Things undreamt of are daily being seen, the impossible is ever becoming possible. We are constantly being astonished these days at the amazing discoveries in the field of violence. But I maintain that far more undreamt of any seemingly impossible discoveries will be made in the field of nonviolence. ~M.K. Gandhi~

 

 

Nonviolence is a living power. The goal of the various projects of the Metta Center is to put people in touch with that power directly and help those who have experienced take it to a deeper level. On the daily, we work with people around the world who are seeking tools and insights for their own experiments in nonviolent action, from resistance movements to constructive peacebuilding activities, in homes, schools, and communities at large.

Nonviolence is in demand, and there’s a huge gap in knowledge about what it is and how to make it work more safely and more effectively. This is where Metta comes in (and why we need your support).

Metta Center has never stood still, and this is a particularly vigorous time of growth and experimentation for us. We ourselves were surprised when we stepped back to look over our current projects and how we want to carry them forward into the near future (with our eyes, as always, on the 100-year plan).

Let us break it down for you by the team member who’s primarily behind each.

Michael Nagler, Professor Emeritus. Michael’s two biggest projects remain the major documentary film, working title The Journey Home, and his new book, The Third Harmony.

The Journey Home is being produced with our filmmaker, Lou Zweier. While a number of excellent documentaries on one campaign or other are available, the role of this film is to lay out our understanding of principled nonviolence itself, and particularly the close connection of nonviolence to the emerging paradigm or “new story.” For that purpose a number of prominent scientists have generously give us their testimony. Many hours of inspiring interviews have been filmed and are in the process of being edited. To realize our dream of bringing out this important film next year we need to:

• hire an editor
• secure rights to existing footage from various sources and music
• hire a sound editor.

The Third Harmony is in the final (we hope!) stages of editing. While there is a publisher considering the manuscript we are planning to release it ourselves under the auspices of Person Power Press (where we published Stephanie’s book on Gandhi), most likely at first as an e-book.

Other projects include:

• Nonviolence Radio, broadcast bi-weekly from KWMR in Point Reyes Station and then rebroadcast and/or put on our own and various sites as podcasts.
• The Science of Nonviolence, an important enhancement to our website giving practitioners (and skeptics) access to the most important findings that support and explain nonviolence from ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ sciences. Close to launch.
• Ongoing: General guidance for monthly Hope Tank, occasional writing (blogs, op-eds), consulting and networking, as well as guidance for Metta’s overall direction.

 

Stephanie Van Hook, Executive Director. Chief strategist, setting up Metta for deeper stability, resilience, and eventual transition to an era when Michael has fully retired. Stephanie has oversight in all projects, with special responsibility for:

• Nonviolence Radio
• Restorative Justice, a hands-on project to establish RJ as the disciplinary norm for all Petaluma schools, then to move on to all school systems in N. CA, and eventually, with the help of many other people and organizations, to the nation’s schools, the prison system, the international community (i.e. to abolish war!).
• Family Program, nonviolence materials for home and school (e.g. the first offering from Person Power Press: Gandhi: a Practical Biography for Children).
• Trainings, including helping to set up nationwide Peace Team Network.

 

Stephanie Steiner, Chair of Nonviolence Studies. Main projects include:

• Certificate Course in Nonviolence, expanding to twice a year.
• Other Online Courses, as opportunities and needs arise, particularly.
• Science of Nonviolence Course, in development.
• Introduction to Nonviolence, a high school and/or college textbook (probably to be published by Person Power Press).

 

Kimberlyn David, Outreach and Wellbeing Guide. Kimberlyn has recently transitioned from her role as sole communications director and editor-in-chief of the print edition of Nonviolence Magazine (which may continue as an online offering) to focus on:

• Exploring and piloting modules for Person Power Yoga, an already piloted program weaving together hatha yoga, meditation, and nonviolence as a tool for personal healing and enhanced effectiveness in social change work.
• Mentoring communications strategies within the organization for a more robust outreach and syndication of our material.

 

Taylor Anderson-Stevenson, Partnership Catalyst. Taylor joined our team locally and will be working to help build and enhance our relationships with volunteers, funders, the larger community and the work of the Metta Center. Taylor will also collaborate on the Restorative Justice project, the Family Program, and other community building efforts.

 

Volunteer Teams: These friends very generously donate their time, but we need to make sure that we have funds available for project budgets when necessary.

Rafi and Waheeda Dudekula, IT specialists. Mainly concerned with two projects:

• Science of Nonviolence web resource.
• Gandhi Daily (formerly Daily Metta), app development for iPhone and android devices.

Ann Hewitt, UN representative. Develop connections via Metta’s recent granting of Consultative Status at the world body.

Katharina Mauer and Thuy Pham, Translation Team. Seek outlets for global translation and publishing of Metta material.

 

With great appreciation for your support.