Creativity Abounds: Nonviolent Cities in 2022
The Nonviolent Cities Project connects local communities who want to end violence and promote nonviolent solutions in their towns and cities. We recently held our 2022 Spring Gathering with organizers from Twin Cities Nonviolent (MN), Nonviolent Austin (TX), Nonviolent Santa Fe (NM), Nonviolent Lancaster (PA), Nonviolent Joliet (IL), Nonviolent Cincinnati (OH), Nonviolent Opelika (AL), Nonviolent Cambridge (MD), Nonviolent Owensboro (KY), and also members of the New & Emerging Nonviolent Cities Cohort 2022 from Atlanta, GA; Newberg, OR, and Seaford, DE.
Here are some of the ways these organizers are holding up the vision of a Nonviolent City and working toward it in tangible ways:
Nonviolent Morro Bay, CA: Yes We Can Peacebuilders, the core organizing group for Nonviolent Morro Bay, held their first in-person gathering since the start of the pandemic. This “Peace Tea-Talk Around the Table” brought people together to share tea and have an open discussion on the topics of anger and grief. They also introduced the idea of “Adopting Nonviolence.” These meetings will now take place monthly in Morro Bay and are open to all the communities in San Luis Obispo County. They’re also planning a meeting on May 5th for the World Day of Prayer. Looking ahead, Nonviolent Morro Bay is working on a collaboration with a youth arts center in Paso Robles, CA, to have young people design projects for the International Day of Peace on Sept 21st. Using art, music, acting, and other creative methods, they hope to empower young people to launch multiple projects across the communities of the Central Coast of California that emphasize the principles of nonviolence.
Nonviolent Santa Fe, NM: This new and emerging Nonviolent City is just getting started, but already has a number of projects underway. They are planning to submit a design for a peace park or nonviolence statue to replace a war memorial that activists tore down in a public plaza last year. The City of Santa Fe is soliciting public proposals, and Nonviolent Santa Fe will suggest a visible symbol of nonviolence or peace. They are also preparing to do outreach at an upcoming festival, looking at an anti-bully project in the public schools, and working on setting up a local drop-off location for a gun buyback program, From Guns to Gardens. Nonviolent Santa Fe has received support from the local interfaith alliance, begun meeting with public officials, and will be organizing actions for the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days in September 2022.
Nonviolent Lancaster, PA: Under the umbrella of Peace Action Network of Lancaster, the Nonviolent Lancaster organizers continue to work with the City of Lancaster on a divestment project aimed at moving the city’s pension funds out of weapons and fossil fuels. They will turn their attention to the county next. They also continue to host speakers via zoom and are preparing for a public action on Tax Day with a Penny Poll in Downtown Lancaster to engage the public on the topic of military spending and where our tax dollars go.
Nonviolent Rochester, NY: The Nonviolent Cities Project in Rochester is led by staff members of the MK Gandhi Institute. They are working on hosting more trainings in de-escalation practices with community members this summer, as well as trainings with local activists in Kingian Nonviolence. They are in the planning stages for a series of Theater of the Oppressed workshops with local youth, teens, and some neighbors who are resettling from Afghanistan. Another project under consideration is the revitalization of a Peace Conference. Last, but not least, they’re reworking their gardens and turning about half of their garden beds into community plots to continue to decrease the food desertification in the local neighborhood.
Nonviolent Newberg, OR: This group is in the early stages of forming and considering hosting a film screening and community conversation, as well as a peace demonstration on the downtown highway.
Twin Cities Nonviolent, MN: Twin Cities Nonviolent has been strategizing their plan for their annual 12 Days of Nonviolence (in alignment with the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days). They are also working on getting the Minnesota governor to proclaim Oct 2nd “Nonviolence Day” in conjunction with Gandhi’s birthday and the International Day of Nonviolence.
Nonviolent Opelika, AL: Organized with Pastor Carolyn Morton, the Samford Community Outreach Peace Group, and the Samford Community Outreach Nonviolence Group, this project has been holding community conversations around gun violence, including door-to-door neighborhood talks. They are also planning a march against gun violence and community surveys on the topic. For September, they will be working with the Opelika Housing Authority to provide shelter and food for people on the International Day of Peace. They will also be helping young people make cookies and brownies to show love and support for their local community on the International Day of Nonviolence. Nonviolent Opelika has also been recently interviewed and honored by the NAACP, and has been part of an effort to ensure voter rights.
Nonviolent Owensboro, KY: The Owensboro community is dealing with a recent uptick in gun violence. In response, Nonviolent Owensboro is putting together lesson plans for local youth and others. Nonviolent Owensboro has also been participating in a peace crane project and engaging with similar groups across the United States. Building on past years, they will continue to table at the upcoming Juneteenth Celebration and at the multicultural festival honoring migrant and immigrant groups in the area.
Nonviolent Austin, TX: This dedicated group holds weekly vigils in front of the Texas State Capitol Building on a range of issues from peace to housing justice to racial justice and climate action. They also meet monthly on zoom and have started to incorporate mini-trainings in nonviolence into these gatherings, such as Nonviolent Communication and Active Listening. They take action regularly with the local/regional chapters of the Poor Peoples Campaign and are hosting a weekly study group with faith leaders on the book We Cry Justice. They recently connected with activist and candidate for public office, Daniela Silva, who hosts the podcast AdelanteATX for social justice change makers.
Nonviolent Cincinnati, OH: The Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center coordinates this local Nonviolent Cities Project. They have been doing a deep dive in developing a robust Peace Promotion Training program that goes from theory to practice. They are also hosting a docuseries and discussion circle on race and racism in Cincinnati.
Nonviolent Joliet, IL: Nonviolent Joliet has put together a mission and vision statement and is in the process of getting other local organizations to endorse it. They have their eye on the prize of presenting a united coalition to the city government in Fall 2022, when they will try to get the city council to proclaim Joliet an official Nonviolent City. In addition, one of their founders will be bringing a forge to a public location and literally turning guns into garden tools to bring attention to the need to demilitarize, reduce gun violence, and “beat our swords into plowshares and study war no more”.
These are just some of the ways that the Nonviolent Cities Project is encouraging local communities to take tangible action to build a culture of peace and active nonviolence. Our nationwide gatherings have been full of inspiration, solidarity, and idea-sharing. From Alabama to Minnesota, California to Texas, Pennsylvania to New Mexico, and beyond, we’re transforming the violence in our communities with creativity and commitment. If you would like to join us, find out more here.