On Saturday, January 23, 41 students, faculty, and staff attended a workshop on Kingian nonviolence at the NHIOP. Presented by the University of Rhode Island Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, the workshop focused on the history and foundations of Kingian nonviolence and the fundamental principles behind its effectiveness.

Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Ph.D. and his co-trainers: Laura M. Baracaldo and Shane Lee, taught participants the difference between “nonviolence” and “non-violence.” The workshop intended to promote nonviolence, the presence of functioning coexistence and communication. In the words of King, “true peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.”

Through learning the levels and types of conflict, along with the six principles and six steps of Kingian nonviolence, participants learned how King’s philosophy could be applied to address a range of issues from every day life to major national and international disputes. As Shane Lee, a rising R&B singer and Level II Kingian nonviolence trainer said, “the change begins…with small steps in your heart.”

First introduced to Kingian nonviolence through the humanities program, Jen Taylor ’10 thought the workshop would be “a good opportunity to go a little deeper into King’s teachings.”

The presenters used a variety of hands-on methods to get participants involved and encourage enthusiasm including a performance by Lee after the lunch and snack breaks.

The workshop was part of a series of events keeping with the theme “Dreams Matter” hosted by the college to commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo: Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Ph.D. and his co-trainers: Shane Lee and Laura M. Baracaldo.