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Dear Friend,

All year long, the media has been filled with reports of clashes between law enforcers and citizens worldwide, from the streets of Cairo and Moscow to those of Rochester, NY. Remarkably, most of the protesters and police have strived to respond nonviolently, even in the midst of tension, fear and anger.

This is an extraordinary time for all of us who care about nonviolent social change. Without one leader to whom to point, hundreds of thousands of people are taking a nonviolent approach to change throughout the country and around the world. Many of those at the forefront refer to the teachings of M.K. Gandhi.

We are taking part, especially here in Rochester: offering education, inspiration and leadership through our training, mentoring, community collaborations, and other programs. We are delighted that we are moving our main offices into a formerly abandoned building in one of Rochester’s historically challenged neighborhoods, while still maintaining an office on University of Rochester’s campus. By doing this, we will be more directly involved with the lives of people in Rochester and beyond.

Attached are this year’s highlights as well as some specific goals for 2012. If you feel moved or inspired by what we are doing, please make a tax-deductible contribution to help us expand our work. A gift of any size will support our small budget in this challenging economic climate. Each new contributor offers a vote of confidence in nonviolence itself, as well as for the hope it offers to humanity – especially to future generations. Please Donate!

With warm wishes for a blessed and peaceful New Year,

Kit Miller – Director Karen Trueheart – Board President

2011 Gandhi Institute at a Glance

  • Annual budget: $180,000
  • Staff: 2 (+2 Mennonite Voluntary Service workers)
  • Interns: 2
  • Gandhi Service Fellows: 7
  • Volunteers: 73
  • Organizational partners: 27



2011 Gandhi Institute Highlights

Community Engagement and Education

  • Helping to renovate a house abandoned for 17 years for our new office; rehabilitating an adjacent vacant lot to become an urban garden
  • Participated in activities and association meetings in our new neighborhood, Plymouth Exchange (PLEX)
  • Worked with the Rochester Police Department’s Project T.I.P.S. (Trust Information Programs & Services) at the invitation of Chief of Police James Sheppard
  • Offered stress relief workshops for University of Rochester students during finals week
  • Discussed the documentary The Children’s March with over 100 students at Hillside Family of Agencies
  • Trained 17 participants over 2 ½ days during the MK Gandhi Fall Intensive at University of Rochester
  • Conducted a nine-week course: “The Power of Nonviolence: How Gandhi and King Changed the World”
  • Presented “Shielding the Beloved Community” lecture and workshop at Hobart William Smith College
  • Trained 26 participants, including students, nuns, and homeless shelter residents during five day Nonviolence Institute supported by Black Student Union at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
  • Led six workshops for Rochester youth on prejudice with Rochester Broadway Theater League
  • Offered three six-week classes on Nonviolent Communication at St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality, UR, and Plymouth Exchange neighborhood center and two workshops to 60 UR staff
  • Support for six UR students teaching nonviolence weekly in Wilson’s In-School Suspension Room
  • Trained and supported the 2011 Rochester AmeriCorps members
  • Offered college credit through Warner School of Education to UR students for Gandhi Institute courses
  • Helped to organize and speak at Rochester’s Interfaith 9/11 memorial at George Eastman House
  • Hosted 150 people in a celebration of Gandhi’s birthday, October 2, at our future office
  • Supported Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Rochester, providing conflict resolution workshops
  • Hosted UN visitors from Afghanistan in May

 

Season for Nonviolence

  • Close to 500 people took a pledge of nonviolence
  • Supported by seventeen community sponsors and by both city and county proclamations
  • Media support from WDKX, WXXI and other stations and newspapers
  • Sponsored nationally acclaimed art exhibit, “Americans Who Tell the Truth” with artist Robert Shetterly at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County and MCC Damon City Campus
  • Hosted Nobel Peace Prize nominee Kathy Kelly and Kingian Nonviolence expert Arthur Romano
  • Supported an Alternative Spring Break for eight local undergraduate students
  • Offered a high school essay contest on nonviolence
  • Sponsored an Interfaith Banquet with over 100 participants of diverse faiths
  • Hosted international peacemaker Naomi Tutu at UR’s Strong Auditorium

 

Sustainability

  • Riverkeepers: removed hundreds of pounds of garbage along the Genesee River
  • UR Microfarm: ongoing success teaching college and elementary students about organic food production while supplying greens, herbs and fresh vegetables to UR dining halls. Two new managers hired.
  • Hosted author and nationally-known speaker Dave Jacke lecture, “Peace and Permaculture”
  • 50 first year UR students participated in remediation of abandoned lot and learned about Permaculture during Wilson and Eastman days of service

 

Restorative Justice

  • Restorative justice education for Rochester police department, with in commitment for 2012 pilot with community policing in southwest Rochester neighborhood
  • Continued to lead and sponsor Restorative Rochester project, a public education and outreach project which has now reached more than 1200 people
  • Supported funding for restorative justice work at Monroe and Wilson High Schools
  • Gathered and processed data on the administration’s use of restorative practices at Monroe High School
  • Sponsored ongoing dialogues with local leaders such as police chief, district attorney, area philanthropists, judges, school board president, interim school board superintendent and others
  • Helped organize, promote, staff, and present at bi-annual Restorative Justice conference at RIT
  • Coordinated Picking Cotton authors Ron Cotton and Jennifer Cannino to visit Industry Juvenile Correctional Facility, resulting in an incarcerated youth applying to be a Gandhi Service Fellow
  • Collaborated with Asbury Methodist Church on lecture introducing restorative justice to over 300 people

 

Social Media Outreach

  • About 2,000 fans on Gandhi Institute’s Facebook
  • 800 people receive monthly e-newsletter
  • New website launched January 2011
  • Launched Gandhi Institute Vimeo channel to share short films about our work,now has five videos

 

Some 2012 Plans and Goals

  • Establish ourselves as residents in the Plymouth Exchange neighborhood, including building relations with nearby K-8 Rochester City School #19;
  • Continue existing projects and programs: Gandhi Service Fellows, UR Microfarm, Gandhi Distinguished Lecture Series;
  • Develop a pilot program with community policing in southwest Rochester neighborhood;
  • Help facilitate training for campus security officers in restorative justice at UR, RIT and other area colleges;
  • Organize and present our third annual Season for Nonviolence January 30-April 4, 2012, including:
  • Rochester’s Ad Council leading a community outreach campaign for the Season;
  • Civil Rights legend Rev. James Lawson lecturing February 19;
  • Steering committee including the Center for Dispute Settlement, the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, ArtPeace, Teen Empowerment, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Rochester Friends Meeting, Central Library, the Center for Youth, and other volunteers;
  • 100 Rochester and Monroe County youth to be trained in nonviolence principles and practices;
  • The Foundation Movement, including youth empowerment trainers and artists from Boston, will train youth and give a hip hop concert during February recess;
  • Paul Chappell, a nationally recognized peace activist and West Point graduate, will lecture March 23 and offer a workshop for youth on March 24;
  • “Americans Who Tell the Truth” art exhibit at Rochester’s Central Library, featuring portraits of leaders who made a difference before they turned 30 years old: March 7- April 2, opens with a visit and lecture from the artist on March 11;
  • Developing materials for incarcerated populations, including a daily practices handout to share with residents in Monroe County Jail, Groveland Prison, and elsewhere;
  • Monroe County Health Department’s participation in the Season including distributing materials through their home visit programs.

 

Donor Privacy Policy

The Gandhi Institute will not sell, trade or share your personal information with anyone else, nor send mailings on behalf of other organizations.

Financial contributions are tax deductible.

The MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence is a non-profit corporation.
Fed Tax ID 58-1902609

Upcoming Events

  • February 23, 2012 7:00 pmNonviolent Communication Class (NVC)
  • February 23, 2012 7:00 pmFoundation Movement Concert
  • March 1, 2012 7:00 pmNonviolent Communication Class (NVC)
  • March 2, 2012 7:00 pmTalking Circle on \\'COOPERATION\\'
  • March 3, 2012 10:00 amIntroduction into Nonviolence
AECv1.0 Created By Eran Miller Full Calendar 

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