Ohio Nonviolence Week is October 6-11, a time that makes the community stop and think about the need for us to work for nonviolence in our community. Please join us in supporting and participating in Nonviolence Week activities and events scheduled both in and outside the district. On October 10, staff and scholars will wear purple to unify in support and commitment to nonviolence. To learn more about how Nonviolence Week was founded , please read below and visit https://www.ohiononviolenceweek.org/about-ohio-nonviolence-weeknew-page. Thank you to Penny Wells and Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past for your dedication and advocacy!
This bill was proposed by Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past students, which is a small group of Youngstown high school students, who in 2009, after experiencing a life changing journey called Sojourn to the Past, decided to have a Nonviolence Week in the Youngstown City Schools. In 2010, Mayor Jay Williams declared the first week in October to be Nonviolence Week in the city. In 2011, the Sojourn students petitioned the Youngstown City Council, the Youngstown City School District board and the Youngstown State University trustees asking each of them to pass a resolution making the first week in October Nonviolence Week permanently, and they all did. The Mahoning County commissioners passed a similar resolution in the fall of 2012.
In January 2013, at the request of Sojourn students, Senator Joe Schiavoni introduced the Nonviolence Week bill in the Ohio Senate. In May, two Sojourn students testified for the bill before the Ohio House of Representatives committee, and the House of Representatives passed the bill in June, sending it on to the governor for his signature. Sojourn students were in Columbus on July 11th to witness Governor Kasich signing the bill into law.