mlk – Peace Learning Center

6 11, 2015

2016 Power of Peace Award

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:03-04:00November 6th, 2015|Tags: mlk, peace leader, power of peace|

Derrin Slack - founder of ProAct Community Partnerships and 2015 Power of Peace award winner Click here to nominate a local peacemaker for the 2016 Power of Peace Award! Do you know someone who does extraordinary work to further peace and justice in your neighborhood, family, business or community? Nominate them today to win the Power of Peace Award - an annual award to recognize a local leader or group which has demonstrated peacemaking in action within the central Indiana community. Past awardees include the Latino Youth Collective, Tarik Glenn, Rupert Boneham, Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. J. Stewart Goodwin, and the Efroymson Family. To submit your nominee, please click here to complete the short questionnaire and submit it no later than Tuesday, December 8, 2015. The Power of Peace Award will be presented at Peace Learning Center's 18th Annual Martin Luther King Community Festival #2016MLKIndy on Saturday, January 18 from 11am to 3pm at Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street in Indianapolis. For more information to visit the MLK Community Festival page.

16 01, 2015

Reflections on MLK’s life and legacy

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:28-04:00January 16th, 2015|Tags: diversity, mlk, mlk festival, race, tim nation|

Tim Nation, Executive Director and Cofounder of Peace Learning Center While we reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy, 2014 will stand as a watershed year for a civil rights awakening that is both sad and hopeful. Sad because racial disparities continue to rise despite Dr. King's call for all people to come together understanding we are all one human family - children of God. Schools, child services, police and courts continue to suspend, expel, remove from their homes and punish people of color disproportionately by ranges from 200% to even 1200% more than white people. Police action shootings and recent grand jury decisions bring attention to these disparities sparking a younger generation to wake up to these injustices realizing they could no longer say we are in a post racial society and that the civil rights movement was their parents’ and grandparents' fight. Hopeful because many people recognize we must address these problems. Our institutions are reflections of our history and cultural so we must know how we got to this place to be able to change things. Fear is a powerful force. Our country's dark history of slavery used fear as an economic tool. Imagine the mindset of slave-holding plantation owners - every night wondering if their prisoners would rise up at night and overpower them. Worried that their slaves would flee, the myth of the runaway dangerous slave who would rape white women

22 12, 2014

2015 MLK Community Festival Workshops

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:30-04:00December 22nd, 2014|Tags: mlk, mlk festival, social justice, workshops|

Last year's "The Ain't Too Late Show" workshop Plan to attend the engaging, entertaining and educational workshops which will be presented by our community partners during Peace Learning Center's 17th Annual MLK Community Festival on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11-3 pm at CTS! #2015MLKIndy #1 Identifying Assets and Creating Change Presented by Public Allies Indianapolis (Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center) This workshop will focus on the impact the community can have while facing adversity and critical changes that occur over time. Adults and youth would both be engaged in the dialogue. This includes seeking input on how they are contributing to creating and sustaining inclusive communities. The dialogue on empowering families through pipelines to success (highlighting the universal attribute of leadership ability) will be to inject an optimistic, encouraging tone to the conversation. It is important that there is a focus on how families can be successful, despite the inundation of negative influences. #2 Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe: Multiculturalism Presented by Joseph Maley Foundation The JMF Kids on the Block Puppet Troupe (KOB) tours central Indiana elementary schools, youth organizations, hospitals, and special events while utilizing the performance of puppetry to impart lessons of acceptance. Puppeteers are eighth-grade students who train with JMF staff and work with child-size puppets to present skits and facilitate question and answer sessions with audience members. The multiculturalism skits address topics and generate questions on identifying one’s own culture, stereotyping, and feeling

5 11, 2014

2015 Power of Peace Award

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:36-04:00November 5th, 2014|Tags: mlk, power of peace|

Cameray Boyden, of The West Indy Peace Park, was awarded the Power of Peace Award during the closing ceremony of the 16th annual MLK Community Festival. Nominate a local peacemaker today for the 2015 Power of Peace Award! Do you know someone who does extraordinary work to further peace and justice in your neighborhood, family, business or community? Nominate them today to win the Power of Peace Award - an annual award to recognize a local leader or group which has demonstrated peacemaking in action within the central Indiana community. Past awardees include the Latino Youth Collective, Tarik Glenn, Rupert Boneham, J. Stewart Goodwin, and the Efroymson Family. To submit your nominee, please click here to complete the short questionnaire and submit it no later than Monday, December 8, 2014. (Deadline extended until Monday, December 15, 2014 at 6 pm!) The Power of Peace Award will be presented at Peace Learning Center's 17th Annual Martin Luther King Community Festival #2015MLKIndy on Saturday, January 17 from 11am to 3pm at Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street in Indianapolis. For more information click here to visit the MLK Community Festival page.

14 08, 2014

Workshops Being Accepted for 2015 MLK Festival

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:42:46-04:00August 14th, 2014|Tags: mlk, mlk festival, submissions, workshops|

The Peace Learning Center’s MLK Community Festival invites interested nonprofit organizations to submit a workshop proposal to the 2015 MLK Community Festival. We have incorporated interactive, educational workshops into the longstanding MLK Community Festival (on its 17th year!) in an attempt to help citizens be proactive and knowledgeable on issues affecting our community. Deadline: Sept 12, 2014 Criteria to apply: Organizations must be a nonprofit that develops a family-friendly, interactive workshop on an issue relevant to our community. Workshops must be 30 minutes in length and accommodate 10-30 participants. Apply here: https://goo.gl/cwdbbY The first seven organizations to apply and have an accepted proposal will receive a community festival table at no cost.

16 01, 2014

What’s your dream?

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:43:01-04:00January 16th, 2014|Tags: dreams, King Park, mlk, Peace Memorial, peaceful community|

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."- Martin Luther King, Jr. "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" - Robert Kennedy Two powerful leaders, two compelling and inseparable dreams. Indianapolis Peace Memorial Named for Civil Rights Leader Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., King Park in Indianapolis has a rich history in the community. In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy spoke to those gathered there to hear his campaign speech, but instead had to break the news that King had been assassinated. The park is now home to the Peace Memorial which honors the contributions of both slain leaders. Frequently, we ask our workshop participants to take a walk, reflect on their community, world, and environment and contemplate what their dreams might be for creating peace. We can hardly think of a more relevant place in our city than King Park. Now, you don’t have to visit Peace Learning Center or even King Park to do this (although we recommend it), but we do love the question, the challenge. What is your dream for a more peaceful community? What do you want to see? What are you going to do? Let us know by

16 01, 2014

January Volunteer Group of the Month – IPS Gambold

Brandi Metzger2021-05-20T17:43:01-04:00January 16th, 2014|Tags: Gambold, IPS, mlk, mlk festival, volunteer, volunteer of the month|

Peace Learning Center would like to recognize IPS' Gambold Prepatory Magnet High School as the volunteer of the month. Gambold has been active in our MLK Community Festival for the past two years and we are so lucky to have them on our team. Jay Horan, volunteer and intern coordinator, has had the pleasure of working closely with the group and said, "Working with Gambold is the best. The last two years they have managed the lunch at our festival, one of the busiest areas, and have done it with such ease. I never worry and know that I can always count on them to deliver! They have been an incredible partner!”

9 01, 2014

And the 2014 Power of Peace Award Goes to…

Brandi Metzger2017-05-26T10:59:54-04:00January 9th, 2014|Tags: mlk, non-violence, peace park, power of peace|

In addition to a full line-up of entertainment, workshops, and other activities, the 2014 MLK Community Festival will also include the recognition of the 2014 Power of Peace Award recipient - an award given annually to recognize a local leader or group which has exhibited peacemaking in action. This year's recipient, nominated by Beth Gibson and selected by an independent panel, is Cameray Boyden and the West Indy Peace Park. In the winter of 2010, two young men from west Indianapolis lost their lives due to their involvement with drugs and violence. One of these young men was Cameray's best friend. While their untimely deaths were not connected, there was a lot of hostility between the two groups of friends. Cameray decided something needed to be done to stop the deaths and violence. During the summer of 2011, she worked tirelessly to unite the community in the formation of the West Indianapolis Peace Park. In just 66 days the Peace Park became a reality and still serves as an example that good things happen...even during the struggle of overcoming pain and heart ache. The Peace Park is living proof that change can happen when people work together. Click here to see a full list of all of this year's Power of Peace Award nominees.