Several years ago, I took a trip to Australia with a dozen other highschool students. The point of the study tour was to experience other cultures and to share those learnings with our community back home. Ever since a young age, I have been traveling to far off places to learn. I’ve traveled the Pacific, as well as Asia and the Middle East. The primary purpose of these trips was education, but in reality they also offered me an escape.

I grew up in west Phoenix, AZ which in many ways is similar to my current residence in Oakland, CA. The events of this past weekend, with the murder of four police officers, and the events of recent months, the ongoing murder of youth by youths - I can’t help but feel I never left Arizona. The reality is urban warfare exists in major cities throughout the world.

Growing up in Phoenix I had nothing to complain about. I had a happy childhood with great friends. But once I ventured out of the neighborhood and saw how others lived, my perspective changed greatly. I cherish my memories, but some of them are tarnished by the thought that several of my friends are in prison, for murder or other violent crimes. Other friends became drug addicts, dropped out school or have died. I don’t like weapons and cannot imagine myself ever using one, but for some of my friends, guns are considered a necessity. But what can be expected of a child who probably collected bullet shells from off their street?

For some reason, my friends and I used to joke about drive-by shootings, gang fights and the like. These days, I can’t find these topics humorous. Then again, humor in itself is a form of escape. Perhaps it was just our way of dealing with the reality of our daily life.

I titled this blog “My Journey to Nonviolence,” but in fact this is just one of many things that has brought me to work at Pace e Bene. I’ll likely blog on other influences in the future. I guess the point of this blog is to suggest everyone take a trip, be it physical or mental, so they can view their daily life from a larger perspective. My travels have brought me greater understanding of my youth, my culture, and my country. It helped me realize that murder and violence does not have to be a part of daily life, and that I can in fact bring about a more peaceful world. Travel has also enriched my imagination and allowed me to dream. What can you learn by taking a vacation?

One thing that I will always remember about my trip to Australia was the beautiful beaches and the out spoken youth who shared their message through graffiti. On one such beach in Sydney, a concrete wall read “Take Back the Streets.” Indeed, it is time we take back the streets. Take it back from those who live out a culture of violence, and show them the benefits of a world where people are invested in peace and nonviolence. Who is with me?