Caption: A hand is placing a flower in a gun, with the first principle of Kingian Nonviolence above it.

Written by: Briel Slocum, Youth & Young Adult Assistant

In the Youth and Young Adult internship, I work with different groups to help counsel them in justice projects they are leading. I work with three different groups currently, and everyone is contributing to their community in abundant ways! Currently, consultation is being granted with three different groups: a group in Ohio, Harrisburg Church of the Brethren, and Westminster Church of the Brethren. Young adults are finding exciting ways to build peace and justice by taking initiative and getting involved.

A chainlink fence acts as the background to the third principle of Kingian Nonviolence. 

Written by Matt Guynn, Director of Organizing

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr., Day! MLK Day is an invitation to re-commit to nonviolence as a way of life. Honoring Dr. King invites each of us to commit to become practitioners of nonviolence, experimenters with soul force in the face of supremacy and violence. We honor Dr. King and the women and men who advanced civil and human rights fifty years ago when we turn our own eyes to the horizon, and set our own hands to the same work they chose in their times. I’d love to hear how you have made this commitment in your own life, or how you’d like to do so even more this year; please share your story with me at [email protected].

Caption: A row of guns is met with a hand holding a flower. The first Kingian Nonviolence Principle is listed. 

Written by Sadia Aurna, Development Fellow

Bill has been so wonderful to work with. My interaction with him started from the very first day of my work here in OEP. He was always kind and at the same time great at teaching. I loved our conversations around very critical topics that need to be discussed more. I hope love, light, and peace will always be with him.

Caption: Bill Scheurer is looking at the camera, smiling. 

Written by Matt Guynn, Director of Organizing

Bill Scheurer completed nine-and-a-half years as OEP executive director before the organization decided to restructure in 2021. His position completes on January 7, 2022. The staff will work in a collaborative interim model until a more permanent restructuring in 2023.

Artwork: Christmas Eve, Calum Clow, Mixed media on paper, 2021

The holidays are a busy time of year, and because of priorities like gift shopping and planning family gatherings, it can be easy to disconnect from some of the things that matter to us. Finding a balance between the festivities of the holidays and staying informed on current events is a challenge. This past week I have not devoted as much of my time and energy towards researching environmental justice as I would like to because the holidays are upon us. That being said, I rediscovered a film I used to watch around this time of year as a child called “The Night They Saved Christmas”. This TV movie from the 1980’s is accessible through numerous streaming services, including free ones, and readily available online which is another reason I wanted to share about it. Upon giving the film a fresh watch for myself, I found some overlap with my environmental justice research I wanted to document. Especially since this is a family friendly movie and could open the door to explaining environmental justice concepts to children.