A Season for Nonviolence is a national 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 memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this international event starts January 30 and ends April 4 and thus honors their vision for an empowered, non-violent world.

Since 1996, the County of Alameda and the City of Alameda have partnered with AUSD to create the Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families (ACCYF).  We have co-sponsored and supported the delivery of over twenty different assemblies in thirteen schools on the subject of bullying prevention this year thanks to our collaboration with City and County ACCYF partners.  Moreover, ACCYF each year helps to support a city-wide speech contest.

Daily readings are just one of the highlighted activities practiced during the season.  AUSD schools have been provided materials by which teachers and administrators integrate these daily readings to the school day.  Today’s reading is based on the principle of Unity.

Unity

The thought for today is Unity.  Differences give variety to life and are often only on the surface.  Most communities are made of diverse groups of people who have different opinions, who look different, and who speak many different languages.  Our challenge is to see beyond outer differences in opinions and appearances and find a meeting point of underlying unity that exists in diversity.  There is peace and nonviolence in unity as we recognize who we are in others, a transformation from separateness to unity.

Look for three ways to see beyond outer differences in opinions, appearances, or goals. In an authentic way, seek out someone who looks different, looking beyond outer differences. This helps us discover the unity which is inside all of us.