We are Building a Beloved Community, One Girl and Boy at a Time

"Move to End Violence’s emphasis on self-care, strategic thinking, and effective movement building has reignited the passion, innovative thinking, and creativity that I know I will need to be able to take bold and new actions in creating a new and EFFECTIVE movement to end violence against girls and women."

I have known from a very young age that I wanted to be a part of social change efforts to create a better and safer world for all. But Move to End Violence’s emphasis on self-care, strategic thinking, and effective movement building has reignited the passion, innovative thinking, and creativity that I know I will need to be able to take bold and new actions in creating a new and EFFECTIVE movement to end violence against girls and women.

We are building a Beloved Community, one girl and one boy at a time…The sense of collective power that has developed among us (somewhat unlikely allies) over the first half of this experience is, I believe, one of the most significant outcomes thus far. I have learned so much about other organizations which has enabled me to be more self reflective about my own organization and the field. Having access to and time with my cohort members has led to new and deeper relationships/partnerships that I know will continue to strengthen our collective power.

Having the time to step outside of our daily, usually grant driven—single issue focused work and acknowledge just how much progress we have made, who the “we” is in the current “movement”, and also to dream about who and what it will take to move the U.S. to the next level on ending violence against girls and women; has dramatically shifted the way I understand the “work”.

The conversations I have been a part of throughout the Move to End Violence experience and our time in India have been life altering--too amazing to do justice here. Our  international exchange made me realize just how much more work we have to do on breaking down the silos in which we currently do our work in order to work towards holistic and community-driven efforts.

I am starting to see a way forward to a future without violence. A pathway towards a society where there are no “last girls” and no “last boys” and where everyone has a role to play in creating a non-violent society. Move to End Violence has reinforced my belief that until we really work urgently towards a RADICAL, and total transformation of our society, we will never realize our vision for the future…a future without violence, a truly beloved community.

So please join us. Bring your experience, your knowledge, your whole selves, and your love…because together, we are unstoppable.