Nonviolence Week in Youngstown: How to get involved
This week is Nonviolence Week in the Mahoning Valley, and Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past is ready to go with a full week's worth of events from marches to panels to dinners and more. Here's everything you need to know to get involved with Nonviolence Week.
Nonviolence Week kicks off with the annual parade on Saturday, October 1st at 3pm. The route runs from the intersection of Wood St. and Wick Ave. in Downtown Youngstown and runs to the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, where a following rally will be held.
The parade will feature students from Sojourn to the Past, various valley schools, churches, nonprofits, political candidates, and community organizations, who will all be competing for best float, best banner, and best in show for highlighting the themes of peace and nonviolence.
The parade is just the kickoff to Nonviolence Week, and there's plenty more to engage with and enjoy. A full list of the week's events is below:
October 1-5: Five Day Reading Challenge - People who sign up will receive nonviolence and community building materials via email from Sunday through Thursday, culminating in a luncheon and panel discussion on Friday, October 6th at the YWCA on W. Rayen Ave. Sign up for the reading challenge here.
Monday, October 2, 5-9pm: Mingle With Minni Fundraiser Dinner - Come to Flambeau's Live at 2308 Market St. to meet Minnijean Brown Trickey, who as a young girl was one of the first African-American teenagers to integrate into white schools as a member of the "Little Rock Nine" in 1957. During the dinner, which requires a $25 ticket to attend, Minni discusses social change, diversity, and battling against racism and discrimination.
Tuesday, October 3, 7pm: Simeon Booker Award Ceremony - This ceremony is free and open to the public, at the Tyler Historical Center in Youngstown. It is preceded by a reception at 5:30, which costs $45 to attend. The ceremony commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing with survivor Sarah Collins Rudolph and Lisa McNair, who lost her sister in the bombing.
Wednesday, October 4, 6-8pm: "Speak Your Peace" Spoken Word Event - This event takes place at the Hopewell Theater on Mahoning Ave. Students grades 6 through 12 will present spoken word pieces themed around Martin Luther King Jr's Principles of Nonviolence alongside poet Michelle R. Smith. Prizes will be awarded at the event.
Thursday, October 5, 7pm: Art and Poetry Reception - An art and poetry contest will take place at The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, where pre-registered entrants will display their original works themed around nonviolence.
Friday, October 6, 12n: 5 Day Read Panel Discussion - Participants in the Five Day Reading Challenge will attend a panel discussion at the YWCA with Youngstown community leaders and Minnijean Brown Trickey of the Little Rock Nine to talk about the themes of nonviolence.
Friday, October 13, 11am-1pm: Art of Emotion - The Jewish Community Center on Gypsy Lane in Youngstown will host a free art class for students in grades K-8, themed around nonviolence.
A detailed rundown of each event and links for signups, registrations, and tickets can be found on the Nonviolence Week Website at https://www.ohiononviolenceweek.org/.
