Our World 2023: Equal Justice

- Diversity Club Events and Guest Speakers

- Black History Month Celebration and Awareness

- Campus Ministry Volunteer Activities

- Student Research & Projects

- Jazz Band

- Student Art- request

- Investigative Reporting - Nonviolence Institute

Join in and/or Create a New Program!

Join in: Read a Book 

Make Friends - Meet More LSA Faculty Members - Be a Part of the Change!

You're Invited to participate in Year Two !

Read for Change Reading Circle Program

How the program came to be:  Informal chats about page turning books related to the social and racial justice issues that emerged during 2020 evolved into a book list, then an all-campus reading program! This year we are offering up 7 books. The group of faculty and students who choose each book will become members of a Reading Circle that will meet once for an informal book chat in early March. Participants will receive a free copy of their book of choice just before February break.

How To Participate: 1) Read the book descriptions, 2) choose your book using the Google Form, 3) pick up your book in the library & read it, 4) participate in your Book Circle discussion!

Redistricting = a review of voting locations conducted every 10 years following the return of Census data

Gerrymandering = when elected officials redraw voting districts and revise voting procedures and policies to favor a political party or a class

Prison Gerrymandering = counting prison inmates as legal residents of the location of the prison in which they are held instead of their actual place of residence

Infographic by Catherine Mukiibi '24

Nonviolence Institute, Providence, RI 

"People don't talk about nonviolence, they don't talk about self care, or wellness in the sense of the trauma people have gone through." - Cedric Huntley '77

Executive Director of the Nonviolence Institute of Providence

(Interview by: Jason Lebrun, March 21, 2022)

Question 1: How long have you been working with the Nonviolence Institute?

Cedric Huntley is a La Salle Academy alumnus of the class of 1977. He played basketball for La Salle between 1974 - 1977, and he was also a runner up until 1976. He grew up in South Providence and used his La Salle education to become an educator and  to teach people about solving problems in nonviolent ways. He worked in the city of Providence for 2 years and then worked at The Met for 18 years, where he was an athletic director and a teacher.  He has been an active supporter of the Nonviolence institute since its very beginning.

Question 2: When was N.V.I established and why?

It was established in 1999, by the Institute's co-founders Sister Ann Keefe and Father Ray Malm. Cedric Huntley was one of the founding members of the Board of Directors. Back then, young people were being murdered in Cedric's community. Cedric saw the need to provide support and education for to people who have experienced violence (the Intervention Services Team), and also the need to start up a re-entry program for people who have been in jail and released to help them get back on their feet, etc.  The SEED program for youth training has also been created.

Question 3: What was the program like in the beginning, and what is it like now? Did you have less people in the beginning, and have more now? Do you see this program expanding nationally? Are you happy with the results you're getting? (SEED Program)

It has always been a model program in the country, and it has been a collaboration. The Nonviolence Institute is present in different locations such as: Atlanta, LA, Chicago, and more. The program started out with focusing on prevention and street outreach, providing support to victims, and then it grew into more of a training, education, and employment program on non-violence. The SEED program now offers training, resources, and the enrichment program.

Question 4: What does a day look like in the SEED Program?

•  40-hour training, 20 hours per week, 10 AM - 2 PM or 4 PM

• Introduction to Non-Violence training for youth: “6 steps/levels, identifying beloved community, language, and tools to begin the practice of implementing thoughts and principles." 

• The SEED program (for K-12 youth) makes participants think of alternate choices, how to recognize violence, recognize its impact, and help reduce violent choices.  It also supports and gives them ques to step back and start to practice Non-Violence.

• Teaches them the levels of violence.

• Participants are paid to come into training.

• Partners: have been: Brown University, Moses Brown, Local Law Offices, Rivers Edge and more!

Question 5: What do you have to say for the people who do support, love, and dedicate their lives tot heir community, but are a little hesitant to reach out and get involved in what your program offers?

“Come in, the institute has been open through COVID, call us up!" - Cedric Huntley. He wants to reach all levels of the community. He wants people to understand that violence can happen anywhere, and that it can impact the community and the entire state.

The Non Violence Institute receives the RI Distinguish Service award

"Pause for Peace." - Cedric Huntley

A Racist Idea =

"any idea that suggests something is wrong or right, superior or inferior, better or worse about a racial group"

An Antiracist Idea =

"an idea that suggests that racial groups are equals"

-Ibram X. Kendi from Stamped: Antiracism, Racism and You, 2020

Justice = 

“ . . . the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. "

-Bryan Stevenson from Just Mercy, 2015

“Our communities stand united against racism. Hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we can stop it.”

—AAPI Equity Alliance

Stop AAPI Hate is an initiative powered by the AAPI Equity Alliance and the San Francisco State University that works to end racism against those of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage. As violent hate crimes against Asian Americans occur, it is imperative to be a part of the change and ensure that people are never harmed because of their race or ethnic background. Click the link below to learn more about how others can stand together with Asian Americans. 

https://stopaapihate.org/