Gandhi-King Season for Nonviolence – 2014 Events

Join us for 78 Days (Jan. 30-April 22) of Practice - Applying Principles of Love & Wisdom to Daily Life

It really boils down to this: All life is interrelated. -- Dr. ML King

Mission: To articulate and practice the principles, values and skills underlying NV Living - in three areas: Self: personal growth/development (Personal Self), Others: intelligent relationship (Social Self) and World: aligning culture with nature (Global Self) -- fostering collective awakening and a world that works for the common good. -- HH Learning Center, SF State, Jan. 2014

EVENTS: MONDAYS, 5:30-7pm, HSS 306 (unless noted)

Feb. 3: Violence: Causes, Consequences and Cures. This presentation will review research findings about violence including the neurobiology of fear and trauma, and ways each person can develop a creatively peaceful life -- by awareness of external forces that support violence and by cultivating inner resources as a necessary foundation for nonviolent living with interpersonal, cultural, and environmental variables. Dr. Hall will also introduce key mindfulness and self-care practices from the yogic traditions. Presenter: Mitch Hall, PhD, RYT, Holistic Health and Wellness Coordinator w/ PsycHealth Ltd, Oakland, and a yoga teacher and peace and nonviolence scholar w/ the Niroga Institute, Berkeley: www.niroga.org

Feb. 10: Nonviolent Social Action: We will explore the methods of nonviolent persuasion and protest from Gandhi to US civil rights leaders, and today’s NV leaders around the world. Gandhi scholar, Mike Lunine, PhD will join us with film clips from: The Force More Powerful and The Square – exploring how people organize their communities to resist oppression and create historic change using NV actions. http://thesquarefilm.com and www.aforcemorepowerful.org/resources/nonviolent/methods.php

Feb. 17: How Art Shapes the World -- What Artists Know and Activists Need to Learn Skye Burn, co-founder of the Flow Project, will discuss their findings about the power and nature of the “arts” and artistic force, and the emerging role of the “Social Artist” -- to apply the principles and practices of art to highlight and help resolve challenging social and cultural issues. http://theflowproject.org

Feb. 24, 5pm: NVC I: Introduction to Nonviolent Communication With Renee Soule, PhD (Cand.) who teaches NV Communication: www.baynvc.org in San Quentin prison and with other communities: https://sites.google.com/a/ecopsychologist.com/renee-soule-ecopsychologist/Welcome

March 3: NVC II: Applying and Deepening NV Communication with Renee Soule.

March 10: Emerging Efforts in Violence Prevention and Restorative Justice. Join a meaningful discussion w/ Kazu Haga, Peace Development Fund, Oakland: www.peacedevelopmentfund.org, and representatives from Niroga: www.niroga.org, and Insight Prison Project: www.insightprisonproject.org

March 17, 5pm: Ethical Banking and Tools for a New Economy. Laura Wells, independent candidate for State Controller 2014: www.laurawells.org And presenters TBA including: Advocates for Ethical Banks: http://reform-wall-street.org, Public Banking: http://publicbankinginstitute.org and the sharing economy: Shareable: www.shareable.net

March 24: Spring Recess – no meeting March 31: Cesar Chavez Holiday – no meeting

April 7, 5pm: Group Practices for Community Dialogue, Deliberation and Wise Action. Four useful collaborative practices will be demonstrated and experienced: Wisdom Circles, World Café, Samoan Circles and Open Space Process. Facilitators: OrangeBand leaders and advisors.

April 14, 5pm: Exploring the Power of Play and Creative, Interactive Education w/ presenters TBA. 6pm: Laughter Yoga – join the healthy fun and social connection that comes with laughter. Led by Susanne Bersbach: www.sfgate.com/thingstodo/article/Sound-Scene-Laughing-yoga-2483047.php

April 21: Closing Celebration: Earth-Day – Rethinking Education, Activism and the Global Future. An Open Space process with faculty, staff, students and community thought-leaders – for an interactive community dialogue with food and music – join us. ------Sponsors and Information: For further details about the Season for NV, including a compilation of Daily Practices, see: http://www.sfsu.edu/~holistic/seasonofnonviolence.html or visit: the Holistic Health Learning Center (HHLC), HSS 329, (415) 338-6416. The HHLC is part of The Institute for Holistic Health Studies, Dept. of Health Education, San Francisco State University.

SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE – 3 DIMENSIONS of SELF-PRACTICE: Developing Capacities of Mind/Being & Relationship (Personal-Social-Global)

SELF – Mindfulness & Self-Realization: creativity, integrity, uniqueness, self-worth, discernment, education, simplicity, courage, beauty, gratitude, discipline, ritual, enthusiasm, accountability, resilience, openness, reflection, joyfulness, faith, serenity, commitment, modesty, sacrifice, grace, optimism, inquiry, shadow-work, grieving loss, humility, value clarification, embodiment.

OTHERS – Communication & Relationship: friendliness, honesty, kindness, compassion, patience, love, conflict transformation, listening/dialogue, shadow-work, assertiveness, respect, appreciation, forgiveness, generosity, sincerity, loyalty, equality, transmuting hate, building trust.

WORLD – Collaborative Leadership & Community Building: collective synergy, diversity, environmental health, sustainability, wilderness, renewable energy, eco-design/permaculture, awe / wonder, the arts to awaken imagination, spirituality, service, independent media, fair exchange/economics, justice, peace-building, disarmament, citizenship, principled politics, creative globalization, celebration.