• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Monday, October 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

N. Mpls activist learns lessons in peace from Kenyan youth

by MSR News Online
July 18, 2012
53
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

By Annette Smith

Contributing Writer

 

Annette Smith (2nd from l) with youth
at the “Alternatives to Violence” workshop in Kenya.

Kenya experienced high levels of violence (death, displacement, injury, destruction and theft of property) during their presidential elections in 2008. I am a member of the Minneapolis Friends Meeting who was chosen to attend a worldwide conference of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Kenya. During this conference, I had the amazing experience of attending a pre-conference youth-led “Alternatives to Violence” workshop in northern Kenya.

A series of workshops have been happening in Kenya in preparation for the upcoming 2012 elections and to prepare young people for living together in harmony: finding peaceful ways to face real differences and resolve conflict while building a new future for their country.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 ________________________________________________________________________________

As a lifelong resident of Minneapolis

(the last 15 years on the North Side),

I could see some similarities

in the challenges our youth face to

the challenges facing young Kenyans.

 _____________________________________________________________________________________

Twenty-one youth gathered in the small town of Turbo and were led by three youth facilitators in exercises that build what the Alternatives to Violence calls “transforming power,” which is a spiritual but not a religious concept that relies on the following practices:

• Listen before making judgments.

• Seek to resolve conflicts by reaching common ground.

• Expect to experience great inward power to act.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

• Risk changing yourself. Be ready to revise your position if it is wrong.

• Ask yourself for a nonviolent way. There may be one inside you.

With a long history of tribal differences (promoted, sometimes invented, and used by the British during the colonial period), it was a challenge for the youth to view each other and to see problem solving in a new way. I was touched by the vulnerability, openness and positive energy of the participants.

As a lifelong resident of Minneapolis (the last 15 years on the North Side), I could see some similarities in the challenges our youth face to the challenges facing young Kenyans. Many conflicts youth deal with have a history of resentment, revenge and payback. How can unity and harmony be created? How can our youth express their leadership in a way that is good for the community?

After participating in the Alternatives to Violence workshops, Kenyan youth can attend other workshops, including one that instructs and practices speaking “truth to power” — how to unite and bring concerns and ideas to policymakers, and how to become a policymaker. That, too, seemed to be a good model or practice for my own North Minneapolis community.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

I saw a bumper sticker recently that said “Youth are not the problem, they are the solution.” The youth I met in Kenya and the youth I meet in my own neighborhood affirm that wise proposition.

 

If you are interested in supporting a community conflict resolution initiative in Minneapolis/St. Paul, email nettiekay.smith@gmail.com.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Money, power, respect: Part 3 — Respect

Next Post

Buy Black Day Twin Cities August 18

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip
Local

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip

Ampersand Families
Employment

Human Resources Manager, ampersand families

Program Coordinator
Employment

Office Coordinator

Program Coordinator
Employment

Program Coordinator

Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate
National

Gavin Newsom appoints Laphonza Butler to replace Dianne Feinstein in the U.S. Senate

Photo of the Week: Barbie back-to-school party
Photo Galleries

Photo of the Week: Barbie back-to-school party

Next Post

Buy Black Day Twin Cities August 18

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Oct 3
October 3 @ 8:30 am-October 4 @ 5:30 pm

Insects: Little Body, Big Impact | Nobel Conference 59 | Virtual or In-Person

Oct 4
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An Evening with Liz Cheney

Oct 5
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

The Bombing of Cubana Flight 455: Why it Matters

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

PHOTO: Barbie back-to-school party

A Barbie back to school party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: