds. Much like during the times of Civil Rights, we were challenged being this young generation committed to what sometimes seemed to be an impossible task. But after 3 hours of dialogue and 2 servings of  macaroni and cheese (because apparently “quakers know food”), we were sure that we could somehow build together to find a solution. We met with religious leaders, community leaders, those in political office, and a 14 year old young man who has had 2 instances of being bullied. A young man who when I spoke to him later stated, “I think I could be a leader, with the right help.”

They spoke of many of the issues that plague so many areas today: School systems that are more concerned with academic scores than personal well being, teachers burnt out from lack of support, drop outs that feel unreachable, young people exposed to violence in media that normalizes the degradation of our humanity, never mind the violence in the streets and the unspoken violence that floods our homes.

So what can Positive Peace Warrior Network offer? “The framework stays the same, but for each location it tweaks itself accordingly. What we are saying is that we know the frame works, it is just about how your location needs to WORK IT,” stated Globe with a smile, “That is what we hope to provide for you- a way to work it.” Everyone nodded in agreement as PPWN begins its moves to form national examples to help invite the use of Kingian nonviolence in schools, communities, homes, and prison systems.

We arrived home late that evening, tired but grateful. We drove there with determination and hope, and returned with conviction. We are the healers. We have a mission. We are the Warriors of a new generation. Aho

Kalyana “5th Elament” Champlain holds a Masters degree in Communication Studies, is a member of PPWN, educator, and hip hop artivist.

Protected: Selma March Movement Madness 2013 Kingian Nonviolence

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WATCH TODAY @ 5:00PM ON ABC Tiffany Childress and the NLCP Peace Warriors.

The Positive Peace Warrior Network would like to give a big shout out to the Chicago Peace Warriors of North Lawndale College Prep led by Tiffany Childress, for being the example that we should all strive to become. Thank you for giving us an example. All of the Positive Peace Warriors around the country salute you.

I just received an email from Tiffany Childress and it reads below.

Hi all:

Just got an email from ABC that they’ll be airing our peace and nonviolence curriculum and work that we do at North Lawndale College Prep High School. We really hope that models like this get embraced in all public schools! 5pm tonight.

The ABC “Spirit of Giving” segment on Upstander Tiffany Childress and the NLCP Peace Warriors is scheduled to air during the 5 p.m. news TODAY, Oct. 4. I’ll be sure to share the online video link with you once it’s posted—but just a heads up if you want to watch live/set your TVs to record.

Here is a link to a video that produced by PPWN displaying the role we have been honored to play to support todays leaders make a difference tomorrow.

Link: Chicago NLCP Peace Warriors

Positive Peace Warrior Network Song of the Day

The Wachamchick Warrior Society Drum Group

Providence, Rhode Island

Positive Peace Warrior Network Song of the Day

“This is an extrordinary blend of the music and the Moment and timely for this Day of 9/11. I remember the day of the photo well, it was spring of 1967 in New York City and the march with Spring Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam was headed to the UN Plaza with 500,000 people marching. My task was to count them as they came by. Brother James Orange, over Dr. King’s left shoulder passed over about three years ago but was one of the greatest organizers and trainers who ever came out of a “gang up-bringing”. The Phoenix was the symbol of the End the Slums Movement in Chicago led by Dr. King, and yes, we’ll rise again.” - David C. Jehnsen 

Artisit: Ben Harper

Positive Peace Warrior Network Quote of the Day

Warriors Call: “This what I came for! This is what I prayed for, this what i stayed for , practiced all day for. This is what I was made for, raised, named for! This is what I trained for, what I will go to the grace for!”

- Jasiri X

Click below and you can hear the quote in a song that he wrote.

Jasiri X gives us his new single “Warrior” featured on Grammy Award winning producer Chin Injeti’s album “Peoples”. The album also features Jay Electronica, Talib Kweli and David Banner.

Positive Peace Warrior Network Quote of the Day

THE WORTH OF PERSONS

There must be a recognition of the sacredness of human personality. Deeply rooted in our political and religous heritage is the conviction that every man is an heir to a legacy of dignity and worth.”- Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.