Co-founded and Convened By:

A Season for Nonviolence is a 64 day educational, media and grassroots campaign inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Co-founded in 1998 by the Association for Global New Thought (AGNT) and Arun and Sunanda Gandhi, SNV is now in its 18th year.

Michael Bernard Beckwith The campaign is convened and directed by the Association for Global New Thought. Co-leaders and advocates include many distinguished authors and teachers of peace and nonviolence. Dolores Huerta & Bro. David Steindl-rast Dr. Lawrence Carter Dr. Bernard Lafayette Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

Spiritually-motivated spiritual leaders and grassroots volunteers in over 900 cities in 67 countries implement sustainable programs and events each year.

Celebrating a decade of SNV in 2007 aboard the Gandhi King Peace Train with family members of Gandhi, King, and Cesar E. Chavez, activist Dolores Huerta accepted the invitation to honor Chavez’ name for his work in nonviolent social change.

SNV has been launched at the United Nations each year from 1998 through 2015. The theme for last year's student- based program was: "Global Peace Through Social Media: There's an APP for That!"

Our purpose is to create an awareness of nonviolent principles and practice as a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and communities.

Through an educational and community action campaign, we honor those who use nonviolence to build a community that honors the dignity and worth of every human being.

“Omni-local IS Global.” A Season for Nonviolence represents the successful new model of “omni-local” conscious action: “Engaging large numbers of self-empowered leaders and groups in a common goal using their own local resources to work globally with singular purpose.“

By identifying “what works” in these new models for reconciliation and human harmony, we are demonstrating that every person can move the world in the direction of peace through his or her daily nonviolent choice and action.

SNV 1998-2015: Our “Collaboratory” for Spiritually-Motivated Social Action The Season for Nonviolence is successful because we all take responsibility, as a whole, for “being the change we wish to see in the world.” We call our community together.... Churches and centers form task forces Individuals meet among friends or sought out other groups We stand on a foundation of prayer and meditation, rooted in nonviolence We invite others from different religions, cultures, ideologies, and professions into a nonjudgmental, inclusive dialogue... we share our stories We study common educational and training materials, developed resources, ask questions, share wisdom, learn from one another We become social strategists and organizational designers at a high level of competence – not because we adopt a hierarchy, but because we uncover our collective gifts through a process of emergence We bring our programs and projects in front of decision- and policy- makers, local media, Boards of Education, and more We communicate our successes and challenges within our communities, and also to the central hub coordinating Season for Nonviolence so that our work can be shared as templates with others, reducing our collective learning curve greatly

A New Meme is Established As a result of this deep and sustained dedication, a new model for omni-local, spiritually-based peace governance has emerged successfully, igniting entire communities. The Gandhi King Gyatso Season for Nonviolence project has evolved through our collective, exemplary leadership in more than 900 cities in the U.S. and 67 other countries during the past ten Seasons. AGNT’s spiritually-based model for nonviolence has seeded peace-building communities that integrate vision and action. We know that the key to empowerment is compassionate visionary consciousness coupled with enlightened choices toward action.

The Embracing of Leadership… What We Have Learned It has been said that, “If you want peace, work for justice.” This quote is attributed to Pope Paul VI. Through dedicated prayer, research, education, planning, team-building, dialogue, logistics, fundraising, and successful implementation of events and programs promoting nonviolent personal and social transformation, we have identified common factors that are at the root of all peace-building:

The Embracing of Leadership… What We Have Learned Compassion/understanding/forgiveness/acceptance Positive interfaith and intercultural relationships “Omni-local IS global” Connection is critical – both psychologically and organizationally Education/awareness is key to resolving conflict Sharing our wisdom with others, and benefiting from others’ experience, are equally important Along with rights, come responsibilities Each one of us is VERY powerful; together we are more powerful than alone; serving a larger vision and Source as a unified humanity is infallible We create change by living the change. If we are consistent in our consciousness, we are already doing it.

His-Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet in a personal conversation with Brother Wayne Teasdale September 16, 1997 Dharamsala, India I believe this is the right time to promote nonviolence in various ways and means. And it is our responsibility to do so. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King are inspiring examples of the power and truth of nonviolence and the actions that arise from them. They not only embraced nonviolence in principle, but implemented it in action. Both gave their lives for this precious vision. This Season for Nonviolence is a very good tool to remind us of their witness, but also of the large unfinished work we have together in transforming awareness on our planet."

"I fully endorse the Season for Nonviolence, an important step towards a century and millennium of nonviolence which should be proclaimed by the United Nations during the world celebration of the year 2000." - Dr. Robert Muller (1923-2010), Chancellor of the UN University of Peace; former Assistant Secretary General to the UN

"In the 'Season for Nonviolence' Initiative, the Association for Global New Thought has made a significant contribution to creating a more compassionate and peaceful world by educating people in the principles of nonviolence advocated by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other peacemakers." - Coretta Scott King

FEATURED PROGRAMS 2015

Honoring Nelson Mandela FEATURED PROGRAMS Honoring Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence FEATURED PROGRAMS 64 Ways to Practice Nonviolence

FEATURED PROGRAMS 64 Days Each day for 64 days, thoughts for the Season on FaceBook & AGNT.org.

Ethics for the New Millennium FEATURED PROGRAMS Ethics for the New Millennium Study Course

FEATURED PROGRAMS

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Get started now: www.seasonfornonviolence.com