Peace and Justice Institute

It is easy to feel as if we cannot make an impact in the world, but we can. With small daily steps we can bring kindness into our lives, our relationships, our community, our college campuses and the world. This is not about making bold moves, but simply being more mindful of the power of kindness in our daily interactions.

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee, he authored a new chapter about peaceful protest in the America. How have his efforts impacted the dialogue around social justice? This workshop will invite participants to discuss privilege, pride, and patriotism through the lens of differing views about Colin Kaepernick and his decision to “take a knee.”

As we are regularly assaulted with images and experiences of violence, we know the life-altering impact of injury and pain. In response to this, the concept of forgiveness can often be weaponized to short-circuit the appropriate work of seeking justice. However, we know that the process of forgiveness is crucial for the healing work of the injured party. Join us as we consider the delicate work of forgiveness in the context of seeking justice.

People go into nature to seek internal peace and calm. We need to ensure that what we do when we aren’t there, preserves and protects it. Working with and not against natural cycles and resources, enables us to live, work, and play in cleaner and healthier communities. This session will include highlights of environmental sustainability efforts at Valencia.

Elementary aged children and their parents, guardians, and teachers are invited to learn simple ways to recenter after the school day. Join Valencia Librarian, Emilie Buckley for stories, art, and pebble meditation.  Children will need: 4 small pebbles (or beans, coins, legos, etc), paper, pencil, and crayons/markers.

How can we help create a more racially equitable world? In this workshop, we will explore the early messages we received on race and examine the policies and practices of our society’s institutions. This will allow us to identify areas for change and ways to use our energy, knowledge, and resources to create the culture we want to see. Come share your experiences and brainstorm ideas in small groups. *Screen reader support enabled.