“Non-violence is not inaction.It is not discussion.It is not for the timid or weak … Non-violence is hard work.It is the willingness to sacrifice.It is the patience to win.” – Cesar E. Chavez
Focus:
The Foundation is committed to promoting and applying Cesar’s principles of nonviolence on the local, state, national, and global levels to prevent violence and to provide conflict resolution methods for the human community.
Need:
Violence across the U.S. is on the rise, rates of incarceration among young people, particularly people of color, are also increasing at alarming rates.Violence is a blight on many communities throughout the U.S. that has lasting negative effects on the nation.
Programs:
This is perhaps the Foundation’s most visionary programmatic area.Most of the programs listed below are under development.
The Cesar E. Chavez Nonviolence Institute, will provide nonviolence resources for communities.Services will include conflict resolution (alternative dispute resolution), nonviolence training, violence prevention programming and resources, and much more.
Conflict Resolution, will apply Cesar’s values and principles to provide individuals, on the local and global stages, with vital tools to further peace and resolve conflicts.This has the potential to be a powerful program with a global impact and will be incorporated into the future Chavez Nonviolence Institute.
Human Rights, currently several service-learning programs are providing young people the opportunity to learn about Cesar’s values and the importance of dignity, equality and justice for all people.Cesar’s life example has the potential to serve as a powerful model for addressing human rights issues not only on the local level, but also on the global level.
Violence Prevention, an important step to preventing violence is providing individuals with creative outlets and alternatives.Service-learning and other Foundation programming provides students with after school and extracurricular opportunities to express themselves and to engage in constructive projects to improve their communities.The Foundation recently developed the Cesar E. Chavez “Can’t We All Get Along?” Peer Mediation and Awareness Campaign Project.The project provides 6th – 8th students with an understanding of Cesar’s values of non-violence and service to others by engaging them in addressing incidents of violence in and around the school including, bullying, discrimination, and racism through peer mediation and conflict resolution at their school site.
