Forgiveness News

 

Proposal To Honor
THE SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE 2009

(and Support the Reduction of Violence in Oakland & Richmond, CA)

 

The Season for Nonviolence, January 30 - April 4, is a global 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. Inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event honors their vision for an empowered, nonviolent world.

 

Purpose

This is an invitation for potential sponsors, partners and participants to consider this opportunity to join us in 1) honoring the powerful Season for Nonviolence and 2) helping bring a seismic shift to a disturbing and destructive trend within the inner-cities of America, specifically among inner-city youth of the East Bay (Oakland and Richmond) area of the San Francisco Bay.

 

What We're Facing!

The oppressive blanket of violence and death overshadows young inner-city African American men - as well as women and children - darkening and depressing their hope for the future in the 21st Century. The death-by-homicide rate among African American males under the age of 30 years has reached catastrophic levels (nearly 8 times more likely than white males of the same age group). Recently, eight men were murdered over one weekend in Oakland, California.  Too many young male African Americans in inner cities do not expect to live beyond their 20s.

 

The collateral damage of this wave of death has scarred the lives of countless innocent bystanders as well, including scores of women and children among them. The overwhelming cause of these deaths is youth-on-youth violence utilizing hand guns. This epidemic of gun violence primarily plagues inner-city urban areas where African Americans tend to be concentrated and isolated. Unfortunately, the East Bay, despite its stellar history of diversity and achievement, has not escaped this wave of violence.  What can be done in the East Bay specifically to turn this situation around?

 

What is the Answer?

The answer is compound and complex, but at the base of it the issue is Money! There is little that can be done without money! Money is essential to create jobs. Money is required to hire law enforcement personnel. Money is needed to improve the schools. Money is critical to provide programs that bring activities, guidance and incentives to young people in order to turn them away from the destructive life of the streets. Most importantly, Money can help stimulate that magical intangible - HOPE! Without hope, dreams and the push that strives to be better are crushed. With hope, that which seems impossible can become achievable!

 

How Will We Get The Money?

Such money will not come from taxes alone. Taxes are already oppressive and taxpayer tolerance is stretched to the limit. Other sources of funds must be found and developed. The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance has a plan to develop one of those needed channels for funds.

 

What is the Plan?

As a first step, the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance proposes the production of three fund raising events in tandem;

 

• A formal awards dinner honoring the power of forgiveness, nonviolence and peace in the persons of two nationally recognized Champions of Forgiveness and Nonviolence.
• On the following day, an outdoor festival celebrating the value of the family and the benefits of nonviolence. In support of the nonviolence theme, the festival also will feature a gun buyback station.
• Following the festival will be an evening benefit concert featuring popular performers who advocate peace and nonviolence.

 

The proposed dates for this happening are Friday April 3rd and Saturday April 4, 2009, the final weekend of the Season for Nonviolence. This is generally a time of favorable weather conditions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Who Will Benefit?

Several organizations in the Oakland/Richmond area stand out as effective agents of change seeking to support and develop children in order to break the cycle of aimlessness, underachievement and violence. One of those is the Oakland-based East Bay Church of Religious Science (led by Rev. Dr. Elouise Oliver), which is working in partnership with the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance to produce this event. The WFA is currently evaluating and contacting other community-based organizations to assess how to best support the efforts of one or more of them. Our goal is to generate at least $100,000 (after expenses) to be given to those selected organizations.

What Can You Do?

First, you can allow us to share more information with you. Please submit your name and email address to FORGIVENESSDAY@SBCGLOBAL.NET. This will keep you in the loop as we progress. Secondly, you can help us by contributing money to help produce this event. You can help make this event happen. It will be of great benefit not only to the young people and the families of Oakland and Richmond California, nor just the organizations on-the-ground that are doing the tough day-to-day work of helping, but the power of your generosity will benefit you as well. Thank you for joining us.