M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

Implementing Nonviolence in Classrooms Part 2
2026-05-09 10:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER
Join this trauma-informed, restorative workshop for educators, facilitated by University of Rochester student, and Kennedy Human Rights fellow Saafa Tahboub. Featuring guest speakers from the Gandhi Institute’s school-based staff, this workshop will include interactive activities, group discussions and a raffle for participants!
Implementing Nonviolence in Classrooms is a 2-part workshop that will be on Saturday, May 2 (Part 1) and Saturday, May 9 (Part 2) at 10:00 am EST, at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence (929 South Plymouth Ave). If you can only attend one of the sessions, please let us know in advance by emailing tahboub@kennedyhumanrights.org.
Questions? Reach out to tahboub@kennedyhumanrights.org

Kingian Nonviolence Series
2026-05-11 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-05-18 17:30 - 19:30, 2026-06-01 17:30 - 19:30 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
Register

Join us this Spring for a Kingian Nonviolence series at the Gandhi Institute (929 S. Plymouth Ave) on Mondays, April 27 – June 1 , from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.
Rooted in the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kingian Nonviolence is a philosophy and practice for transforming conflict and fostering justice. Jonathon and Katie will facilitate this space over an interactive 4 weeks of exploring the core principles and real-world applications of nonviolence.
Whether you’re new to Kingian Nonviolence or looking to deepen your understanding, this series offers a space to learn, reflect, and practice together.
Kingian Nonviolence sessions will be at 5:30 PM EST on the following Mondays:

April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18
June 1 (We are skipping Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day)

On pricing:
We host events on a sliding scale economy to be more accessible and prevent finances from prohibiting learning, engagement, and opportunity to create a better world.
Our 3 suggested prices are $20, $100, and $200.
No one will be turned away for a lack of funds, if you have any questions feel free to reach out to: katie@gandhiinstitute.org
These prices reflect the cost for the institute to plan and facilitate the 4/ 2 hour sessions. These are suggestions, so feel free to donate another amount that might fit your situation, and please add Kingian Nonviolence to the memo or notes.
We depend on our community to participate, inform, and partially fund our programming, so we truly appreciate your choice to support us in a way that aligns with you.

Garden Work Party
2026-05-16 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-23 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-30 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-06 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-13 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-20 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-27 10:00 - 13:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
Volunteer in the Gandhi Garden in our Garden Work Parties!
Drop by our community garden any time between 10:00 and 1:00 pm on Saturdays during the growing season (March 28 – November 7) to help us plant, tend, and harvest food and flowers with the community. We also are looking for volunteers who can help us pack and deliver produce bags for our neighbors. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toe shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Tools and gloves will be provided.
Please Note: If you are part of a student group, or using these hours for credit, scholarship requirements, etc. sign up for the Service Learning Volunteering.
If you want to volunteer on a day not listed, please email us to request a different date and time!
Email katie@gandhiinstitute.org for volunteer inquiries.

May Grief Circle
2026-05-21 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Register
Our online grief circle is a biweekly gathering to honor the pain and sorrow that comes from living in a complicated world. It is a place for listening and presence, not for advice or judgment.
Every kind of grief, big or small, is welcome. Whether it’s sorrow from personal loss, burnout from the work you do, or a heavy heart for the state of the world, all of your grief is welcome here.
As Joanna Macy reminds us, “The most important thing to do is to be with your pain, and not to deny it. In doing that, you’re not alone.”
Join the Circle.
We’ll meet biweekly on Thursdays, from 4-5 pm ET on Zoom between February 12 and June 18, 2026.

May Community Community
2026-05-27 18:00 - 20:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER
Join us May Community Dinner, celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Community Dinner will be on Wednesday, May 27 at 6 PM EST, at the Gandhi Institute (929 South Plymouth Ave.) Folks are encouraged to bring a vegetarian dish to contribute to the potluck dinner.
Don’t miss the next Community Dinner on the last Wednesday of the month at 6 PM. Bring a dish if you would like to, but don’t worry, we’ll be cooking up a few of our own! Everyone is welcome.
Let us know that you are bringing dishes or snacks by emailing katie@gandhiinstitute.org

Nonviolent Communication Practice Group
2026-06-02 17:30 - 19:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
Register for Nonviolent Practice Group!
Join us for this monthly practice space to embody your nonviolence skills, in community! Nonviolence Practice Group sessions will be monthly on the first Tuesday of each month. These sessions will be collectively-led and completely based on group practice of nonviolent communication, conflict de-escalation, and empathy.
Questions? Email Katie Thomas at katie@mkgi.org

June Grief Circle
2026-06-04 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-18 16:00 - 17:00 | NY

June Breakfast Chat 6/9
2026-06-09 08:00 - 09:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
Join our Executive Director for breakfast & conversation!
Come to get to know us and talk about your part in supporting nonviolence in Rochester and beyond. Share breakfast with Erin Thompson, the Executive Director of the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Chat with us to learn more about the Institute’s programs and plans. Stay for some good breakfast, conversation, and company!

Click HERE to REGISTER for February Breakfast Chat

Dates:
Breakfast Chats will be on the second Tuesday of each month!
*All from 8 am – 9 am EST*

Changemaker Retreat
2026-06-10 08:00 - 17:00 | NY
The antidote to hopelessness isn’t working harder in isolation, it is rooting deeper in community.
Ready to cultivate a just community that supports everyone? Join the M.K. Gandhi Institute August 7-10 for a four-day hands-on practice space centered on the Institute’s work in nonviolence education, restorative practices, racial justice, and sustainability.
In a time of deep polarization and burnout, making lasting change as a collective requires us to prioritize our relationships. We are coming together to deepen our strong connections, fuel new ones, and repair those that are eroding. By intentionally tending to ourselves and the ways we relate to one another, we build the strength needed to create a better Rochester and truly care for our city.
Just like Nonviolence, this Retreat is not passive! It is a dedicated space to shut out the noise, learn practical tools, and connect with people who are committed to a better future.
Together we will:
-Practice de-escalation skills for tense situations
-Strengthen our communication skills to grow in times of deep division
-Identify common ground and shared needs
-Channel anger into constructive change and resistance
-Discuss strategies for individual and collective self-care
Pricing:
Tickets to our Changemaker Retreat are $850 per individual. Scholarships are available!
By purchasing a ticket, you are directly investing in yourself and a nonviolent Rochester and ensuring that scholarships remain available for fellow community members.
Register now and save your spot!

Questions about the retreat, schedule, or scholarships? Contact Katie at katie@gandhiinstitute.org.

June Community Roundtable
2026-06-20 11:00 - 13:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER TO JOIN OUR JUNE ROUNDTABLE

Coinciding with Juneteenth, this Roundtable will feature special guest, James O’Neil Spady, who will lead a discussion about his book, Take Freedom: Uncovering the Hidden History of the Denmark Vesey Affair. The June Community Roundtable will be on Saturday, June 20 at 11 AM EST, at the Gandhi Institute.
About Take Freedom:
In 1822, Black Charlestonians attempted to overthrow slavery. They were exposed before they could strike, and many were tried and executed in what has come to be known as the Denmark Vesey Affair. Author James O’Neil Spady argues that the uprising was a broadly based, African-influenced social movement. He will share excerpts from his book and lead a discussion about nonviolence and collective resistance.
About the Community Roundtables:
The Community Roundtables offer a space to share perspectives, make sense of what’s happening in the world, and remain connected to one another. This series will be at the Gandhi Institute on the third Saturday of each month at 11 AM – 1 PM EST.
Each session will focus on open dialogue or specific topics that matter to the Rochester community, some selected by Gandhi Institute staff and others chosen by participants based on pressing issues and events. Through open conversation, we seek to cultivate understanding and plant the seeds for connection.
Questions? Email Katie Thomas at katie@mkgi.org

June Community Dinner
2026-06-24 18:00 - 20:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER
Join us for warm food and conversations at a Community Dinner! Our June Dinner will be on Wednesday, June 24 at 6 PM EST at the Gandhi Institute. Folks are encouraged to bring a vegetarian dish, sides or drinks to this potluck style dinner.
Don’t miss our Community Dinners on the last Wednesday of the month at 6 PM. Bring a dish if you can, but don’t worry, we’ll be cooking up a few of our own! Everyone is welcome.
Let us know that you are bringing dishes or snacks by emailing katie@gandhiinstitute.org

Nonviolence Practice Group
2026-07-07 17:30 - 19:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER

Join us for this monthly practice space to embody your nonviolence skills, in community! Nonviolence Practice Group sessions will be monthly on the first Tuesday of each month. These sessions will be collectively-led, and completely based on group practice of nonviolent communication, conflict de-escalation and empathy.
Questions? Email Katie Thomas, at katie@mkgi.org

July De-escalation
2026-07-11 13:00 - 16:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER
Come practice skills to reduce violence and help keep each other safe!
Join us on July 11, for a workshop for transforming conflict and de-escalating tense situations. Participants will work collaboratively to respond to conflict in ways that enable and promote safe outcomes.
We welcome all community members to register!

On pricing:
The Gandhi Institute often hosts events on a sliding scale economy to be more accessible and prevent finances from prohibiting learning, engagement, and opportunity to create a better world. We depend on our community to participate, inform, and partially fund our programming, so we truly appreciate your choice to support us in a way that aligns with you.

July Breakfast Chat 7/14
2026-07-14 08:00 - 09:00 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States

Online Grief Circles
2026-08-13 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
REGISTER
Join the Circle.
Our online grief circle is a biweekly gathering to honor the pain and sorrow that comes from living in a complicated world. It is a place for listening and presence, not for advice or judgment.
Every kind of grief, big or small, is welcome. Whether it’s sorrow from personal loss, burnout from the work you do, or a heavy heart for the state of the world, all of your grief is welcome here.
As Joanna Macy reminds us, “The most important thing to do is to be with your pain, and not to deny it. In doing that, you’re not alone.”
We’ll meet biweekly on Thursdays, from 4-5 pm ET on Zoom between August 13 and December 31, 2026.
Upcoming Dates:

August 13
August 27
September 10
September 24
October 8
October 22
November 5
November 19
December 3
December 17
December 31

Questions? Contact Katie (katie@mkgi.org)

Health Equity Workshop
2026-08-22 10:00 - 14:30 | M.K. Gandhi Institute, 929 S Plymouth Ave, Rochester, NY 14608, USA, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
REGISTER
Join us on Saturday, August 22, from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm at the Gandhi Institute for a Health Equity Workshop!
This workshop will examine the history of discrimination and the social drivers of health in Rochester; connect this history to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 death of Daniel Prude; and assess the current moment, including budget cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. This workshop will complement the Monroe County Community Health Improvement Plan for 2025-2027 to decrease poverty, improve mental well-being, and prevent maternal mortality. Could a regional coalition create a universal health care system? Be a part of this conversation!
Questions? Email wendy@mkgi.org
