While we all recognize that 2020 has been a strange and challenging year, Nonviolent Schools RI (NSRI) hasn't skipped a beat! Yes, we've had to go virtual, yet we have been able to continue our work to help schools in Rhode Island become places where all are valued, loved, and included, diversity is acknowledged and respected, and where antiracism and anti-discrimination are the pillars that support every thought and process. We teach a curriculum based on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., known as "Kingian Nonviolence". It is based on two pillars: the 6 Principles are the values and the 6 Steps that are used to address and reconcile conflict. NSRI's mission is to bring this practice to all schools in Rhode Island, with the goals of building community, decreasing emotional and physical violence in schools, and increasing academic success!

Presently Nonviolent Schools RI (NSRI) is working on a new project, one that will diversify our training staff and will positively impact communities and schools throughout Rhode Island. Thanks to a generous grant from Wendy and Nick Bowen, NSRI has offered 6 Fellowships to individuals from the Providence area who have shown a commitment to furthering the work that has already begun in RI, to make this the first Nonviolent state in the country. Under the leadership of Jonathan Lewis, 6 Bowen Fellows will undergo 80 hours of Kingian training, and will prepare and implement a project at the end of training that showcase the way that they have embraced and are practicing Kingian Nonviolence. The Fellows will be joined by other individuals who have expressed interest in becoming Level 1 trainers. This work will begin at the end of January.

Roberta Opara has graciously agreed to serve on Nonviolent Schools RI's board of directors. Roberta is a Level 2 Kingian trainer, and brings so many outstanding skill sets to our organization. Roberta holds a LLB/JD degree and a Masters in (Interpersonal and Organizational) Communication Studies. Her legal services work and time with non-profit organizations in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa- included a clerkship with the Office of Justices Froneman (rtd.) and Wallis of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Her legal services work and time with non-profit organizations in Africa- Nigeria and South Africa- included a clerkship with the Office of Justices Froneman (rtd.) and Wallis of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

In 2018 eight teachers and administrators from Mary Fogarty Elementary School in Providence attended our Summer Institute. After that, we began a partnership that continues to this day. NSRI has conducted Kingian training for educators and staff at the school, and has assigned mentors to the school to help with the implementation of the Kingian curriculum. This year, Wendy Bowen and Autumn Francesca have been working virtually with staff on monthly Kingian lessons and videos that will be shared with students. NSRI will also conduct another training for new staff, and those who would like to attend for a refresher. We value the commitment that Mary Fogarty's principal, Courtney Monterecy has made to NSRI and the Kingian way of life.

In the Fall of 2020 Nonviolent Schools RI hosted two book clubs: We Want To Do More Than Survive and How To Be An Antiracist. They were so successful that we are offering two more book clubs in January 2021: White Fragility and So You Want To Talk About Race. Facilitators Wendy Bowen, Stephanie Griffin, and Robin Wildman are looking forward to meeting the 60 educators who have signed up for the book clubs.

Email: nonviolentschools@gmail.com
Website: www.nonviolentschoolsri.org
Location: P.O. Box 496 West Kingston, RI 02892
Facebook: facebook.com/nonviolentschoolsri
Twitter: @NonviolentRI