Affinity Group members spell out Campaign Nonviolence on a zoom meeting

Campaign Nonviolence Affinity Groups

To Affinity and Beyond! 

Find friends. Get together. Study nonviolence. Take action. Campaign Nonviolence is a long term movement to build a culture of peace and active nonviolence, free from war, poverty, racism, and environmental destruction. To support this vision, we encourage you to form a small group of 5-15 people who study, practice, and apply nonviolence in all its forms. 

An affinity group is:

  • A small group of 5-15 people

  • Either local or virtual

  • A place to supports each other in taking action

  • A place to study, reflect, and discuss together

  • A way to strategize and plan for making changes

  • A style of organizing that is leader-full and operates on consensus

Campaign Nonviolence Affinity Groups can be started by anyone. Simply find a few friends and get together once or twice a month. Some of our groups are locally-based. Others are virtual and the members are linked by issue (peace, environment, education, etc.) or by identity (moms, grandparents, queer, artists). All of them commit to practicing nonviolence. 

These groups of 5-15 people provide support, connection, community, and creativity as we strategize actions to build a culture of active nonviolence. Being in an affinity group can also be a great way to strengthen whatever group or movement you’re already in.

An affinity group is an organizing model with a long history. Instead of a thousand people all doing the same thing—or not—imagine 200 groups of 5 people planning, strategizing, and taking action together for a shared goal. Affinity groups helped stop nuclear testing, prevented nuclear power plants from being built, challenged globalization, stood up for environmental justice, and much more. We’re bringing them into Campaign Nonviolence to unleash our potential for making change. 

Form a group if you:

  • Want to mainstream nonviolence

  • Are looking for passionate friends

  • Long for connection around nonviolence

  • Seek skills and knowledge for making change

  • Are excited to take the next step in transforming our culture

Steps for forming an affinity group:

  1. Find 5-15 friends

  2. Let us know the name and focus of your group—we can list your group on our page so others can join you.

  3. Hold your first meeting. Do some icebreakers. Brainstorm a first action for your group (see the list of suggestions further down) and use consensus to agree on your idea

  4. Take action!

  5. Come together in one month to reflect on how it went. Decide a second action to take. 

Here are some ideas for first actions your group can take:

Questions? Ask us! info(at)paceebene.org

Below are a few Campaign Nonviolence Affinity Groups that anyone can join. Simply fill out the form to get in touch with the coordinator. 

Looking to Join an Affinity Group? Here are Some Options!

Please choose one affinity group, not a dozen. An affinity group is a deep and meaningful connection and commitment. Choosing one gives us all focus and time.

Mitigating Racism & Building Community Affinity Group
The pervasive impact of racism is increasingly evident, underscoring the need for proactive measures to mitigate its harmful effects. We intend to implement an approach that addresses both the systemic and interpersonal dimensions of racism. Together, we will Build Bridges toward greater Unity, toward the Beloved Community. This group provides a brave place for our online community to understand the consequences of racism and our personal biases through deep listening and sharing. We will support each other to take actions, small or large, to heal ourselves and our communities from generations of trauma caused by racism. We will build trust, have respectful conversations where everyone can speak their truth without being attacked, and provide a language to discuss racism. We ask everyone to have an open mind and be willing to change. We will educate each other about racism and ways to build community.  We are all in this together.  This group will meet once a month for about an hour.  Coordinated by Mark Klym, hassan clement, and Frank Thompson. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSr_cS5crcgNiMtW-ULkvR1kxF7AsPzUeADarMHzpNFtK1Qw/viewform

Spirituality, Meditation, & Nonviolence Affinity Group
This group of 5-15 people will meet monthly to support each other in exploring the spirituality of nonviolence and how meditation can help us embody nonviolence in our daily lives. This group might explore specific meditation practices, how various spiritualities approach or view nonviolence, and how these skills can support us in living the Nonviolent Life. This group will be multi-faith and inclusive. All are welcome. https://forms.gle/V3cS56NDRGXT51Ft6

CNV Earth Action Team
In this time of climate crisis, we will meet virtually to plan monthly actions to take in our local communities. The Earth Action Team may join with nationwide/international calls from other groups, or co-create our own nonviolent actions to protect the earth, push for a climate transition, and foster our love & care of the environment. We will support each other, brainstorm ideas, and share our creativity and wisdom. No action too small, no moment like now! Everyone is welcome. This group will also participate in the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, Sept 21-Oct 2nd. We will meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 4-5pm ET. Coordinated by Rivera Sun.
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/1mnQEByftXFbX9-X50C9lCgHtOCs66myHdGl3EvX3gSI/edit?usp=forms_home&ths=true

Tax Resistance Group 
“If you want to end the war then instead of sending guns, send books. Instead of sending tanks, send pens. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers.” —Malala Yousafzai

What else is possible to do with the thousands of dollars we give to war each year, via our federal taxes? Could tax resistance serve as a vehicle for reparations for both domestic and foreign policy that has caused and causes harm? We will meet once or twice monthly (TBD) online to learn about historic and current forms of tax resistance, and related topics based on interest. Group members will support one another to discern how/whether to engage in tax resistance. Convened by Kit and Dave Miller. 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1C1Z0EzxWaH5NYnh6GjV9mtaGVVMDqvOE0oUmjv8M6fA/edit

Writing Nonviolence
From Rivera Sun: “This affinity group is for people who want to write about nonviolence. Op-eds, letters to editors, fiction, articles, blogs, research papers—it's all fair game. In this group, we'll support each other in lifting "the pen that is mightier than the sword" to bring all things nonviolence to readers near and far.” https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19TYc1z1cWIlCgyhK_MaaJR6LJTkAIPRdI5mauMkgXoA/edit

 

Get Your Affinity Group Involved in Action Days

Use these tips to get organize with CNV Action Days!

 
 

Check Out What We’re Up To

 
 

SIGN-UP FOR CNV AFFINITY GROUPS HERE.