# M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

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Helping communities achieve a nonviolent, sustainable, and just world.

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://gandhiinstitute.org/blog/)
- [A Tribute to Michael Jones](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2026/09/14/mj-tribute/): MKGI's Memories with Michael Michael in a Nutshell He was such a genuine soul, full of compassion and care for everyone he encountered. And his laugh- that booming reminder of the authentic presence and joy he brought. Spero MichailidisSchool-based staff I remember Michael's relentless positivity and good-natured spirit. Scott HeselBoard of Directors Everyone appreciated Michael’s
- [Remembering Michael Jones](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2026/09/08/remembering-michael-jones/): Remembering Michael Jones Dear Gandhi Institute community,It is with profound sadness that we share that our colleague and friend Michael Jones died unexpectedly on Saturday, August 29.Michael joined the Gandhi Institute staff in 2022 and became a deeply valued part of our community. He brought warmth, dedication, creativity, and care to his work and to
- [A New Pledge of Allegiance](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2026/06/29/a-new-pledge-of-allegiance/): Join us and our friends at Pace e Bene in pledging allegiance to our Earth on social media. Record a video of yourself reciting this new pledge and collaborate with us on social media (Instagram & Facebook) so we can show just how many of us are working to create a more nonviolent future. Read more
- [Moving Parts: The 9th-grade team at Padilla](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2026/05/29/moving-parts-the-9th-grade-team-at-padilla/): Not every mediation is going to result in permanent peace. I am enormously proud of the team that works hard to provide our students with a safe, comforting, and occasionally fun learning environment.
- [Collective Care and Repair for Individual (and Collective) Trauma](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2026/03/24/collective-care-and-repair-for-individual-and-collective-trauma/): Thoughts on Epstein flotsam Written by Michelle Burack Content warning: This blog piece contains references to sexual abuse of children In early February, I started seeing a stark uptick in social media posts in which people (especially women) were discussing their struggles to process the information they were encountering from the Epstein files. I was
- [Get Involved in Your Beloved Community Today!](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/11/20/get-involved-in-your-beloved-community-today/)
- [Better Engagement: Cultivating Nonviolence for Maximum Team Impact](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/12/11/better-engagement-cultivating-nonviolence-for-maximum-team-impact/): How the Gandhi Institute helped MCTP's staff build a stronger culture of mutual respect and teamwork, highlighting internal work improves student engagement.
- [Giving the Gift of Peace](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/12/02/giving-the-gift-of-peace/): Struggling in a world of political uncertainty? Discover how your donation can be a meaningful "Gift of Peace." Let's invest in the Common Good with intention.
- [In Praise of Protesting](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/09/12/in-praise-of-protesting/): Protesting offers remarkable opportunities to practice humility and walking towards conflict. I have found so much in these birthing moments of change.
- [Brain Radio: International Day of Nonviolence](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/10/02/brain-radio-international-day-of-nonviolence/): Reflect on Nonviolence as a way of life, connecting Gandhi's principles with brain science for peacemaking. Nurture empathy, persistence, and courage.
- [Music as Medicine: Courageous Karaoke and a Choir Connection](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/07/09/music-as-medicine-courageous-karaoke-and-a-choir-connection/): Learn how music and singing together strengthen bonds, build confidence, and ignite passion at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
- [The Season for Nonviolence, 2025](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/05/09/the-season-for-nonviolence-2025/): I committed to practicing 64 ways to live nonviolently during the most recent Season for Nonviolence (https://gandhiinstitute.org/season-for-nonviolence/) in three areas of life: personal, interpersonal, and community. Personal: The practice that comes to mind is reverence. I have been violent towards myself. I sometimes blame myself for decisions whose outcomes were not what I expected. My
- [Tough Love and Relentless Hope](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2025/04/04/tough-love-and-relentless-hope/): The Gandhi Institute offers hope and a path to action. Read about our impact on education, community, and how you can help build a better future.
- [Engage, Empower, and Escape to Care for Yourself](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2024/11/22/engage-empower-and-escape-to-care-for-yourself/): Our self-improvement strategies to Engage, Empower, & Escape as we navigate our feelings and needs. What to do when you feel lonely, powerless, or overwhelmed?
- [Perspectives On Grief](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2024/10/02/on-grief/): We chatted Bianca and Matt about grief in addition to the personal and professional work around it on our podcast. Introduction This podcast episode, we delve into a poignant discussion with Bianca Pointner and Matthew Liston from the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Together we focus on the intricate and often misunderstood topic of grief
- [Building Trust in Our Schools](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2024/07/16/building-trust-in-our-schools/): Building Trust in Our Schools - M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
- [Re-Introducing Erin Thompson, Executive Director](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2024/02/23/re-introducing-erin-thompson-executive-director/): We sat Down with Erin to ask some questions about his position as Executive Director of the Gandhi Institute. Listen for the interview!
- [Working For the Cause](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2023/05/17/working-for-the-cause/): We are recounting memories of and with Arun Gandhi, founder of M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Share you memory here. - This blog post is from Robert L. & Veronica Holmes Through nonviolence work, we first met Arun & Sunanda in 1989, long before they moved their Institute here to Rochester. You could
- [What Brings Joy? (November 2022)](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/12/02/what-brings-joy-november-2022/): A sneak peek into what feeds our souls in our work.
- [Circles and Beloved Community](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/10/17/circles-and-beloved-community/): When I’m getting to know someone, I like to ask them the question, “What were you like in middle school?” I like this question because it helps me learn about different sides of people that I wouldn't necessarily learn about in day-to-day conversation. When I think about my middle school self, I remember being obsessed
- [Stretching into Leadership](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/05/12/stretching-into-leadership/): Last week, I was invited to speak at a banquet for student leaders at Paul Smith College on the topic of leadership. Below is the text for the talk, offered in gratitude to all of us working to build and restore a world that works for all. Webster’s dictionary defines leadership as… Just kidding.
- [Lady Meng Po's Tea: My Journey into Uniqueness](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/03/14/lady-meng-pos-tea-my-journey-into-uniqueness/): I have a deep and fanatical appreciation for mythology, fairy tales, folktales, and fables. I consumed them endlessly and learned to spot the patterns between these stories. Who are the characters and what are they trying to teach me? What is the moral, the lesson? When I read these stories to my students, I enjoy
- [Reflections on Self Forgiveness](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/02/19/reflections-on-self-forgiveness/): Have you ever made a mistake? I’m willing to bet that 100% of humans who have ever lived on the Earth, and who will ever live on the Earth thereafter, have made a mistake. Let’s take a moment together and marvel at such a powerful, cross-cultural, human connection that stretches across time. Inhale. We have
- [An Interview with Desmond Tutu](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2022/01/04/an-interview-with-desmond-tutu/): "We can be free only together, safe only together, prosperous only together, and human only together." View Gwen's illustrated conversation with anti-apartheid and human rights activist, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Photo of Archbishop Desmond Tutu by John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com at https://flickr.com/photos/36277035@N06/47327456801 distributed under a CC-BY 2.0 license.
- [Reflections on Indigenous Peoples' Day](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2021/10/12/reflections-on-indigenous-peoples-day/): It was perfect that my last event at the Institute this past June as the Gandhi Institute's director was the closing celebration for the fourth round of our Youth Healing Hate grants. Extra additional beauty that afternoon was the presence of three people from Ganondagan Seneca Art and Cultural Center (Peter and Jeannette Jemison, and
- [Reflections on Gratitude, Working, and Savoring Life](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2021/06/10/reflections-on-gratitude-working-and-savoring-life/): Three things occupied my mind at the start of February. One: Another semester had just begun and I’d decided back in December to speed things up by taking two classes instead of just one. After this semester, I’ll only need one more course to complete my degree. Two: I was surprised by news that my
- [Reflections on Acceptance](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2021/03/15/reflections-on-acceptance/): Hello all who are reading this! If you are familiar with the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence you know about the Season for Nonviolence, which occurs from January 30th to April 4th. These two dates signify the anniversaries of the deaths of Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. If you have never heard of
- [Playing it Safe Since 1833: How Personality Affects One's Work](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/12/09/playing-it-safe-since-1833-how-personality-affects-ones-work/): TW: This blog post briefly mentions suicide in paragraph 5. You don’t have to know me long to pick up that I have exactly two personality traits: my passion for environmental justice and my passion for classical music. One of my favorite composers is Johannes Brahms. I love him not only for his lush music
- [Investigating Investment: A Systems-Thinking Approach to Giving Tuesday](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/12/01/investigating-investment-a-systems-thinking-approach-to-giving-tuesday/): Here at the Gandhi Institute we recognize that the 'how' of our work is as important as the 'what'. This allows us to be completely transparent about all aspects of the way we function, including, importantly, how we receive and transform financial resources. Our budget is easily accessible on our website and clearly accounts for
- [Gratitude without Consumption: An Invitation to Participate in Buy-Nothing Day this Friday](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/11/25/gratitude-without-consumption-an-invitation-to-participate-in-buy-nothing-day-this-friday/): Over the last nine (million) months since we’ve been living in this pandemic, I’ve seen a lot of advertising attempting to tap into our basic goodness and drive to help one another. These often appear touching to me at first and may even cause me to tear up a bit! But these ads always come
- [In Between: A Personal Reflection on Belonging and Biracial Identity](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/10/21/in-between-a-personal-reflection-on-belonging-and-biracial-identity/): I was born in Austria to an Austrian mother of Czech Republican descent and a Father who was born in Punjab, India. My parents got divorced when I was a child and my father left Austria to return back to India, soon after. I grew up in a village outside of the Upper Austrian Town Linz,
- [Nonviolence Cannot be Preached](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/10/21/nonviolence-cannot-be-preached/): “Nonviolence cannot be preached. It has to be practiced.” -Gandhi, from “Nonviolence in Peace and War” I'm reading Resmaa Menakem's remarkable book, “My Grandmother's Hands.” I’m reading the section about trauma, police, and harm to black bodies, and I am re-thinking through two incidents; one that happened a few years ago in front of the
- [Caring for Those Who Have Died](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/05/27/caring-for-those-who-have-died/): During this time of the pandemic when the fear of death and increased likelihood of loss is on our minds, I have been thinking of how to extend care to those who have died. Part of this stems from living in New York State, where so many have died in the last weeks. Part of
- [Where is Nonviolence Hiding Today?](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/04/24/where-is-nonviolence-hiding-today/): More and more I am realizing that nonviolence shows up in many places throughout our daily lives. In the past few weeks, I have enjoyed discovering new places where nonviolence pops up unexpectedly. I recently finished reading Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much Charlotte embodies Swadeshi, a
- [Let’s Talk about Hate](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/04/02/lets-talk-about-hate/): Since 2016, my colleagues and I have been leading public workshops called “Let’s Talk About Hate” at the Gandhi Institute, and for other groups and sites upon request. These events are inspired by a book so important to Martin Luther King Jr. that he is reported to have carried it during his travels: Howard Thurman’s
- [Hidden Brain Podcast Mixtape](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/03/18/hidden-brain-podcast-mixtape/): I’ve got a bit of a Hidden Brain obsession. For those of you who don’t know, Hidden Brain is an NPR podcast hosted by Shankar Vedantam. He “uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices, and direct our relationships.” (NPR Choice Page, 2020) While making dinner, washing
- [What’s Sign-Stealing got to do with Justice?](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/03/10/whats-sign-stealing-got-to-do-with-justice/): Major League Baseball has been rocked over the past several months with revelations that the 2017 champions, the Houston Astros, cheated. If you’re not familiar with the story and don’t follow baseball, here are the basics: The Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series but as it turns out, the team participated in illegal “sign
- [Practicing Nonviolent Communication at the RoundGlass Learning Summit](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2020/02/27/practice-nonviolent-communication-at-the-roundglass-learning-summit/): Aside: To begin with, I want to acknowledge the horrific violence that is currently unfolding in India since this blog is about my three-day experience attending the RoundGlass Learning Summit in Jaisalmer, India just last week, which was originally to take place in Delhi. It is disheartening to see the violence towards Muslims in India,
- [Dreaming up a Nonviolent Playground](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/11/13/dreaming-up-a-nonviolent-playground/): Every year, we focus on making our annual Gandhi Institute open house a family-friendly event, with plenty to do for visitors of all ages. This year, we were lucky enough to offer our youngest guests something extra special. In addition to our standard face painting, magic, and sidewalk chalk, we debuted our brand new playground.
- [Guest Blog: What We've Learned from Studying Nonviolence](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/12/04/guest-blog-what-weve-learned-from-studying-nonviolence/): Being apart has been difficult. My boyfriend Jeremy is currently in the Peace Corps in Indonesia, while I work in marketing in Tucson, AZ. We are both from the east coast but ventured out to Arizona a year ago. In addition to finding each other out here in the desert, we began to find ourselves,
- [The Value of Being Understood](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/12/02/the-value-of-being-understood/): Years ago, after watching the movie “You’ve Got a Mail,” I decided that visiting the United States should be on my bucket list. However, I never thought this dream would become true in such a great way -- I have come to the United States for a 4 month program and worked at a nonprofit.
- [Learning about Gun Violence Prevention at Gun Sense University](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/10/15/learning-about-gun-violence-prevention-at-gun-sense-university/): We were at lunch when we heard about the El Paso Shooting. The room got quiet and the almost 2,000 moms, students, and gun violence survivors wrestled with the 250th mass shooting. I sat at a table of students whom I’d met only two nights before as we looked at each other in shock and
- [Project-Based Research with School #19's Brain Committee](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/08/16/project-based-research-with-school-19s-brain-committee/): Meet the Brain Committee! As part of my job as a Youth Educator at the Gandhi Institute, I get to work with different groups of students at School #19 to help improve the school for students, staff, and families. The Brain Committee is a dedicated group of 5th grade students at Charles T. Lunsford School
- [Taking a Look at Income Inequality](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/07/18/taking-a-look-at-income-inequality/): By most standards the world is getting better. Global extreme poverty has plummeted in recent years. In 1800, 85% of the world was in extreme poverty. Thanks to the invention of a capitalistic economy, that number went down to 50% by 1966. By 2017 that figure is only 9%. Furthermore, life expectancy has increased in
- [Sharing a Meal and the Opportunities it Offers](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/06/26/sharing-a-meal-and-the-opportunities-it-offers/): Food. Water. Safety. Rest. Fun. Belonging. Respect. Dignity. Beauty. How inspired and curious it makes me feel to fantasize about a time and place where all these needs have the potential to be met at the same time across all ages, gender identities, socioeconomic realities, races, cultures, languages. I imagine a community that can talk,
- [Some Tips for Working Through Conflict in Roller Derby](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/05/20/some-tips-for-working-through-conflict-in-roller-derby/): This piece, written by Gandhi Institute Board Member Gwen Olton, was originally published in The Apex. Here are some of the most common phrases I hear in the beginning of working on a conflict with someone in roller derby: I’m just here to play I’m not here for the drama This isn’t what derby is about
- ["I'm Sorry"](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/03/12/im-sorry/): "I'm Sorry." That’s a phrase that gets tossed out in conflict mediations left and right. Sometimes I even see adults request apologies from students just to create the feeling that a conflict has finally come to a close. When a student is sent out of class for talking, they will sometimes sit down with me and
- [Move Your Money: Celebrate Black History Month](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/02/25/move-your-money-celebrate-black-history-month/): I recently completed a graduate degree in social innovation and sustainability and during that time studied reparations as a strategy for addressing harm, both current and historic. There are commemorative reparations, such as apologies and education efforts like museums. For instance, government funding for the recently completed National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama could be
- [The OURgirls Movement](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/02/11/the-ourgirls-movement/): I recently started the teen girls empowerment group OURgirls at Rochester's School No. 17 where I work everyday in the Gandhi Institute's Help Zone. One of the reasons that I yearned to start this group was because I noticed that there were so many teens and young girls struggling with where they fit in the
- [New Beginnings at the Gandhi Institute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/02/20/new-beginnings-at-the-gandhi-institute/): This blog was written by intern Sofia Azmal who worked with us during her time at The University of Rochester A lot of questions might be popping in your head. Who am I? Why am I here? What do I hope to achieve by interning at the Gandhi Institute? What can I offer as an
- [Working Through Shame: A Review of the Leadership Coaching Certificate Program](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2019/01/16/working-through-shame-review-of-leadership-coaching-certificate-program/): As part of my work at the Gandhi Institute, I’m tasked with and encouraged to spend some of my working hours learning. I feel grateful for that, and know that I’m privileged to work for an organization that prioritizes my personal development, and that knows that anytime a member of our team is growing, that
- [The Message Behind the Money](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/12/18/the-message-behind-the-money/): During our check-in round at a recent staff meeting, I mentioned that one aspect of my position overseeing the Institute’s finances that brings me joy is processing the donations that we receive. The self-interested element of that joy is certainly real—I value my job and my colleagues’ jobs, all of which require money—however the donations
- [Summer Youth Facilitation Institute Reflection: Lavountae Anderson](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/10/31/summer-youth-facilitation-institute-reflection-lavountae-anderson/): My name is Lavountae and I am a SYFI (Summer Youth Facilitator Institute) member at the Gandhi Institute. I have worked and spent my time at the institute for the whole summer. I enjoyed my time here thanks to my coworkers and staff. I have learned how to keep my composure in tight and difficult
- [Thanksgiving Reflections:  Social Nonmovements, Quantum Entanglement, and Indigenous Wisdom](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/11/21/thanksgiving-reflections-social-nonmovements-quantum-entanglement-and-indigenous-wisdom/): Last week, I was enriched hanging out with two remarkable visitors, Drs. Monica Sharma and Doris Grey. The two spoke on leadership and social change from years working in global settings. I felt electrified hearing the following quote from Dr. Grey’s most recent book: “Revolutionary social change does not conjure images of the often subtle
- [Tools for Change: Sharing Nonviolence with Students in Rochester](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/04/03/tools-for-change-sharing-nonviolence-with-students-in-rochester/): On March 1, Kit Miller, Director of the Gandhi Institute, David Sanchez, Youth Program Coordinator, and Joel Gallegos Greenwich, Nonviolence Educator and doctorate student at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester were thrilled to give a presentation to the Warner School program. The presentation included an overview of the Gandhi Institute's Nonviolence Programming being
- [Reflection on J-Serve 2017: Interfaith Day of Service](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/04/11/reflection-on-j-serve-2017-interfaith-day-of-service-at-the-gandhi-institute/): Over the winter, Rich Gordon, Coordinator Teen Education and Israel Trips at the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester, reached out to the Gandhi Institute to potentially host Rochester J-Serve, an international day of service for Jewish teens. Internationally, nearly 13,000 Jewish teenagers across 20 countries participate in this day of community service in order to
- [Shaking Hands with Nonviolence](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/04/23/shaking-hands-with-nonviolence/): In my school in Berlin, all the eleventh-graders have a project called “Alle Ins Ausland“ (Engl. “All Abroad“): Every student has to go for three months in another country, to work and live there. The project has to be preferably social, ecological and/or cultural. The assignment is to volunteer somewhere and stay with a family
- [Summer Youth Facilitation Institute Reflection: Quintorie Broomfield](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/10/11/summer-youth-facilitation-institute-reflection-quintorie-broomfield/): The best highlight of my SYFI summer was when we went on a canoeing trip to Ellison Park because it allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and put my trust in my coworkers, and for them to trust me. As I spent the summer as a SYFI member, I did many different
- [Summer Youth Facilitation Institute Reflection: Erika Suarez](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/09/30/summer-youth-facilitation-institute-reflection-erika-suarez/): Erika Suarez here, been here for three summers now! What a blast! The love and care at the Gandhi Institute is amazing. As soon as you come in you’re welcomed with lots of love. Over my three summers being here I've learned lots of skills. I’ve learned how to facilitate youth and adult groups. I
- [Summer Youth Facilitation Institute Reflection: Mohamed Koko](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/09/18/summer-youth-facilitation-institute-reflection-mohamed-koko/): This was my first year as part of SYFI (Summer Youth Facilitation Institute). And it was also my first year learning a whole lot in such a short period of time. I had one of the most amazing and thoughtful summers I’ve ever had. I was able to learn a lot about: Nonviolent communication Plants
- [My Visit to Eagle Rock School in Colorado](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/11/23/my-visit-to-eagle-rock-school-in-colorado/): I recently spent two and a half days at Eagle Rock School and their Professional Development Center (PDC) in Estes Park, Colorado. The school is an expeditionary learning school where students who’ve not thrived in traditional educational models live on campus and engage in classes that combine theory with hands on learning. The Eagle Rock
- [Ditching my screens: finding excitement in a quiet, changed life](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2013/11/18/ditching-my-screens-finding-excitement-in-a-quiet-changed-life/): I stare at the screen I observe its technicolor dance I listen to its siren song And my life is gray static A dingy white noise When I was around 10 years old, my parents finally yielded to my persistent requests for a television of my own. It was a small unit by today’s standards
- [Gandhi Board Members Speak Out](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/04/30/gandhi-board-members-speak-out/): The following statements or definitions were created at a recent Gandhi Institute board meeting by Board Members and attendees as a part of an activity which asked them: "What does nonviolence mean to you?" “Nonviolence means no harm to anyone in thoughts, speech, and action.” “Nonviolence is the golden rule-treat others as you want to
- [Angry young men: honesty is a path to avoiding Rodger’s tragic fate](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/05/30/angry-young-men-honesty-is-a-path-to-avoiding-rodgers-tragic-fate/): In a recent post on The Daily Beast, Arthur Chu of Jeopardy! fame wrote a brave, incisive and even confessing analysis of the role that bright, socially awkward men play in sexual violence against women. These nerds, as Chu calls them (and self-identifies), are driven by a compelling and ubiquitous cultural dialogue about how attractive,
- [Reflection on the People's Climate March](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/09/24/reflection-on-peoples-climate-march/): Sunday, September 21 was the International Day of Nonviolence. It was a holy privilege to pray, meditate and bear witness on 59th Avenue in New York City. Hundreds of thousands from the Peoples' Climate Gathering streamed past 60 of us who participated in an Earth Vigil gathering organized by the Lost Bird Project and the Rochester
- [On Nonviolence](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/10/08/on-nonviolence/): There is a force in our society, one that has come to manifest itself in countless forms, that many people are hesitant to name as a detriment to their lives. Most who dare to speak against this force, to utter the word that names it, are waved away as sentimental dunces, are charged with promoting
- [Reaction to Ferguson](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/12/04/reaction-to-ferguson/): I'm on the other side of the world and I'm watching reactions to the Ferguson grand jury decision unfold over social media...and I've been struck by something in the nature of the statuses, articles, or photos shared by my facebook friends back home. Each and every one of them reflect that person's own experience in
- [Commitment and Patience: Keys to Embracing Nonviolence in Our Dark Hours](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/03/09/commitment-and-patience-keys-to-embracing-nonviolence-in-our-dark-hours/): When I arrived in Rochester two and a half years ago, I felt elated to find so many beautiful hiking opportunities nearby. I’d lived for the previous three years in Central Illinois, where a few isolated woods dot the expanse of corn and soy monocultures. One of the nearest large forests - Hoosier National in
- [Reflection from August 21 Prison Dialogue](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/08/25/reflection-from-august-21-prison-dialogue/): Responding to requests from Groveland prison staff to extend programming beyond our annual Season for Nonviolence efforts, we have just begun an occasional series of dialogues between community people and men incarcerated at Groveland. More than 20 community members spent the day in conversation with men who are about to be released from prison. This
- [Restoring What Is Broken](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/10/20/restoring-what-is-broken/): Last Wednesday, I tagged along with two members of the Gandhi Institute as they presented a workshop on Restorative Justice for forty Rochester AmeriCorps volunteers. As a volunteer at the Gandhi Institute, I was excited to learn more about Restorative Justice and the everyday use of this practice. This was also part of a healing
- [On Self-Empathy & Social Equity](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/12/17/on-self-empathy-social-equity/): The other week I had the privilege of sitting across the table from author and collaborative facilitation consultant Miki Kashtan. Despite her revolutionary presence in the realm of collaborative decision-making, I hesitated when Kit invited me to join a few guests downstairs to discuss Miki’s work over coffee and burritos. I was interested in the
- [Community Engagement Project](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/02/19/community-engagement-project/): In September of 2015 I started working on an eight week project that I titled "The Community Peace Dialogue" basically to get the community to discuss and come to a conclusion on what we can do to decrease the violence rate in our neighborhood. I went door-to-door from Plymouth & Bartlett to Plymouth & Magnolia interviewing residents on exactly
- [India Didn't Change Me: A Counter-Narrative](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/04/06/india-didnt-change-me-a-counter-narrative/): There is more to life than increasing its speed. -Gandhi “Were the people friendly?” “Was the culture shocking?” “How bad was the poverty?” When friends and relatives inquired about my recent trip to India, their questions often placed me on a romanticized plot line common in white American culture: the challenging-yet-transformative adventure to an “exotic”
- [Medicine for Hate](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/07/06/medicine-for-hate/): You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. - Gandhi I was moved in recent months to read about hate as a feeling, as an energy and as a force in the world. On June 16, I led
- [What is a Help Zone?](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/04/27/what-is-a-help-zone/): Origins For the past three years, staff from the Gandhi Institute have been collaborating with a group of Rochester City School District (RCSD) schools and staff in supporting the spread of an initiative of a social-emotional support space called the Help Zone (HZ). The Help Zone was created through the vision of NorthWest College Preparatory
- [Aph Ko on Anti-Racism and Animal Oppression](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/07/13/aph-ko-anti-racism-animal-oppression/): In response to the dearth of easily accessible critical analysis on how the oppression of other species intersects with Black people’s oppression, the Ko sisters, Aph and Syl, launched the website Aphroism, from which the sisters present their analyses of white supremacy, patriarchy, the oppression of other species, and how these phenomena relate with one another. In
- [Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead:The Frank Meeink Story](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/08/23/autobiography-of-a-recovering-skinheadthe-frank-meeink-story/): The author relates his own story of being born into a family of drug addicted parents and abuse. Rootless and without parental oversight or care, failing in school and troubled by violent tendencies modeled by adults, at age 14 he is exposed to a white supremacist ideology by his trusted cousin. In the next few
- [Silent Protesting on the Job: An NFL Story](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/09/13/silent-protesting-on-the-job-an-nfl-story/): This weekend, multiple NFL teams and players kneeled or stood in solidarity with 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick regarding police brutality and black lives. Kaepernick began his silent protest during the pre-season games by sitting silently during the national anthem. The protest has been picking up momentum as various NFL players silently kneel, stand without putting a hand
- [Gandhi Institute Staff Reflects on the Election](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/11/12/gandhi-institute-staff-reflects-on-the-election/): On Tuesday night, the election happened for better or for worse. Many friends and strangers have reached out to the Institute this week. They're fearful, they're angry--and many of us feel the same way. Transitions are a time for processing and a time for realizations. We can either let our anxieties darken our souls or try
- [The Cycle of Hatred: A Workshop with the Gandhi Institute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/12/15/the-cycle-of-hatred-a-workshop-with-the-gandhi-institute/): The Cycle of Hatred: A Workshop with the Gandhi Institute by Jeneé Skinner, first-term AmeriCorps member serving at MCC Upward Bound On Sunday November 20th, the Gandhi Institute held a workshop called “Let’s Talk About Hate”. The discussion included what each individual who came wanted to get out of the meeting, how hatred is defined,
- [“Who wants to pick today’s question?”:](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/05/16/who-wants-to-pick-todays-question/): SEARCHING FOR THE HOLY GRAIL OF CIRCLES It’s one thing to believe that talking circles in schools is a good idea, and another to really experience the power of it. You’ve probably heard people share glowing tales of circle magic in the classrooms where a gaggle of troublesome students transform into that holy grail of
- [GRIEF](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/05/23/grief/): Over a year ago, I stumbled upon Nora on Instagram and my goodness!–she is one heck of a lady who is equal parts brilliant, witty, deep, vulnerable, and compassionate. I ended up scrolling all the way back to her very first post in efforts to piece together her joys (babies!) and heartaches (losing her husband
- [Two Experiments in Communal Grieving](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/05/19/two-experiments-in-communal-grieving/): This past September, more than thirty years after finishing my undergraduate degree, I entered a graduate program on Social Innovation and Sustainability at Goddard College in Vermont. The focus of my studies arose from the work I have the privilege of doing at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, particularly in relation to addressing issues
- [Bridges out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/06/05/bridges-out-of-poverty-strategies-for-professionals-and-communities/): Before moving to Rochester last August, I was working and studying in Amman, Jordan. One of my favorite parts about life in Jordan is the culture of hospitality. Within my first few weeks in Amman I met a family and was invited to eat lunch at their house. At the end of the meal, the
- [My Experience with Restorative Justice in American Schools](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/07/24/my-experience-with-restorative-justice-in-american-schools/): Leon, a high school student from Berlin, Germany, spent three months with the Gandhi Institute during the spring of 2018, learning about our mission and assisting us in our work. My experiences with American schools in Rochester, New York and the great engagement of the Gandhi Institute in those schools. I used to work in
- [Headspace: Mindfulness and Intentionality](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/02/20/headspace-mindfulness-and-intentionality/): Increasingly, I am opting out of the typical, American greeting which is some variety of: Hi, how are you? Fine, thanks, and you? Doing fine, thanks. My reason for opting out is that in my experience, no one is doing “fine/great/well” all the time. This ritual greeting has lost meaning
- [Groveland Prison Dialogue](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/03/17/groveland-prison-dialogue/): Two weeks ago, twenty-two community members from Monroe County traveled to join the men at Groveland Correctional Facility for a dialogue surrounding safety and prosperity. The dialogue occurred with roughly twelve men from Groveland, the majority of which are scheduled to be released to Monroe County within the next few months. When reflecting on the
- [My Road to the Gandhi Institute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/08/18/my-road-to-the-gandhi-institute/): I first visited the Gandhi Institute in June of 2015. I had no idea that in two short years I would become one of its employees.I was there with the University of Rochester’s Urban Fellows, an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate program that pairs college students with community organizations for summer internships and educates them about
- [Biographical Powerpoint on the Life of Abdul 'Badshah' Khan](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/01/16/biographical-powerpoint-on-the-life-of-abdul-badshah-khan/): In celebration of Dr. King's birthday, the Institute created a Powerpoint offering readers information about the life of an internationally acclaimed historical figure in nonviolent movements, Khan Abdul Ghafar 'Badshah' Khan, a Pashtun man who had been dear friends with Mohandas Gandhi and an integral figure in nonviolent resistance to British occupation in pre-Partition India.
- [The Search for a Nonviolent Future](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2013/03/25/the-search-for-a-nonviolent-future/): This book was one of the earliest ones I read on the hope and possibility represented by nonviolence. Michael Nagler is a gifted storyteller as well as teacher who founded the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at UC Berkeley. He shares the unfolding story of nonviolence as it has played out across the globe over
- [Connecting with Construction Workers in Oman](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/03/03/connecting-with-construction-workers/): Connecting with Construction Workers @ ICareOman's 12th Water Distribution by Husain Bawany February 28, 2014 Muscat, Oman Her voice soared through the air like a falcon on an updraft, taking with it the hearts of an exuberant audience. In strident timbre, she urged them to ascend the routine preoccupations in their lives, to make that
- [Triplets of Evil: Racism, Materialism & Militarism](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/05/16/triplets-of-evil/): The following text was written by a friend and partner of the Gandhi Institute, Rafael Outland, and was read at the 2014 Rochester Season for Nonviolence Closing Ceremony at the Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester. Rafael is a Phd. student in counseling at the University of Rochester and is the director of the Male Self
- [Peter Jemison's talk on Environmentalism in the Seneca Tradition](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/06/02/reflection-on-peter-jemisons-talk-on-environmentalism-in-the-seneca-tradition/): Peter Jemison’s contact with nature is one without hesitancy, cruelness, or barriers. Perhaps his communicative abilities stem from his membership of the Heron clan of the Seneca Nation or his artistic touch, but regardless, it’s uncommon in the twenty first century. During his talk at the Gandhi Institute, he spoke of the undeniable importance between
- [What I learned as an Intern at Gandhi](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/08/06/what-i-learned-as-an-intern-at-gandhi/): I think in terms of my personal growth and trying to figure out how I want to contribute to the world, it was very inspiring for me to get to work and connect with people who genuinely have passion for bettering their communities. I really admired the way that everyone took time to share their
- [We Make the Road by Walking](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/08/18/we-make-the-road-by-walking/): Recently I was over at fellow Gandhi staff member Malik Thompson’s home and while talking he handed me a book. We Make the Road by Walking is a transcribed conversation between Myles Horton and Paulo Freire, both prominent educators and social critics. The book opens with a discussion of reading. Both Horton and Freire found
- [Staff Travel Blog: South Africa](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/07/16/staff-travel-blog-south-africa/): In June of 2015, Hoody, Kit, and myself had the opportunity to travel across South Africa with Arun Gandhi, the founder of the Gandhi Institute and Mohandas Gandhi’s fifth grandson, on the 2015 Gandhi Legacy Tour. The Gandhi Legacy Tour is an extremely unique opportunity to travel across India or South Africa with Arun and
- [After Gandhi: One Hundred Years of Nonviolent Resistance](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/03/18/after-gandhi-one-hundred-years-of-nonviolent-resistance/): Combining beautiful charcoal portraits of peace activists with short descriptions of the movements which they supported, this book is easy to enjoy in small delicious bites, whether you are a youth or adult. Including the Civil Rights Movement, the Antiapartheid Movement, and the Aboriginal Rights Movement among others, this is a great book to read
- [Long Walk to Freedom](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/03/18/long-walk-to-freedom/): The way in which South Africa transitioned from apartheid to democracy is a model of how strategic nonviolence can work on the national level. This book of Mandela’s stories about his childhood to his first involvement with the African National Congress to his imprisonment on Robben Island where he began writing this autobiography is one
- [Artists Respond to Michael Brown's Murder and the Ferguson Rebellions](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/10/13/artists-respond-to-michael-browns-murder-and-the-ferguson-rebellions/): During dire times, humans seem to have a natural inclination toward the arts as a mechanism to relieve the pressure of feelings otherwise incommutable. Whether we’re referring to the practices of the ancients to perform dance and song for their gods in exchange for blessings, or the sorrow songs passionately sung by enslaved Black people
- [The Young Men of Industry](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2014/10/16/the-young-men-of-industry/): 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
- [Gandhian History Discussion](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/01/05/gandhian-history-discussion/): We've had lots of students reach out to us recently as part of National History Day. Here's one Q&A exchange between a student and Gandhi director Kit Miller. 1. What do you think India would be like if Gandhi hadn't existed? It's hard to say. If a violent war to kick the British out after
- [Beloved Community: Radical Black Feminism as a Framework for the Future](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/01/20/beloved-community-radical-black-feminism-as-a-framework-for-the-future/): As defined on the Positive Peace Warrior Network website, Kingian Nonviolence is “a philosophy and methodology that provides the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary for people to pursue peaceful strategies for solving personal and community problems.” Formulated by Dr. Bernard Lafayette and David Jehnsen, Kingian Nonviolence is one of the foundational philosophies of nonviolence the
- [How One Gandhi Staff Spent MLK Day: Fracking & Seneca Lake](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/01/22/how-one-gandhi-staff-spent-mlk-day/): The following is an open letter sent to the following New York State and United States representatives on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19, 2015. Dear Chairman Fagan, County Executive Brooks, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, Governor Cuomo, and President Obama, My name is David Sanchez. I grew up in Liverpool, NY, half a
- [Constructive Creativity: The Black Arts Movement](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/02/06/constructive-creativity-the-black-arts-movement/): We kicked off our Season for Nonviolence film series at the Gandhi Institute on Wednesday night, with Malik hosting a viewing and discussion of The Black Power Mixtape. In a succinct 1.5 hours, the film chronicles the birth, rise and dismantlement of the Black Power Movement between the mid-1960s and ‘70s. While the Black Panthers,
- [Remembering Marshall Rosenberg](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/02/16/remembering-marshall-rosenberg/): Five days ago I got the call from my friend Dominic about Marshall's death. Some section of my mind has been turning over the significance of his death, life and our relationship in the time since. It's been many years since I could imagine what my life would have been like without learning Nonviolent Communication
- [On Being Shaped and Nourished by the Gandhi Institute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/03/24/on-being-shaped-and-nourished/): Dear friends, While I know that funders often want numbers and data about how the Gandhi Institute's work is successful and effective, I want to share something that feels hard to quantify: how working at the Gandhi Institute for the past four and a half years has influenced my life. When I started at the
- [Tax Day Reflections](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/04/15/tax-day-reflections/): Last night I had the good fortune of attending a play called The Mountaintop at Rochester's GEVA Theater, with students from three of our nonviolence clubs and my hardworking colleague David Sanchez. The play focuses on Martin Luther King Jr 's last night on earth. I found it very powerful, especially as much of it
- [Startling Similarities: Susan B Anthony and Mohandas Gandhi](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/08/06/startling-similarities-susan-b-anthony-and-mohandas-gandhi/): Rochester’s hometown hero, Susan B Anthony, died 99 years ago this year. She’s been a hero of mine for a long, long time, particularly for her stated commitment to spend her life to work on a problem that she might not live to see solved. At the end, friends pleaded with Anthony to soften her
- [One With the Land](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/08/10/one-with-the-land/): It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. My experience in South Africa has brought me back home with so much more appreciation than when I left. Did you know in South Africa they drive on the opposite side of the street than they do here? And that 86 % of people over age 15 can
- [Waging Peace: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/03/15/waging-peace/): Did you ever see the film Forrest Gump, about a character who seems to magically appear during historic occasions over the course of decades? David Hartsough seems to have manifested that same ability, except that it’s not fiction. From visiting Montgomery, Alabama (and meeting Martin Luther King Jr.) during the early days of the bus
- [50 Simple Ways to Cut Carbon: by Earth Guardians](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/01/15/50-simple-ways-to-cut-carbon-by-earth-guardians/): Earth Guardians has been recognized for this comprehensive yet accessible list. We encourage you to choose even one and try it for a week! Home In the winter, turn down the thermostat and wear warmer clothes instead. In the summer, avoid using the air conditioning. Consider getting an evaporative cooler instead. Avoid using the clothes
- [bell hooks in Dialogue with Kevin Powell](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/11/17/bell-hooks-in-dialogue-with-kevin-powell/): As part of her final residency at The New School, bell hooks, noted Black feminist cultural critic and scholar, engaged in a dialogue with writer and public speaker, Kevin Powell. The topic of hooks’ and Powell’s discussion was Black men and Black masculinity; from the dangers Black men face living in a world that too
- [Staff Reflections on Gandhi](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/10/01/staff-reflections-on-gandhis-life-and-work/): Gandhi the Racist? I often receive questions and comments from people who have heard something about Gandhi being a racist and asked for my thoughts. It’s easy for me to see why that perception exists. When I typed “Gandhi Racism” in Google, 493,000 hits came up (for comparison: 110 million hits come up when I entered
- [Becoming Consciously White](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/10/26/becoming-consciously-white/): “When did you first become aware of race?” the facilitator asked. My mind was blank. When was it? How old was I? Why don't I remember? Growing up white in this country and being raised in nearly-completely-white suburbia, my story of lack of awareness around race is not unique. Not having to think about race
- [Twenty-One Vignettes from South Africa](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2015/12/31/twenty-one-vignettes-from-south-africa/): On May 29, 2015, Hoody, Kit, and I left Rochester for the Gandhi Legacy Tour: South Africa, a two week long excursion to learn about the twenty-one years Mohandas Gandhi spent in South Africa, and the legacy he left. As part of a larger traveling group, we were led across South Africa by Arun Gandhi,
- [Black History Month: A Comment](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/03/01/black-history-month-a-comment/): Ultimately, ‘history’ is, as many things are, a power struggle. A struggle over airtime and validation. Whether or not a particular narrative has basis in reality is irrelevant; the most profitable and seductive constructions of the past are meticulously chosen, culled into easily digestible pieces, and spoon fed to the masses. Sadly, and with cold-blooded
- [Paper Tigers Film Review](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/06/10/paper-tigers/): Prior to the arrival of Principal Jim Sporleder, Lincoln Alternative High School in Walla Walla, Washington was known as the final stop between public schools and prison for 300 of the most challenged students in the state. Rather than fixate on the negative behavior of his students, Mr. Sporleder decided to engage with the root
- [What if we all stopped paying taxes?](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/04/14/what-if-we-all-stopped-paying-taxes/): For the first time, I've decided to do war tax resistance by withholding a percentage of the money I owe the Federal government. Below is the letter I wrote and sent to the IRS along with the taxes I did pay. More information about war tax resistance can be found on NWTRCC's website. If you feel
- [Why Garden?](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/06/02/why-garden/): The first week of my summer internship with the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence has come and gone. During this period, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time tending to the garden and feel that it is appropriate to reflect on this space for my first blog; to begin to answer the question posed in
- [Always More to Lose](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/06/13/theres-always-more-to-lose/): No matter how bad you think your life is now remember there is always more to lose. Some person, some security, some aspect of mental or physical health. A pet, a tree, the reliability of weather. A book, your favorite mug, scarf or child. A friendship you thought couldn't go away, or a dream. This
- [An Open Letter to the Next Summer Intern](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/08/05/an-open-letter-to-the-next-summer-intern/): Dear Prospective Intern, I hope my letter finds you well. When you told me that you’re interested in interning at the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, my first reaction was: “What do I have to do to get you there?” I recognize that although I am partial to Rochester as my hometown, it can be
- [My first week (and a half) at the Gandhi Institute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/08/12/my-first-week/): I am an AmeriCorps VISTA. My job is to build capacity for an organization, to create and maintain sustainable infrastructures for an organization in order for them to achieve their goals and combat poverty. I did not apply to the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence directly but after attending one of their events, it was
- [Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're In Without Going Crazy](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/08/18/active-hope-how-to-face-the-mess-were-in-without-going-crazy/): For those drawn by the allure of the title, “Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy”, feel confident that the book delivers on its promise. The journey is not easy, but this acts as a remarkable guide. Frequently I would be thinking, “this makes me feel so …” and before
- [Ceremony Marks Start of 'Season for Nonviolence'](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/11/01/ceremony-marks-start-of-season-for-nonviolence/)
- [One World Goods Coupon](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/11/01/one-world-goods-coupon/)
- [An Evening of Empowerment with Angela Davis](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2016/11/28/an-evening-of-empowerment-with-angela-davis/): Who is Angela Davis? Coveted by many and unknown to some, Angela Davis is an American activist, educator, scholar and politician known for combating all forms of oppression on a national and international stage. She rose to her public prominence as a result of her counterculture activism in the 1960s which involved her leadership in
- [Shanell from SYFI](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2017/07/27/shanell-from-syfi/): With this being my second year as a SYFI (Summer Youth Facilitation Institute) member at the Gandhi Institute, I am excited and ready for everything this summer and the Gandhi staff have in store for me. Being able to come here and be a facilitator for a second time is an overwhelming feeling. I will
- [Space for Meditation](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2018/02/06/space-for-meditation/): I have tried meditation before. Quite a few times, actually. I have also led meditations for a group and for a loved one. I often grow irritated with myself over my inability to quiet my mind. My thoughts are loudest when the world is quiet and my only focus is myself. I’ve sat in the
- [From Kit, To Arun](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2023/05/03/from-kit-to-arun/): A letter from Kit Miller honoring Arun Gandhi's wonderous life sowing seeds of Nonviolence.
- [Interviewing Dominic Barter](https://gandhiinstitute.org/2023/11/14/interviewing-dominic-barter/): Perspectives on Peace: Transforming Tomorrow is the MKGI podcast and we were lucky to welcome Dominic Barter for a conversation on Restorative Work!

## Pages

- [Home](https://gandhiinstitute.org/): Nonviolence in ActionOur Mission is to help individuals and communities develop the inner resources and practical skills needed to achieve a nonviolent, sustainable, and just world.Learn MoreRemembering Michael JonesRecently, the M.K Gandhi Institute suffered the tragic loss of our beloved teammate and friend, Michael Jones. Michael was a gift to all who knew him and
- [Our Team](https://gandhiinstitute.org/our-team/): Our team Meet the M.K. Gandhi Institute’s team of staff and board members Our Staff Erin Thompson Executive Director Michael Jones ADVANCEMENT aLEXANDRIA HOANG Director of Learning & Education Alejandra Washington GARDEN MANAGER Jonathon Jones NONVIOLENCE TRAINER Jordan Campbell YOUTH EDUCATOR Katie Thomas DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Spero Michailidis YOUTH EDUCATOR wendy gonaver Health Equity
- [Mission & History](https://gandhiinstitute.org/mission-history/): Mission & History The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence is a nonprofit that equips people to use nonviolence to create a sustainable and just world for all. The Gandhi Institute collaborates with local organizations, academic institutions, students, and committed peacemakers in the following areas: Nonviolence Education Restorative Practices Environmental Sustainability Racial Justice We prioritize programming
- [Contribute](https://gandhiinstitute.org/contribute/): Contribute If you would like to contribute by making a financial contribution, click below to make a one-time donation or sign up to be a monthly donor. Donate ANNUAL REPORT Ways to Give If you would like to contribute with skills, knowledge, or expertise, send an email to mkgi@gandhiinstitute.org.If you would like to contribute by
- [Budget](https://gandhiinstitute.org/budget/): Budget & Report View Budget Below is our budget for the current fiscal year of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Below is our Annual Report for the past fiscal year of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. View Report Please direct thoughts or questions to Erin Thompson: erin@gandhiinstitute.org.
- [Contact Us](https://gandhiinstitute.org/contact-us/): Contact Us 929 South Plymouth AvenueRochester, New York 14608USATelephone: 585-565-8450Email: mkgi@gandhiinstitute.org
- [Network of Partners](https://gandhiinstitute.org/our-network/): Network of Partners To more effectively create systemic social change and to efficiently utilize a variety of resources, the Gandhi Institute partners with other individuals and organizations in many synergistic endeavors. We seek to support and learn from our partners’ experience and support their missions as part of our work. Partnering with other organizations is
- [Youth Healing Hate Grants](https://gandhiinstitute.org/enacting-nonviolence-with-youth/): Youth Healing Hate “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming of it.” -Helen Keller In 2016 the United States experienced a rise in hate crimes that continued into consecutive years. Local communities have been targeted because of their religion, sexuality, and ethnicity. In response to these events, the Gandhi
- [Workshops & Trainings](https://gandhiinstitute.org/workshops-trainings/): Learn with Us The Gandhi Institute offers learning experiences to groups of all kinds and sizes. We adjust the length and content of our offerings to best serve the groups with whom we work. We offer training to adults, high school/university student groups, and community groups. If you would like to schedule a workshop or training,
- [Campus](https://gandhiinstitute.org/campus/): Campus The Gandhi Institute is housed in Rochester’s Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood, between Flint and Magnolia streets. In 2007, the Institute moved to the Interfaith Chapel at the University of Rochester. Since 2012, we have been in our current home at 929 South Plymouth Avenue. Since moving to our S. Plymouth location, we have hosted hundreds of
- [Events Calendar](https://gandhiinstitute.org/events-calendar/)
- [Upcoming Events](https://gandhiinstitute.org/upcoming-events/): See Events Here Unfortunately, our website is experiencing difficulties. We ask that people visit here to find our events.
- [Educator Resources](https://gandhiinstitute.org/nonviolence-toolkit/): Resources Nonviolence education is a core component of our work at the Gandhi Institute. We have developed these experiential resources for educators looking to learn and teach about Gandhi and strategic nonviolence.Please write to mkgi@gandhiinstitute.org with any feedback. Educational PDFs 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action This dynamic resource provides the framework for facilitators, educators, and community
- [Perspectives on Peace: Transforming Tomorrow](https://gandhiinstitute.org/perspectives-on-peace-transforming-tomorrow/): Perspectives on Peace: Transforming Tomorrow Perspectives on Peace: Transforming Tomorrow is the podcast hosted by The M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence that seeks to inform & inspire a better future. Listen on Buzzsprout Listen on Spotify
- [Projects & Programs](https://gandhiinstitute.org/projects-programs/): Projects & Programs Our Projects & Programs help heal the community, empower Rochester-area youth, and spread peace in place of hate and fear. Youth Healing Hate Our Garden
- [Gandhi Institute in the News](https://gandhiinstitute.org/gandhi-institute-in-the-news/): The Institute in The News "The Power of Repairing Harm" Smriti Jacob, Rochester Beacon (10/21/2021) Click Here "Thriving Forward - Kit Miller - M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence" Megan Lasaponara and Sarah Collins-McGowan, Kids Thrive 585, Inc. (06/02/2021) Click Here "Martin Luther King Jr. in 2021" Kit Miller, Rochester Beacon (01/18/2021) Click Here "A Budget
- [Garden](https://gandhiinstitute.org/garden/): Garden We operate a 24-bed organic vegetable garden and greenhouse on our property. Our space is also home to a small fruit tree orchard and lots of flowers that keep the pollinators happy. We use permaculture principles to work with the natural ecosystem and use organic compost to support healthy, nutrient-rich soil. Our staff maintains
- [Tik Tok Internship](https://gandhiinstitute.org/tik-tok-internship/): TikTok Internship Over the summer of 2021, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence hired three Rochester-area youth to launch a TikTok account highlighting stories from Nonviolence News. Fight Injustice with Peace Our goal with this new social media platform was to share how people everywhere are using nonviolence to fight and expose injustice and to
- [Volunteering & Internships](https://gandhiinstitute.org/volunteering-internships/): Volunteering & Internships We could not do what we do without all of you.Volunteer opportunities include helping with various projects like the ones listed below. Fill out the online volunteer application below to apply for any of these projects. Get Started VOLUNTEER IMPRESSIONS VIDEO Volunteer Opportunities If you would like to volunteer for the Gandhi
- [Season for Nonviolence](https://gandhiinstitute.org/season-for-nonviolence/): Season for Nonviolence January 30th – April 4th About the Season The Season for Nonviolence marks the 64 days between the anniversaries of the deaths of Mohandas Gandhi on January 30 and Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4. The Season for Nonviolence was co-founded in 1998 by Arun and Sunanda Gandhi and the Leadership
- [Gandhi Cards](https://gandhiinstitute.org/gandhi-cards/): Gandhi Cards After several years of teaching nonviolence to youth and adults, we created these cards to teach the principles and practices of nonviolence through the lens of Gandhi’s life. The cards include original photos from Gandhi’s life and the Indian Independence Movement on the front, and historical information, and interactive prompts on the back.These cards
- [Nonviolence Now](https://gandhiinstitute.org/nonviolencenow/): Nonviolence Now The Nonviolence Now project makes the media landscape a healthier, more positive space by interrupting the status quo of our lives online. In the digital world, materialism and violence are actively promoted. The Gandhi Institute’s Nonviolence Now campaign strategically interrupts this trend and awakens people’s potential to be their best selves online. Background
- [Blog Posts](https://gandhiinstitute.org/blog-posts/): Blog Search A Tribute to Michael Jones September 14, 2026 MKGI’s Memories with Michael Michael in a Nutshell He was such a genuine soul, full of compassion and care for everyone he encountered. And his Read More » Remembering Michael Jones September 8, 2026 Remembering Michael Jones Dear Gandhi Institute community, It is with profound
- [Mission & History [COPY]](https://gandhiinstitute.org/mission-history-copy/): Mission & History The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence is a nonprofit that equips people to use nonviolence to create a sustainable and just world for all. The Gandhi Institute collaborates with local organizations, academic institutions, students, and committed peacemakers in the following areas: Nonviolence Education Restorative Practices Environmental Sustainability Racial Justice We prioritize programming
- [Join Network of Partners & University Partnership](https://gandhiinstitute.org/join-network-of-partners-university-partnership/)
- [Paragraph Intro](https://gandhiinstitute.org/paragraph-intro/)
- [Solidarity Statement](https://gandhiinstitute.org/solidarity-statement/): The Gandhi Institute joins with other local and national organizations condemning the murders of Daniel Prude, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the countless number of black and brown people who have died at the hands of police in the US. On behalf of all of us at the Gandhi Institute, we commit to undermining the
- [Past Youth Healing Hate Project Cycles](https://gandhiinstitute.org/enacting-nonviolence-with-youth/youth-healing-hate-projects-past/): Revisit some of the past projects we have sponsored, from 2017 to 2021. These projects are all led by Rochester-area youth between the ages of 12 and 24. Youth have the chance to showcase what they have creatively accomplished with their community at our end-of-cycle symposium. Building Bridges in Rochester Designed by Merisa Kamali, this
- [Nonviolence in Prisons](https://gandhiinstitute.org/nonviolence-in-prisons/): The partnership between the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and several correctional facilities connects to our collective commitment regarding nonviolence education as well as anti-racism. All of the work featured below has been on a pro bono basis. Season for Nonviolence Since 2011, we have celebrated the annual Season for Nonviolence (January 30-April 4), which
- [Register for Our Newsletter](https://gandhiinstitute.org/register-for-our-newsletter/): If you would like to receive our newsletter, please sign up here. Archived newsletters from January 2020 to the present can be read on this page.
- [Rebekah Prasad](https://gandhiinstitute.org/rebekah-prasad/): Rebekah Prasad has worked as a primary care pediatric provider in the city of Rochester for the past sixyears. She believe that everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to be healthier and lovesparticipating with families in reaching their health goals.She has appreciated the work of the Institute over the past 14 years through her
- [Executive Director Update](https://gandhiinstitute.org/executive-director-search/): “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)Dear Friends,Whether you are familiar with this verse from the Bible, or it reminds you of Pete Seeger’s song Turn! Turn! Turn!, it is a passage that comes to mind during periods of significant transition. The full context of
- [University Partnership](https://gandhiinstitute.org/university-partnership/): The University of Rochester (UR) provides invaluable support to the Gandhi Institute. In addition to an annual budgetary contribution ($75,000 in 2020-2021), the University provides other resources, including legal and IT support.Most of all, UR provides the Institute access to undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to students who participate in the Gandhi Service Fellows
- [](https://gandhiinstitute.org/seeds-of-change/): Make a donation today to ensure the critical work of the Gandhi Institute continues, throughout this time of financial hardship and far into the future.Thanks to a generous gift, the first $7,000 donated will be matched. The Impact of Your Gift $25 Supports our work behind the scenes $50 Funds time spent by staff
- [School Climate Transformation](https://gandhiinstitute.org/school-climate-transformation/): School Climate TransformationEvery school day, Gandhi Institute staff work with students and teachers in conflict resolution spaces, workshops, after school programs, and field trips to the Institute to create healthier, more loving school climates for students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Our work draws from Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Practices, Cultural Humility, and other nonviolence frameworks and
- [Nonviolence with Youth](https://gandhiinstitute.org/enacting-nonviolence-with-youth-2/)
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- [Sample Page](https://gandhiinstitute.org/sample-page/): This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger
- [Our Budget](https://gandhiinstitute.org/our-budget/): Below is our budget for the current fiscal year of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Please direct thoughts or questions to Erin Thompson: erin@gandhiinstitute.org.

## Calendars

- [Gandhi Institute Calendar](https://gandhiinstitute.org/calendar/gandhi-institute-calendar/): [title] [when] [location] [description] [link newwindow="yes"]See more details[/link]

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