| | Note from Executive Director Cooperative Service for the Common Good | | | |
| |  | Pictured at the Minnesota Women's Press exhibit table: Alternative to Violence Project facilitator Matthew Walker and FNVW Executive Director Leah Robshaw Robinson with Minnesota Women's Press outreach director Crystal Brown and publisher Mikki Morrissette. | | | I was grateful to be with some amazing people at the Community Connections Conference in Minneapolis on June 10th. Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) facilitator, Matthew Walker and I were part of a panel conversation moderated by the Minnesota Women's Press Changemakers Alliance. We spoke about how and why transformative justice is key to public safety. "An integral part [of AVP] is building a community — taking a group of people and getting them so bonded that after the weekend workshops," Matthew joked, they are saying 'Oh my gosh, I love you, what's your phone number, let's stay together forever.' "They are committed. And everything is consensus, not one person rules. That's missing from so many people's lives. Once they do a workshop, they can't wait to come back." "From experience, as we cope with trauma and stressors, we consciously and/or subconsciously continue to use what seems to be the most effective coping skills. Our poor coping skills somehow become ingrained into us as this is part of who we are. In contrast, the AVP model frames it as we are people, a society, who just need better tools for coping with trauma and stressors in our life," he continued. | | | |
When I consider the challenges we are facing today, growing our collective capacity to handle stressors and build community is absolutely essential. Saturday's event was held downtown at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Outside the building I came across a public art installation of eagle artifacts from the original 1927 era auditorium located at that site. According to a nearby plaque, the eagles were part of four inscriptions placed high on each corner of the auditorium. The four inscriptions read: | | | |
Participation in the rights of citizenship presumes participation in the duties of citizenship. Built for a community knit together by common needs and with a common devotion directing its common life. The highest expression of life is cooperative service for the common good. Every citizen owes his city constructive interest in his city's affairs. | | |  | Plaque outside the Minneapolis Convention Center | | | |
These inscriptions still feel meaningful to me almost 100 years later. I believe FNVW provides a uniquely affirming space for people to engage in cooperative service for the common good. This is something not to be taken for granted. With Revolutionary Love,
Leah | | | |
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27th Annual Community Peace Celebration Tomorrow! | | FNVW invites you to come be in company with us at the upcoming Community Peace Celebration in our neighborhood. This is an event for the whole family - all are welcome! There will games, live entertainment, food, and different activities for all ages. | |  | | |
Community Peace Celebration
Friday, June 16th 2023
2 - 6 p.m.
Western Sculpture Park
387 Marion St.
Saint Paul, MN 55103 Please let us know you are planning to attend:
Community Peace Celebration RSVP | | | FNVW will be tabling at the Community Peace Celebration! We are looking for individuals who can commit 2 hours during the event to connect with the community and share FNVW’s mission, vision, and programs. If you are interested in tabling but do not feel prepared table, the office staff would love to share information about tabling with you and practice with you before the event. Reach out to samantha@fnvw.org to express interest, request support, and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you there! | | | |
Help make the 27th Community Peace Celebration safe and successful by volunteering at the event. Opportunities can be found here: CPC Volunteer Sign-up | | | |
| | Peace and Social Justice Meet Up on June 21st | | | |
There are so many groups in the Twin Cities making small and large efforts to advance non-violence and social justice. Imagine if we had better communication channels and partners ready to support our events and programs to leverage our efforts and improve our effectiveness. We know that we need to be together to cross pollinate and the Summer Solstice is the perfect time to do this. Join Leah Robshaw Robinson and others from FNVW on the longest day of the year at this networking event organized by Twin Cities Nonviolent (TCNV). We can share our goals, struggles, successes and questions with other committed people in our community. "Twelve Days Free From Violence" is happening this year from September 21 to October 2, 2023. The Shall We Gather at the River is a fundraiser so that TCNV can host as many organizations as possible during the “Twelve Days Free from Violence” and also a vehicle to recruit more partners and add to our 12 Days program. We will enjoy live music, good eats and great company. | | | |
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Register for our September Walkathon! | | | |
 | Let us know you're interested through our Facebook Event! In collaboration with Twin Cities Nonviolent, this event takes place on Day 10 of Twin Cities Nonviolent annual 12 Days Free from Violence. | | |  | We are calling on all Minnesotans to come out and participate in this inspiring event! This Walkathon helps fundraise for FNVW’s peace programs in our communities. This year, our focus is developing a youth focused AVP program in schools! Kicking-off at Brackett Park in Minneapolis, we'll then walk to the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue Bridge for a Hands Across the River Ceremony followed by food, music and speakers at the Danish American Center. Find out more and register to participate here: fnvw.org/walk4peace | | | |
Together we will uplift the vision of a world beyond violence and a culture rooted in nonviolence. | | We invite all groups and organizations in Minnesota that promote nonviolence, peaceful conflict resolution and equitable justice to partner with us. Contact us at walk4peace@fnvw.org if you’d like more information or are interested in helping us plan the event. | | | |
| | Get Out into the Community with FNVW this Summer | | | |
FNVW is getting outside and connecting with new people and communities this summer! We invite you sign up to be a part of the fun. We are looking for individuals interested in talking about FNVW, sharing information about our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, and enjoying community focused spaces. Take a look and see if you'd like to join us at any of these events where we'll be tabling and passing out fliers: FNVW Community Events | | | |
Please put your name and time of availability down in that box next to any event you'd like to attend and we'll follow up with more details. All event volunteers will get an FNVW t-shirt. If you are interested in these types of activities but want to gather some more information and practice, please reach out to FNVW Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Samantha Alexander, at samantha@fnvw.org. Thank you all for making FNVW the amazing community that it is! | | | |
