“Be the Change You Wish to See” Tracing the history of civic engagement and nonviolent social change across cultures over the last century. Presenters: Ketan U. Kharod, Sachin Shah, Ami Vaghani Be the Change – Austin 2011

AGENDA Global civic engagement Tracing global non-violent social change across cultures Lessons learned from global movements Encouraging students to be “change-makers” in their local community Community service through “Be The Change - Austin”

Components of Be the Change - Austin Saturday, Oct. 1 - Day of Community Service outreach for volunteers and service sites particularly interested in campus projects Creative Writing Contest for students Connecting volunteerism to curriculum

Civic Engagement “Working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.”

Non-Violence, Civic Engagement and Culture

Non-Violent Social Change Across Cultures Cesar Chavez Martin Luther King, Jr. Arab Spring Cesar Chavez Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – Milestones & Lessons Born Oct. 2, 1869 in Gujarat, India Went to England at 19 to study law; limited success in private practice in India; moved to South Africa in 1893 Nonviolent struggle to achieve goals – even in the face of military might or police crackdowns Struggle for Indian independence – 30+ year process! Lessons New experience of racial discrimination in South Africa (even if a lawyer, Indian, and British citizen) Nonviolence is not easy – requires discipline and character Perseverance

Mahatma Gandhi – Milestones & Lessons Be the change you wish to see in the world. Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Martin Luther King, Jr. – Milestones & Lessons Born Jan. 15, 1929 in Atlanta, GA Entered Morehouse College at age 15 (1944) At 26, leads boycott of segregated buses in Montgomery; founds Southern Christian Leadership Conference – Visits India to study nonviolence and civil disobedience 1960 – Arrested and jailed during anti-segregation protests in Birmingham (Letters from Birmingham City Jail) 1963 – March on Washington, DC (“I have a dream” speech); wins Nobel Peace Prize next year; youngest winner of the prize Legacy: Major changes in racial discrimination and segregation; Civil Rights Act of 1964; turned attention to poverty and Vietnam war before his death

Martin Luther King, Jr. – Milestones & Lessons Almost always, the creative, dedicated minority has made the world better. The time is always right to do the right thing. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

Cesar Chavez – Milestones & Lessons Born March 31,1927 in Yuma, Arizona Moved to California to become migrant farm workers - very poor working conditions, low wages, safety concerns Served in Navy ( ), worked in fields ( ) Organizational work with CSO, United Farm Workers (1962) Lessons “But what can I do?” He and sister could drive, so drove others to the doctor Urged Mexican Americans to register and vote Fought for workers’ rights for all workers (not just Mexican origin) Purpose of strikes – collective action, how to draw attention to major issue otherwise ignored by mainstream Key victories - wages, safer working conditions (pesticides, tools, etc.)

Cesar Chavez – Milestones & Lessons Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read, You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride, You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.

Arab Spring Series of protests and demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa. Civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches and rallies Factors leading to the protests: Dictatorship or absolute monarchy human rights violations government corruption economic decline, unemployment extreme poverty

Arab Spring Discussion points: Was there a “leader” who started this revolution? Do you always need one person to start change?

Arab Spring

Students Becoming Changemakers Learning from historical movements to engage students in community service

Using Social Networks to Make Change Discussion point: How can we leverage the tools we use everyday to make change?

What does it mean to “Be The Change”? Discussion points: Identify a need family, community, or a cause Assess capacity strengths (yours / your team) don’t ignore challenges – but have a plan to tackle them START! (start small if you have to) Sustainability may need to adjust course based on new developments Reflection

Don’t Wait for a Revolution! Discussion points: Examples of people making a positive difference are all around us. - encourage students to identify “change” role models in their lives Source material from the media: Freedom Riders (PBS series) PARADE Magazine (8/14/2011) Ian McMillan (foul ball generosity – ABC News PotW - July 2011) Can students find examples of “everyday heroes” in the media?

Crowdsourcing Helps local leaders turn to the crowd to help solve issues. A way for cities and communities to incorporate residents in decision making and get them to help solve problems.

Be The Change – Austin

For more information…. Find us on Facebook, too! (just search “Be the Change Austin”) We need service project sites – especially family-friendly locations. We are particularly interested in working with AISD campuses. Examples of projects – campus clean up, gardening, (re)painting, sorting donations, organizing libraries, etc. Partnership with school administration, teachers, parents, and students Volunteers can register individually or as a group - Ketan Kharod or - Rupal Shah or