Election Day

“Nonviolent Communication guides us in reframing how we express ourselves and hear others.” Marshall Rosenberg

Marshall Rosenberg grew up literally, in the midst of the race riot in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan Outside his window, 600 people were injured and 34 died. He witnessed how people communicated in a violent way, and he grew up wanting to find a way in which people could resolve their differences peacefully. He developed a four-step process he called “Nonviolent Communication” or NVC. 

Voting could be considered a nonviolent way to communicate our values, needs and desires. It’s one way we communicate our collective voice. Or, running for office is even more direct. Also, whether we’re old enough or too young to take part in politics, we can still exert our influence on policies and decisions. We can use our voices to stand up for ourselves, for what we believe in and for what we hold dear. 

Here’s a short film of Jaysa, a ten-year-old girl who suffered from asthma, and used her voice to help shut down Connecticut’s last coal-fired power plant.

https://www.youngvoicesfortheplanet.com/youth-climate-videos/words-have-power/

Young Voices for the Planet (https://www.youngvoicesfortheplanet.com/), is filled with more uplifting and inspiring, award-winning documentary films featuring diverse young role models using their voices to effect positive change in their schools and communities. It includes rich resources for teachers that give students tools to take action and make change- even though they’re still to young to vote!