NONVIOLENCE ON A GLOBAL LEVEL TAKES CHANGE ON AN INDIVDUAL LEVEL--BE THAT CHANGE!!

In 2007, after several successes meetings facilitated by the Gathering for Justice in the Southside of Chicago, the Gathering decided to facilitate 2 Kingian nonviolence 2 Day Core trainings to address the needs of the coalition.

The trainings were conducted with the intent to set the foundation of the philosophy of Kingian Nonviolence, solidify a collaborative effort with existing organization in the Chicago Gathering Coalition, and to raise the level of awareness and community participation in the implementation of the overall strategy, and to create a change in the culture of the community that is felt throughout the state of Illinois. Upon the conclusion of the initial training process the community partners of the Gathering in Chicago expressed interest in participating in Next Stage Kingian level I certification training program and additional trainings that would address the community leaders needs tactically and would apply to their lives practically.

The first training took place at St. Sabina church on May 23 & 24, 2008 and the second at Southwest Youth Collaborative on August 2 & 3, 2008 and the response was overwhelming. After completing both trainings and gathering information it was decided that Chicago would be the location where we would experiment the Kingian Nonviolence Level 1 training program being delivered Monday- Thursday from 6:00pm-9:30pm starting on January 5th, 2009- January 22, 2009. The program will empower each participate, upon completion, to present a Kingian Nonviolence 2 Day Core for there organization, church, family, or community. This program is being implemented to give support to the work already being done on the ground.

Member organizations of The Chicago Gathering for Justice have strong campaigns that offer smart solutions to bettering Chicago. Over the past year we have trained together, created strategy together and now are ready to act together understanding how prophetic Dr. Kings words were "Either we go up together or we go down together, let us develop this type of dangerous unselfishness." As you all remember, Chicago was chosen as a national priority at our Convention in 2007. In 2009 Chicago is our tier one city, this four month training program and continual strategic and tactical support, we humbly offer the coalition you all have been a part in creating.

The Gathering intends to raise the level of relationships within the city of Chicago through motivating the community to want to work together, providing training opportunities and by supporting existing work. The Gathering will implement training programs that will equipping 40 community coalition leaders with the philosophy and strategy of Kingian nonviolence (who will expose 500+ Chicago youth/leaders by May 2009), training 150 youth/adult leaders in the Ruckus nonviolent direct action curriculum, training 30 young people in the CJNY tool kit, and media and spokesperson training.

We are organizing and providing opportunity of theoretical and experiential exploration for all involved. The Gathering believes that facilitating this type of space the youth are empowered to dive to a deeper level of understanding the issue, strategy, and discipline for follow thru. Each individual who participates in the training has agreed to provide the community with 2 Kingian Nonviolence 2 Day Core trainings. This commitment will from the Chicago Coalition will be the mechanism to expose and equip 500+ new Chicago community leaders, youth, and activist.

According to a book title, “Northern Protest”, which describes the Chicago Movement, Ralph Abernathy, later wrote that they received a worse reception than they had in the South. Their marches were met by thrown bottles and screaming throngs, and they were truly afraid of starting a riot.[72] King's beliefs mitigated against his staging a violent event, and he negotiated an agreement with Mayor Richard J. Daley to cancel a march in order to avoid the violence that he feared would result from the demonstration.[73] King, who received death threats throughout his involvement in the civil rights movement, was hit by a brick during one march but continued to lead marches in the face of personal danger.[74]

Things have not changed much today, Chicago leads the country in youth homicide. It is unfortunate that Dr. King was exposed to such hatred and violence and decided to focus his energy elsewhere. Now it is our turn to move the ball further down the field to honor the efforts of our ancestors and to save the lives of today’s youth. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and this is why we are in Chicago. Now is the time for radical change we cant focus our energy anywhere else. More People! More Power! More Progress!

Positive Peace,

Jonathan L. Lewis
Gathering for Justice
National Director of Nonviolence Training