The Muhammad Ali institute for Peace and Justice

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2007-2008 Annual Report

• The Muhammad Ali institute for Peace and Justice
• at the University of Louisville

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The Muhammad Ali Institute

• The Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice
  advances the work, study and practice of
  peacemaking, social justice and violence
  prevention through the development of innovative
  educational programs, training, service and
  research.
• Our Vision
• Drawing strength from the vision and work of
  Muhammad Ali, the Muhammad Ali Institute for
  Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville
  develops initiatives that support human dignity,
  foster responsible citizenship, further peace and
  justice and address the impact of violence in
  local, state, national and international arenas.
  The Ali Institute has a special concern for young
  people living with violence in urban areas
  therefore, we seek to equip the young and those
  working with them to be agents of peace and
  justice in their communities. Because the Ali
  Institute recognizes that peace cannot exist in
  the absence of justice, we strive, through our
  work and energy, to be essential contributors to
  the cause of justice locally and around the
  world.

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From the Executive Director

• Presented here is a snapshot of some of the work
  and programs of the Muhammad Ali Institute over
  the last academic year. I would like to thank all
  of the students, staff and community members for
  their support and helpful assistance. We could
  not have accomplished so much without them.
  Special thanks goes to the JL Foundation whose
  financial support was crucial to success of the
  Ali Institute.

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It's the repetition of affirmations that leads
to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep
conviction, things begin to happen. Muhammad
Ali

• our work gt summer 2007

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Summer 2007 happenings

• Second Ali Scholars cohort selected in May
• Staff traveled to Senegal to prepare for the Ali
  Scholars trip in Spring 2008
• Work began on our new website
• Staff attended the Jubilee Social Justice
  Conference in Chicago
• Staff receive trauma healing training with TLC
• Do No Harm launched in the community at Atkinson
  Elementary School and Lassiter Middle School
• Urban Fresh launches Framers Market in Victory
  Park

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Bringing fresh foods to the community

• Urban Fresh, an initiative of the
• Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace
• and Justice at the University of
• Louisville in cooperation with
• the 700 Warzone Committee and
• the Community Farm Alliance,
• launched the California Farmers
• Market in June 2007.

Urban Fresh now brings farm fresh food to the
Victory Park area and will expand to serve other
high need areas throughout the city in 2008!
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Urban Freshan economic justice initiative
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More Scenes From Urban Fresh
Economic justice in action!
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New Cohort of Muhammad Ali Scholars Inducted

• The second cohort of The Muhammad Ali Scholars
  was selected in May 2007 and began their two-year
  program at a summer retreat. The Scholars were
  joined by the Ali Center M.A.C.C.S for a portion
  of the retreat as they learned more about peace
  and justice issues, the challenges of civic
  engagement and the work of urban peace building.

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The Ali Scholars Program

• The Ali Scholars Program is a two-year degree
  supplement program offered by the Muhammad Ali
  Institute for Peace and Justice for undergraduate
  students at the University of Louisville. The
  Program allows scholars the opportunity to gain
  awareness and insight about violence prevention,
  conflict resolution and peace building in an
  urban context.

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Ali Scholars Retreat /summer 2007
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Trauma Healing

• Al and Stacy completed trauma healing training
  with TLC (The National Institute for Trauma and
  Loss in Children) in July and earned
  certification as Trauma Specialists.
• Our interest is in addressing trauma related to
  urban violence.

Individuals can suffer trauma in a variety of
ways and for a variety of reasons. Trauma
sufferers may themselves have seen their homes or
communities destroyed or be victims of physical
abuse such as rape, torture, or other violence.
Trauma can also be induced by serious threat or
harm to loved ones.1 Individuals are often
unable to cope with these extreme events,
consequently inhibiting both their ability to
carry on with life and to function in society.
Gutlove, Paula and Gordon Thompson, eds.
Psychosocial Healing A Guide for Practitioners.
(Cambridge, MA Institute for Resource and
Security Studies, May 2003)
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• The man who has no imagination has no wings.
• Muhammad Ali

our work gt fall/winter 2007
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Fall/Winter 2007 happenings

• Conducted Diversity/Community Building Workshops
  on campus and in the local community
• Trauma Healing training at Eastern Mennonite
  University
• Attended social justice demonstration in Jena,
  Louisiana
• Conducted 3rd Annual Peace and Justice Week - the
  theme That Aint Right! featuring King Kigele
  V of Rwanda
• Supported West Louisville Visioning Project and
  Conference
• Hired a curriculum consultant to help in the
  development of the Do No Harm program
• Conducted Do No Harm training for teachers,
  administrators and staff at Lassiter Middle
  School

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Building Community /in the community

• Groups we worked with
• Incoming first-year students at Welcome Weekend
  Opening
• New dental students at our University Hospital
  complex
• New medical residents at our University Hospital
  complex
• First-year students in Freshman 101 Course
• Members of the Junior League
• The Louisville Young Presidents Organization

• The Ali Institute conducted a number of
  diversity/community building workshops on our two
  campuses and in the community
• These workshops explored issues of diversity,
  community building and social justice.
• Over 1000 participants in these sessions

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Jena and Racial Justice
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No Justice, No Peace September 20, 2007

• A select group of UofL students traveled with the
  Muhammad Ali Institute to Jena, Louisiana to take
  part in a nationwide response to the unjust
  treatment of six Black Jena High School students
  charged in the beating of a White classmate. The
  case of the Jena 6 sparked outrage across the
  nation as tens of thousands of protestors used
  the occasion to speak out against racial
  injustice in America.

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Learning through activism
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Jena and Racial Justice

• When it comes to democracy and citizenship, I
  learned through this trip, that from time to time
  youve got to speak out and make your voice
  heard. UofL student participant who traveled
  with the Ali Institute to Jena, Louisiana

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3rd Annual Peace and Justice Week

• This year the Ali Scholars chose the theme, That
  Aint Right! for our 3rd Annual Peace and
  Justice Week.. That Aint Right! brings
  attention to the global struggle for peace and
  justice and the obligation of free people to
  speak up and take an active part in creating
  positive social change.
• The Scarves Project - hundreds of brightly
  colored scarves were strung across campus
  symbolizing the thousands who have lost their
  lives through injustice in Darfur and around the
  world.

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That Aint Right!

• Peace and Justice Week 2007 Activities
• That Aint Right!
• Co-sponsored Barefoot Artists Workshop on Rwanda
• Conducted the Rwanda Healing Project Celebration
  at the Chestnut YMCA
• Led Mending the Bridge Building Relationships
  between Africans and African Americans at
  Presbyterian Community Center
• Held Got Privilege? Jena 6 Panel Discussion on
  Campus
• Conducted Lessons from Rwanda discussion for
  the campus community
• Hosted the ACLU Know Your Rights, Tell Your
  Story What To Do If Stopped By the Police
• Held campus and community wide That Aint Right!
  Rally

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More Peace and Justice Week 2007 That
Aint Right!
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That Aint Right! /Rally for Justice
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That Aint Right! /Rally for Justice
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Spring 2007 happenings

• Began fundraising for the trip to Senegal
• Held fundraising auction Journey to Senegal at
  Ali Center
• Conducted Do No Harm presentation at Bates
  Elementary School
• Held 5th Just Act! Day
• Traveled to Morocco and Senegal
• Held first International Ali Scholars Peace and
  Justice Academy

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Do No Harm Goes to School

• Members of Project Succeed at Bates Elementary
  pose behind the posters depicting the seven
  pillars of the Do No Harm campaign sponsored by
  the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice
  at the University of Louisville.

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Do No Harm Goes to School

• Thursday March 20, 2008 the members of the
  Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at
  the University of Louisville introduced Do No
  Harm, an educational media campaign designed to
  change the dialogue about violence and encourage
  a deeper understanding of the underlying social
  injustices that are at the root of violence.
• The Do No Harm campaign seeks to raise awareness
  of the seven manifestations of violence-domestic,
  community, gun, economic, environmental,
  political, and hate-and how they are
  interconnected.

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Do No Harm Goes to School

• Participants in the Do No Harm program are
  members of Project Succeed at Bates Elementary.
  Project Succeed seeks to set high expectations
  that will result in all students attaining high
  levels of performance.

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Just Act! Day 2008

• Annually, The Muhammad Ali Institute gathers
  students and other members of the campus
  community for a day of work and service in
  Louisville. Just Act! Day is more than service it
  is really an opportunity for participants to
  learn how to take action in creating a more just
  and more peaceful community.

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Just Act! Day signing up
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Just Act! Day Operation Brightside
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Just Act! Day Louisville Nature Center
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Just Act! Day Wayside Christian Mission
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Just Act! Day Ronald McDonald House
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Just Act! DayNew Directions Housing Corp.
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Just Act! Day New Directions Housing Corp.
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Just Act! Day 2008

• Just Act! Day has also become a great way for
  people to practice working together and have fun
  in the process!

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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal why we went

• Further the development of the Ali Scholars
  program internationally
• Explore social justice issues in Senegal,
  especially those related to women, children,
  community violence, political power, economic
  justice, environmental justice and intergroup
  relations
• Learn about the history and culture of Senegal
• Have meaningful relationships with University
  students in Senegal
• Examine the impact of urbanization and
  modernization in Senegal
• Meet with local, regional and national leaders
  and organizations working on social justice
• Participate in the Ali Scholars International
  Academy
• Plan and execute a local social justice project
  in cooperation with students from Université
  Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis (UGB)
• Develop individually as we challenge our own
  ideas, view of self and the world

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Journey to Senegal

• We worked extensively with senior administrative
  staff and faculty members at University Gaston
  Berger (UGB) in St. Louis, Senegal to create a
  truly meaningful learning experience.

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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal The Ali Scholars Academy

• The Ali Scholars Academy was a weekend full of
  lectures and discussions designed to help the
  UofL and UGB students gain a better understanding
  of history, culture and social justice issues in
  Senegal and the United States. Over the course of
  two days, each lecture was followed by a student
  discussion, many of which became quite intense.

• A cohort of seven UGB students were chosen to
  participate in the Academy, creating a powerful
  opportunity for learning across culture.

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Journey to Senegal The Ali Scholars Academy
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Journey to Senegal Life in Dakar
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Journey to Senegal Life in Dakar

• Some of the places and organizations we visited
  in Dakar
• Dakar City Tour
• Goree Island Slave Museum
• Womens Museum
• West Africa Democracy Radio
• ENDA ECO-POLE (grass roots social justice
  organization
• Oceanium

• The capital city of Dakar became an incredible
  laboratory to study social justice, peace
  building and violence prevention in an urban
  setting. We were fortunate to have several
  organizations help us better understand the
  issues.

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Journey to Senegal Life in Dakar
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Journey to Senegal

• In so many ways, we learned to connect across
  language, custom and culture

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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal
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Journey to Senegal
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The Muhammad Ali Institute
At the Muhammad Ali Institute we endeavor to make
a difference both locally and globally in
creating a more just and equitable world. 2008
was an important year for us, as we took on many
new projects and worked to extend our reach
beyond the borders of the university. We turn our
focus now to the new year and the challenges and
opportunities made possible by our work in 2008.
Join us!