The Gandhi Institute has been working closely with the Industry Juvenile Detention Center in Rush, N.Y. to establish a Nonviolence Club at that facility. Recently the Institute brought senior Kingian Nonviolence trainer Jonathan “Globe” Lewis to Rochester in order for him to conduct a two-day nonviolence workshop (October 3rd and 4th).
The overlapped timing of these two endeavors created a small window of opportunity – on Thursday, October 2nd, which is Gandhi’s birthday – in which to introduce Jonathan and the Industry youth to each other. The results were equal parts sobering and heartwarming.
The afternoon at Industry started with our small group being buzzed through the double doors of the heavy, barbed wire-topped gate. Institute Director Kit, interns Al and Hoody, Globe and I all patted ourselves down to ensure we weren’t carrying any restricted items. Despite Industry being categorized as a “limited secure” facility, the reinforced doors, metal detectors, loops of barbed wire and curt demeanor of the Industry personnel all smacked of law and order, and an undercurrent of tension permeated the somber halls.
Once we were processed in, we met with a friendly face in Youth Division Aide Debrine Williams, who has worked extensively with the Gandhi Institute in the past. Debrine has clearly taken her Industry charges under her wing, referring to them as her “nephews.” Debrine’s group was the first of three sets of young males to file into the auditorium where the session with Globe was to take place. As the young men took their seats, they eyed us warily, probably trying to find the common denominator in our motley cast of characters. Globe was outfitted in an electric green bubble vest, white tee shirt, loose jeans, sneakers and baseball cap. The appearance of the rest of us ran the gamut: from shaved heads, to twists, to flowing hair; from skinny jeans to baggy khakis. Black, white, female, male.
By the time all the participants arrived, a good 15 minutes of the one-hour time slot we negotiated for was behind us. I made some brief introductory remarks and quickly turned over the program to Globe.
A practitioner of Kingian Nonviolence strives to suspend snap judgments. Globe, as the hip-hop attired counterpart of his conservatively draped mentor Dr. Bernard Lafayette, brings this point to a head. Globe’s power lies not only in his obvious mastery of the concepts he presents, but in his ability to meet his audience “where they’re at.” For this particular group of young men, this meant speaking directly to the decisions they made which led to their incarceration, and to the central role each of them plays in determining the trajectory of the rest of their lives. The stark reality is that for some time into the future, these guys (ages 12 – 17) are going to be confined together and unable to exercise control over many elements of their lives that those of us on the outside take for granted. Globe proposed the adoption of a nonviolent mindset as a practical alternative to feeding into the destructive anger and aggression that can accompany incarceration. Do the time affirmatively, and don’t let the time do you.Emerge from within these confining walls with a stronger sense of self than when you went in. Your life matters! Without any air of judgment, personal responsibility and mindfulness were put forth as the foundations of purposeful living and community building.
Throughout the session, Globe made his way through the aisles handing over the microphone to those with something to say. The fellas quickly got over any initial shyness and many shared stories of their ongoing struggles and successes. They encouraged each other to avoid falling in with those who are fixated on negativity. They spoke about how they look forward to being out in the world, and putting their lives back together. One young man asked about how he could learn more about nonviolence training.
The short period of time we had with the young men of Industry felt both tragic and triumphant. If an ongoing Nonviolence Club is established, I am certain that good things will come of it. What is daunting is the recognition of societal norms which function to keep places like Industry at maximum capacity. The Industry session was humbling, and reinforced my appreciation for the work my colleagues at the Gandhi Institute do on a daily basis.
by Erin Thompson
