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The Loud Voices of our Youth!

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

“School should not be a place where we are discussing where we should duck and cover!” stated a youth speaker at the “Never Again” youth-led demonstration on the Plaza on Friday April 20th.

Another speaker declared, “We need to reconnect in our community and look hard at the narrative we are repeating.  Nineteen years ago the Columbine murders occurred, and we are still just talking about it!”

During the two months of the Art of Nonviolence Exhibit at the TCA, visitors were asked to respond in writing to the question “What is the path to nonviolence?”  Out of the 173 responses, the most passionate involved gun regulations and bullying.  On both of these topics, they asked for adult partnerships to change some things. [Read more…] about The Loud Voices of our Youth!

Listening to the Village Voices

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

The people of Taos spoke to all of us during the two months—from February 5 through April 2– that TCA’s Encore Gallery and Nonviolence Works presented the exhibit “The Art of Nonviolence.”  They responded to the question: “What is the path to Nonviolence?  Share your Hopes and Insights… ”

We gathered 173 comments left by viewers of all ages—from 8 to 87.  While there was one comment from Indiana and another from Amsterdam, Holland, we can assume that these messages were from our own residents who welcomed the opportunity to respond.  We will review these messages over the next two weeks and share them with you as a reflection of our voices.

The majority of responses urged a personal expression of positive values that supported self-esteem and close trusting relationships—leading to the ability to avoid violent acts. Often these beliefs and actions are nurtured in families and religious communities.  Examples were: [Read more…] about Listening to the Village Voices

Youth Speak to Us about Violence!

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

“Art is a language that allows youth to clearly express themselves in ways that are different than writing or speaking,”  so states Michael “Smokey” Martinez, Nonviolence Works board member and chair of the Art of Nonviolence Exhibit, which opens Monday, February 5. in the Encore Gallery at the TCA.

The exhibit features works by 30 young artists from Questa Junior/Senior High School, Taos Middle School, and Taos Charter School.  They all responded to the challenge from their teachers to express how violence has impacted them. The exhibit is beautiful and tough. These stories are clearly moving, with certain themes that emerge—the juxtaposition of love and violence, the power of bullying, bruises on the heart, feelings of being victimized, pretending to be okay, suicidal thoughts.

From the 2018 ART OF NONVIOLENCE EXHIBIT

Martinez comments that the courage of these artists to express their feelings is a strong message of support for other youth who may not feel they can speak up about what has happened to them.  These shyer students can be empowered by their classmates.  And the teachers—Katie Woodall at Taos Charter School, Christine Autumn at the Taos Middle School, and Jennifer Vialpando from Questa Junior/Senior High school—talked to their students about how to dig down deep in their own lives. What has happened to them? What have they experienced?  What have they observed?  What have their friends shared with them?  The teachers created safe, accepting environments for the students to speak their truth through art. And it will all be at the TCA for us to share. [Read more…] about Youth Speak to Us about Violence!

A New Look:  Come Visit our Web Site!

Mary Gray McPhailBy Mary McPhail Gray
NVW Board Chair

New Nonviolence Works board member, Sandra Bentley has been working with staff and board to design a fresh up-to-date look for our site at www.nonviolenceworks.us.  We think you will enjoy its look and learn a great deal about us.

One special feature of the site is the art by Taos school youth from the 2013 The Art of Nonviolence show at the Taos Center for the Arts.  Youth create images to remind us of the impact of violence—and the power of nonviolence.  We look forward to our next show at the TCA in the spring of 2018. [Read more…] about A New Look:  Come Visit our Web Site!