Written by Marie Benner-Rhoades, Youth and Young Adult Peace Formation Director

Early in our internship program, we began lamenting when our highly skilled and committed interns left their positions after a year with us.  As early as 2016, we began to dream of a fellowship opportunity to keep interns with us for a second year.  In 2020, we piloted the Fellowship Program with Tiffany Byers as Communications Fellow.  And now in 2021, we have a full fellowship cohort with five second year interns!

These fellows take their experience in their internships and apply what they’ve learned to help us build our capacity as an institution in work across the organization.  Internships tend to be constituent facing, while fellowships support best practices and institutionalization of key commitments internal to OEP.  Our five current fellows work in Communications, Development, Kingian Nonviolence, Organizing, and with our Anti-Racism Transformation Team.  Here is a bit from each of them as they move from their internship into their fellowship year:

Written by Marilyne Njuraita, Prison Justice Organizer

In the month of May, I was able to stop by Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The park consists of: a museum; the path of Martin Luther King Jr.; The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change with the burial place of King and his wife Coretta Scott King; an 1894 firehouse that served the Sweet Auburn community until 1991; the "I Have a Dream" International World Peace Rose Garden; a memorial tribute to Mohandas K. Gandhi; and the "International Civil Rights Walk of Fame" commemorating some of the courageous pioneers who’ve worked for social justice.

Written by Matt Guynn, Church and Community Group Director of Organizing

On three Saturdays in late June and early July, On Earth Peace sponsored a Spanish-language Kingian Nonviolence training via Zoom for the Bolivian organizing group Standing Rivers/Ríos De Pie. Standing Rivers works for a free, fair & safe Bolivia, protecting forests and promoting human rights, indigenous rights, and sustainable environmental policies. Their goal is a reconciled, democratic society in Bolivia. 

Written by Anna Rodriguez, Kingian Nonviolence Fellow

During the month of July, On Earth Peace has been organizing a 3-part series to explore tools for organizing and community leadership through the values and practices of Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation. Join us for our final session!

If you are an organizer working for social change, an activist working to reduce violence in your community, or just someone who wants to learn more, join us! We will apply Kingian tools to the context of each organizer/participant - and, you’re welcome if you’re just curious, but don’t have a specific issue in mind. We anticipate participation from members of OEP’s different Learning Action Communities - but no previous involvement is required. Come build relationships and get a taste of Kingian Nonviolence! Participation at all sessions is not required. REGISTER HERE

This month we've been excited to introduce you to Ruth Karasek and Marie Benner-Rhoades. Our final June newsletter highlights Mark Karasek, educator, innovator, and long time supporter of On Earth Peace! Advocating for peace and justice is a family endeavor for spouses Mark and Ruth, and we are happy to support the Karasek family in their work. 

We hope hearing from the leaders OEP has supported will inspire you to support us- we hope you will feel led to share these stories with others and donate to help support future leaders in OEP. Let these stories inspire you in your own work towards building a more peaceful, just world. 

Mark Karasek

Generation: Baby Boomer (1946-1964)