Season for Nonviolence
The Season for Nonviolence is a movement that seeks to bring people together to promote peace and nonviolence in their communities and to encourage people to act with compassion, kindness, and consideration. The Season spans the 64-day period from January 30 to April 4, which marks the memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. respectively, celebrating nonviolent teachings of people from around the world. More than 900 cities in 67 countries have participated since the campaign began in 1998.
Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth, and their Families (ACCYF), in partnership with the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD), has helped coordinate the City of Alameda’s (City) Season for Nonviolence campaign since 2001, instituting daily readings in our schools and public meeting spaces in 2005, and launching a city-wide student speech contest in 2007. Each of the daily readings highlights nonviolent living with a word, thought and quote intended to help inspire and guide our students and community into a safer, more peaceful world. In this time of notable anxiety, social tension and apprehension, the speech contests offer a valuable venue for Alameda students to express their visions of mutual understanding, respect, equality and good will among community members. The prepared speeches are incredibly stirring and powerful expressions of hope and yearning. They poignantly elevate awareness of the concerns and perspectives of local youth to the larger community.
Season for Nonviolence Speech Contests:
The 2024 Season for Nonviolence Middle and High School Speech Contest will be on Saturday, March 16 at City Hall Chambers, 2263 Santa Clara Ave. The middle school speech contest occurs from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and the high school speech contest from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The public is welcome to attend. The theme of the annual middle school and high school speech contest is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of “Beloved Community” in Alameda. Cash prizes are awarded to the first through fourth place winners. All participants receive a certificate of achievement.
Speech Contests Eligibility and Requirements:
Participants must be a student from an Alameda middle school and/or high school and must work with their school to participate in the contests.
Each participating middle school and high school in Alameda may send up to three finalists.
Speeches must be 3 to 5 minutes in length and focused on the theme of the “Beloved Community”.
Speeches must include a quote from a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, or Mahatma Gandhi.
Names of each finalists must be submitted to Yasamin Obaidy at yobaidy@alamedaca.gov by March 7, 2024.
Please review Envisioning Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Beloved Community in Alameda and the 2024 Season for Nonviolence Speech Scoring Rubric.
2023 Speech Contest Winners:
Art Show:
Island High School artists created Season inspired portraits that connect to a Word of the Day daily reading. Artists studied a variety of diverse portraits, practiced drawing facial features, and created a final piece using the media of their choice. Some chose to draw themselves, while others chose to draw a family member they desired to honor. Work is on display at the Alameda Free Library, Main Branch (1550 Oak Street) from, January 30 to April 4, 2024, and is displayed on the second floor in the teen section. On Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm the public is invited to a formal opening with refreshments in the Teen Room, second floor. Please come out and meet the artists.
Thank you
We appreciate the sponsorship of the Alameda Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, and the support of Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam, City of Alameda, AUSD, ACCYF, and Island High School that make the annual event possible.