Victory Over Voilence exhibition at Laney Library
Jonathan Riley
Issue date: 10/16/08 Last update: 10/18/08 at 3:45 PM PST
Section: Features
The Victory Over Violence exhibition was here at Laney on Tuesday, September 30th, and Wednesday and Saturday, October 1st and 4th.
Victory Over Violence (VOV) is an exhibition that travels around to various schools and community events to educate and talk to people about different forms of violence, the root causes, and possible solutions. VOV was created in the East Bay in 1999 by younger members of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) USA, an American Buddhist Organization which promotes peace in communities and runs several Culture of Peace Resource Centers around the country.
The event kicked off Tuesday with speakers including SF Giants Hall-of-Famer and peace activist Orlando Cepeda, and hip-hop performances.
The VOV exhibit, consisting of large, informational panels and pictures, was in the library Tuesday and Wednesday and was moved to the forum across from it for Saturday's exhibition. Between Wednesday and Saturday the exhibition went to two middle schools, West Oakland Middle School on Thursday, and Ascend Middle School on Friday.
The panels highlighted such themes as "passive violence", or non-physical actions that can lead to physical violence, in the home, community, and schools. Some examples cited were road rage, and verbal and emotional abuse leading people to commit violence as in the case of the Columbine tragedy.
Also discussed on the informational panels were the some of the root causes of violence including oppression, institutionalized racism, and apathy, citing the example of apathetic Germans committing atrocities during the holocaust. Some solutions to problems of violence were discussed including a panel about the role of dialogue in reducing violence. The "VOV Pledge" to value your own life, respect all life, and inspire hope in others, was also on display, and all in attendance were invited to take the pledge.
The event Saturday opened with drumming and music, followed by a reading of a letter from Mayor Ron Dellums declaring September 28-October 4, 2008 to be Victory Over Violence Week in Oakland. Several speakers thanked the community for making the event possible. A short skit followed, which was also shown at the middle schools on Oct. 2nd and 3rd, about how to handle problematic situations non-violently.
A highlight of the event was a speech by speaker Dawn Sullivan in which she talked about her youth as a troubled teen who often resorted to passive and physical violence, and her personal transformation and "victory over violence" to become a peace officer and community activist against violence.
Victory Over Violence (VOV) is an exhibition that travels around to various schools and community events to educate and talk to people about different forms of violence, the root causes, and possible solutions. VOV was created in the East Bay in 1999 by younger members of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) USA, an American Buddhist Organization which promotes peace in communities and runs several Culture of Peace Resource Centers around the country.
The event kicked off Tuesday with speakers including SF Giants Hall-of-Famer and peace activist Orlando Cepeda, and hip-hop performances.
The VOV exhibit, consisting of large, informational panels and pictures, was in the library Tuesday and Wednesday and was moved to the forum across from it for Saturday's exhibition. Between Wednesday and Saturday the exhibition went to two middle schools, West Oakland Middle School on Thursday, and Ascend Middle School on Friday.
The panels highlighted such themes as "passive violence", or non-physical actions that can lead to physical violence, in the home, community, and schools. Some examples cited were road rage, and verbal and emotional abuse leading people to commit violence as in the case of the Columbine tragedy.
Also discussed on the informational panels were the some of the root causes of violence including oppression, institutionalized racism, and apathy, citing the example of apathetic Germans committing atrocities during the holocaust. Some solutions to problems of violence were discussed including a panel about the role of dialogue in reducing violence. The "VOV Pledge" to value your own life, respect all life, and inspire hope in others, was also on display, and all in attendance were invited to take the pledge.
The event Saturday opened with drumming and music, followed by a reading of a letter from Mayor Ron Dellums declaring September 28-October 4, 2008 to be Victory Over Violence Week in Oakland. Several speakers thanked the community for making the event possible. A short skit followed, which was also shown at the middle schools on Oct. 2nd and 3rd, about how to handle problematic situations non-violently.
A highlight of the event was a speech by speaker Dawn Sullivan in which she talked about her youth as a troubled teen who often resorted to passive and physical violence, and her personal transformation and "victory over violence" to become a peace officer and community activist against violence.
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