Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
:: educate, organize, and mobilize communities to realize social justice through nonviolent action ::

About us...

Mission and History

The Mid-South Peace & Justice Center was formed on January 15, 1982, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The Center seeks to further the legacies of nonviolence left by past peacemakers such as Dr. King, Mahatma Gandhi and Dorothy Day. Our existence has been prompted by the chronic problems of social and economic injustice prevalent in the South, especially in Memphis. In terms of national averages, Memphis ranks among the worst in terms of poverty, crime, and infant mortality.

For the past twenty-five years, the Center has been committed to our mission of developing communities of peace, social justice and human rights through education and nonviolent action.

Current Programs and Campaigns

  1. JustPeace Memphis is working to build community capacity to address crime and conflict through positive and progressive reforms to the adult and juvenile justice systems in Memphis, Shelby County and the State of Tennessee. JustPeace Memphis is working to build broad based, institutional and individual alternatives to incarceration within the adult justice system and adopting restorative practices within the juvenile justice system. We believe the response to the challenge of violence can only be found by looking deeply into the root causes of injustice such as poverty, racism, unequal access to resources and education, homelessness, unemployment, affordable housing, untreated mental health conditions, and drug and alcohol abuse. Currently, we have massive criminal justice budgets and overcrowded detention facilities, maintaining the school to prison pipeline that predominately effects our vulnerable communities. We will work towards an agenda of reforms and processes, redirecting these monies to be used to make our communities safer.
  2. Grassroots Organizers Training for Power (G.O.T. Power) is an eight-week intensive training in the fundamental skills of community organizing. The eight-week workshop series includes an introduction to direct action organizing which includes; power analysis, strategic planning, public speaking, planning a variety of public events, fundraising for justice, working with local media, becoming your own media, coalition-building, and transforming conflicts. Each workshop is facilitated by community leaders highly experienced in that particular field. Over the course of eight weeks, participants will learn directly from a variety of the Mid-South’s best organizers, outreach specialists, organizational planners and media people. G.O.T. Power attracts participants from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are paid community organizers, some are community activists in their spare time, and some are in social service fields and want to incorporate a community organizing perspective into their work. What unites us all is a vision to make our city a better place by building strong, powerful organizations of the people directly affected by the problems in our communities. Classes are currently being offered in both english and spanish.
  3. GrowMemphis Urban Gardens that empower neighborhoods and youths. GrowMemphis is a collaborative effort between the Mid-South Peace and Justice and eight low-income communities in Memphis. The mission of GrowMemphis is to create productive and educational urban community gardens that provide fresh healthy food for low-income areas, and empower people to develop and enhance their own communities. These gardens will provide a local food source for those in need and will empower a future generation with the important knowledge of sustainability and our connection with the Earth and with the community. Community gardening is the tool for communities to address local issues and create opportunities. 
  4. The Alternatives to the Military Project that counters the tide of militarism engulfing the city's public schools. This program has successfully engaged Memphis City Schools (MCS) administration, staff and students on the topics of the increasing militarization of our schools. We have reformed procedures on two privacy gaps in MCS policy regarding military recruiters: NCLB Opt-Out procedures were improved from a position of non-notification to forms being distributed system-wide to juniors and seniors, ASVAB administration was also reformed from mandatory administration to an opt-in procedure for students and parents. We have also leafletted every high school in Memphis with literature on the realities of military service, distributing over 15,000 pieces to parents and students. We have developed a local booklet on Nonviolent Career Alternatives in Memphis with a presentation board and literature to accompany. We have distributed the booklet system wide in high school guidance offices and maintain a presence at career fairs and other appropriate events. This approach builds on our already active engagement of youth in our organizing activities.
  5. The annual Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking attracts participants from all over the world to present ideas on using nonviolent methods in problem solving. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the conference is the involvement of youth in its activities. In 2008, 250 high school students, 80% of which were students of color from Memphis City Schools, gained insights, tools, and inspiration to lead more peaceful lives, and to be empowered to create nonviolent change in their communities. This year we are expanding their involvement to a full day's of activities and weaving the participation of youth with other conference participants in an effort to promote intergenerational learning.
  6. Food Not Bombs, an outdoor soup kitchen that feeds the hungry while demonstrating the ability to feed people at a low cost. This program involves a large number (10-20 per week) of people in leadership and mentoring positions. In many instances this is the first point of engagement for youth activists in our organization. The program is also an act of solidarity with an increasingly oppressed homeless population in Downtown Memphis.
  7. The Peace Committee provides education on and protest against war and violence. This program is currently involved in three major efforts: public protest and education, legislative advocacy, and direct action. We plan 2-3 major demonstrations a year that each attract in excess of 300 persons. This is in addition to our weekly witness to war vigils on high traffic street corners. To educate our community on issues relating to war we bring 2-3 speakers of a national caliber to Memphis to share their views and experiences. Most recently we brought former Chief UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter. We also engage in a great deal of legislative advocacy. We meet regularly with the staff of our federal representatives in an effort to promote dialogue and accountability with our elected officials. Also, to hold our representatives accountable, we engage in direct action; most recently 7 of our members were arrested in the offices of Senator Corker while asking him to hold a town hall meeting on the war in Iraq in Memphis.

Notable Sucesses

Staff

Jacob Flowers, Director • jacob@midsouthpeace.org
Allison Glass, Education Coordinator • allison@midsouthpeace.org
Brad Watkins, Organizing Coordinator • brad@midsouthpeace.org
Josephine Williams, GrowMemphis Coordinator • josephine@midsouthpeace.org

Board

Randy Alexander, Treasurer
Memphis Center for Independent Living, ADAPT

Arshad Ammeen
Muslims in Memphis

Judy Bettice, Secretary
Pax Christi Memphis

Jose Davila
Professor, Christian Brothers University

David Ciscel
Memphis Friends

Jose Davila
Christian Brothers University

John Gilmore
Open Heart Spiritual Community

 


Dr. Bill Lawson
University of Memphis

Anna Mullins, Chair
Editor, Skirt Magazine

Alfredo Pena
Organizer, Workers Interfaith Network

Jason Smith
Student, Food not Bombs

Elaine Turner
Owner, Heritage Tours

Gail Tyree
Organizer, UniteHERE

*Organizations listed for reference purposes only*


Community Advisory Council

Carl Awsumb
McMerton Gardens
Dr. Nabil Bayakly
Muslims in Memphis
Deborah Clubb
Memphis Area Women's Council
Michael Cook
Concerned Citizen
Rev. Cheryl Cornish
First Congregational Church
Rev. James Foreman
Diversity Memphis
Arun Gandhi
Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi
Dr. Peter Gathje
Memphis Theological Seminary
Tandy Gilliland
Concerned Citizen
Jean Handley
Turning Point Partners
Carolyn Head
Concerned Citizen
Dr. Barbara Holmes
Memphis Theological Seminary
Rev. Andre Johnson
Gifts of Life Ministries

Rev. Rebekah Jordan
Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice
Si Kahn
Grassroots Leadership
Kathy Kelly
Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Stephan McLaughlin
H.E.A.L. Foundation
Rev. Dwight Montgomery
SCLC- Memphis Chapter
Len Piechowski
Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center
Rev. Joe Porter
Grace St. Lukes Episcopal Church
Janice Vanderhaar
Pax Christi
Hubert Van Tol
former Executive Director
Rev. Billy Vaughn
School of Servant Leadership
Moses Villareal
TN Immigrant and Reffugee Rights Coalition
Jocelyn Wurzburg
Concerned Citizen
Jenny Yancey
YouthGive


*Organizations Listed for Reference Purposes Only*

 


©2007-2008 Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
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