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Nonviolent Communication, Six Week Course
Mondays, September 19 - October 24. 6:30-9:00PM $100.00 fee, students free.
Workparty!
Saturday, Sept 24 1-5:00PM Raindate: Sunday, Sept 25 1-5PM
929 S. Plymouth Ave, Scraping and painting at our new location. Call and say you are coming! 276-3787
Mandaza, Walking the Way of Peace
Central African Shaman and Traditional Healer
Thursday,
September 29. 7-8:30PM
Baobab Cultural Center, 728 University Ave. $10, student, $2.
Party for Gandhi's Birthday 929 S. Plymouth Ave. Sunday, October 2, 2-5PM
The Power of Nonviolence: How Gandhi and King Changed the World
Oct 7- Nov. 17, Thursdays 6:00-9:00PM Develop practical and theoretical skills in nonviolence with this course.
Students free. Others, $100.00
Max. 15 registrants. Gandhi Reading Room, Rush Rhees Library University of Rochester River Campus
"In the Spirit of Gandhi: Developing the Heart and Soul of Nonviolence"
Sunday Ocober 9 10:00AM-3:00PM Open Sky Yoga, 5 Arnold Park, Rochester, 14607
Mini retreat opportunity to experience directly Hindu's Advaita Vedanta Tradition with one of the most highly respected teachers in North America and India. $25.00 suggested donation for general public; students $10.00 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds) Pre-registration is suggested. Call the number below.
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MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
211 Interfaith Chapel Box 270501 Rochester, NY 14627
585-276-3787
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Volume 2, Issue 8
September, 2011
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Dear Friends,
I write to you, a little tired and dirty after a work day with 19 University of Rochester first year students at the site of our new home here in Rochester. It is a beautiful 120 year old house that has sat abandoned for the last 17 years and is sorely in need of some love. We worked outside on an overgrown one acre plot next to what is becoming known in the neighborhood as the "Gandhi House". We cleared land, cut logs, demolished crumbling cement steps, learned about Permaculture by inoculating maple logs with shitake mushroom spores, and more. These students, and 14 others last week, were inspiring to me. They worked hard and posed great questions to us and to our new landlord David Knoll, whose avocation for 20 years has been to breathe life into the abandoned homes in his neighborhood. We are blessed to have wonderful landlords, as well as people who are stepping forward to volunteer in all kinds of capacities.
Though the house won't be finished in time for Gandhi's birthday on October 2, we will celebrate that day at our new place under a big tent with lots of music, art, fun and games. If you are in the Rochester area, please join us October 2 from 2-5 pm. You can tour our work-in-progress new home.
In the next month, we will commence two series on nonviolence and on nonviolent communication and host a special visiting peacemaker from Zimbabwe. See below for more information. For friends from further afield, please visit virtually via Facebook or send your question about the Institute or about nonviolence through Formspring.
In peace and hope,
Kit Miller
Director
We dedicate this issue to all those carrying the memory of September 11, 2001.
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| Summer Reflections
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In this month's newsletter we interviewed ourselves to let you know what the Gandhi Institute's staff has been up this summer. Enjoy! 
Kit Miller
This summer I had fun hiking in Scotland with my husband and youngest daughter. We hiked to some caves where prehistoric people lived 4000 years ago. I had never been in a place with such human history. One of the richest experiences this summer was attending a two-day training in restorative practices with 30+ teachers and police officers. People in this training shared about our experiences in violence and trauma that surprised and inspired me then and inspires me still.
Shannon Richmond 
This summer for learning: I attended the Nonviolent Communication New York Intensive and the National Peace Academy's Peacebuilding Peacelearning Intensive!
This summer for fun: I enjoyed going to Shakespeare in the Park, walking outside at dusk, drinking iced coffee beverages, and marveling at the power of summer thunderstorms, whether I was getting soaked by them or listening to the rain from a cozy nook indoors.
George Payne For fun this summer: I paid tribute to the always evolving Bob Dylan when he played at Canandaigua's CMAC in August. His set list included classics like "Simple Twist of Fate" and "Desolation Row" as well as tracks from more recent records like Time out of Mind and Together Through Life. The poet laureate of rock was in prime form singing, playing the guitar, and even showing off some fancy footwork!
For learning: I attended the 10th International Nonviolence Summer Institute at the University of Rhode Island. The week long program included amazing guest speakers such as civil rights hero Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., specialized training in conflict reconciliation, and the opportunity to meet fellow activists from all over the world.
Trish Goodman
For fun: I spent time with extended family, young and old by a lake, beautiful and cool. Enjoyed great music with old friends and watched my garden grow.
For learning: I spent a glorious week at the New York Intensive Nonviolent Communication training in Albany with Shannon and Board Member Rebecca Johnson,meeting so many tremendous people and learning about profound change that can occur with NVC (see above left for these classes being offered this Fall by the Gandhi Institute).
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| Celebrate First Annual Summer Institute and a surprise announcement!
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Last month the Gandhi Institute and Black Student Caucus of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School co-sponsored the First Annual Gandhi Summer Institute. Among those who attended the week long training were professionals from the field of conflict mediation, retired academics, members of religious communities, several guests from St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, a veteran from the Iraq War, local college students and others! This remarkable diversity made for a dynamic learning environment. In addition to teaching people about the lives of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., we developed practical skills such as meditation and Nonviolent Communication, and watched powerful movies about the struggle for peace and justice. We also invited special presenters from the community such as Dr. Robert Holmes, a prestigious philosopher of nonviolence, and Gandhi Service Fellow Joseph Gardella, who shared about his work in the In-School Suspension room at Wilson Middle School.
Here are comments from some of the participants: 
I was grateful to have a chance to learn more about world leaders who used nonviolence to make lasting changes, and was inspired by their courage and commitment. I was at least equally inspired to learn about the possibility for meaningful relationships in everyday life that nonviolent practices can help support. There are skills in respectfully and compassionately addressing conflicts between friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and community members that help each individual involved grow. Hence, on the macro and the micro-level, I am pleased I attended the seminar. Respect and compassion for oneself and others was very much lived by the conference organizers and attendees, and this, of course had a profound impact: we were walking the walk together. Jennifer Harford, Catholic Worker, St. Joseph's House of Hospitality
To me the most amazing part of the Institue was that it brought people of different backgrounds and perspectives together and helped us to form community. We live in a world that feeds on fear and suspicion of "the other." This was a wonderful opportunity to grow to a new awareness and respect for others. We can no longer look at our differences but our "sameness" in desiring a better world. Phyllis Tierney, SSJ
I am an early retirement (mainly for health reasons) medical doctor retraining for public health work. The week long instruction and practices of different forms of meditation advanced my previous self directed efforts at meditation. The combined effect of the experiential workshops, starting to learn intentional listening, and slowly learning to speak much less was truly life changing for me. I left much more centered and very grateful for the loving community. Tedana Wibberley, MD
And other participants said...
"The best part of the institute was the creation of the safe space that allowed us to share and be authentic. Overall it was a very dynamic experience."
"The interactions within the group strengthened our spirit. I was really pleased to be sharing [with] the group from St. Joseph's House of Hospitality. The films gave great insights on the power and of the peace movement." "Everything about the institute was well planned. Each section [and] speaker, movie, [and] presentation deepened my knowledge about nonviolence. It was a wonderful opportunity to increase my education of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr." The annual M.K. Gandhi Summer Institute is expanding! Due to requests, the next one will occur over Veterans Day weekend in November (location TBA). There is no cost for students to attend. Members of the public are asked to contribute $100. There are only 20 spots available, so sign up fast! contact George Payne gpayne2@ur.rochester.edu November 10-13th, 2011 Thursday: 4-9:00PM, Friday: 9:00-5:00PM, Saturday: 9:00-5:00PM, Sunday: 9:00-5:00PM |
| Mandaza, Walking the Way of Peace | | |
 Mandaza (Augustine) Kandemwa is a Svikiro (traditional healer) and Mhondoro (one in constant prayer for others) in the Shona and Ndebele traditions of Zimbabwe. He carries, with great heart, the Central African Tradition of healing and peacemaking.
Traveling the world, he shares his gifts in order to promote personal, communal and global healing. He spoke at the most recent World Parliament of Religions. In a humble and heartfelt way, Mandaza exudes, in his walk and in his words, the teachings of authentic peace, love, forgiveness and compassion.
September 29, Thursday, 7-8:30pm
Baobab Cultural Center, 728 University Ave.
Rocheste, 14607 General $10, student $2.
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Restorative Justice Conference | | |
October 6-7, 2011, the Gandhi Institute is co-sponsoring the Western New York Restorative Justice Conference to be held at RIT.
Save Money, Save Lives: Transforming the Norm through Restorative Practices is the theme of the conference, featuring speakers whose organizations are using restorative practices in the community, schools, and courts.
The presenters include:
Anne Seymour, Senior Advisor of Washington-based Justice Solutions
Mark Carey, President of the consulting firm The Carey Group
John Klofas, PhD., Director of Center for Public Safety Initiatives
David Karp, Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Director of Campus Life at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY
Steve Korr, Trainer & Consultant with International Institute for Restorative Practices
Register
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Swadeshi Now