Ahimsa Collective

THE AHIMSA COLLECTIVE WORKS TO ADDRESS HARM IN WAYS THAT FOSTER WHOLENESS FOR EVERYONE. OUR NORTH STAR GOALS ARE TO REPLACE SYSTEMS OF PUNISHMENT WITH PARADIGMS GROUNDED IN HEALING, RELATIONSHIP, AND LOVE. TO GET THERE, WE ENGAGE WITH DEEP TRAUMA HEALING AND RESTORATIVE APPROACHES WHILE BEING GROUNDED IN ANTI-OPPRESSION. WE WORK IN DEEP COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED AN ACT OF VIOLENCE, SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY HARM. IN ALL OF OUR WORK, WE CENTER AGENCY, LIBERATION, DIGNITY, AND TRANSFORMATION.

LAND PROJECT - THE AHIMSA COLLECTIVE HAS TWO LAND PROJECTS. THE HEALING CENTER "JUST LOVE" IS 25 ACRES OF LAND IN A SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA. JUST LOVE WILL PROVIDE SHORT- AND LONGER-TERM HEALING STAYS FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOUR, RETURNING CITIZENS, SURVIVORS, AND JUSTICE WORKERS. WE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH 10-20 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER JUST LOVE FOR NO CHARGE FOR GROUPS OF 8-12 FOR 5 TO 10 DAYS AT A TIME. WE MAY PROVIDE FOOD AS WELL, SO THAT ALL A GROUP HAS TO DO IS GET TO THE SPACE. COOKING, FARMING, SWIMMING, TALKING TOGETHER, WALKING IN NATURE, AND SILENCE ARE DEEP HEALING MODALITIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE THE TIME AND SPACE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO JUST LOVE FOR SHORT TERM (5-7 DAYS) AND EVENTUALLY LONG TERM (ONE-MONTH) STAYS AND SUPPORT WHAT THEY NEED. AHIMSA COLLECTIVE WILL UTILIZE THE SPACE TO OFFER 5-7 TRAININGS A YEAR TO CONTINUE TO BUILD PEOPLE'S CAPACITY IN RESTORATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE, TRAUMA HEALING, AND FACILITATION SKILLS. ONCE A YEAR WE WILL HAVE A HEALING WEEKEND, A TIME WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, CELEBRATE, EAT, CAMP, BUILD, AND DANCE. THE AHIMSA COLLECTIVE SUPPORTIVE HOME IS OUR SECOND LAND PROJECT IT IS HOME IN OAKLAND THAT OFFERS A DEEPLY PERSON-CENTRED HOME WHERE MEN RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION CAN STAY UNTIL THEY GET ON THEIR FEET, HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY NEED, HAVE AN AHIMSA COMMUNITY OF CONTINUAL SUPPORT, AND THEN BECOME A PART OF A COMMUNITY TO WALK WITH OTHERS TRANSITIONING HOME. OUR BELIEF IS THAT WHEN OUR BASIC NEEDS-FOOD, WATER, WARMTH, REST, SECURITY, SAFETY-ARE MET, WE CAN THEN TRUST, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND LIVE INTO OUR FULL POTENTIAL. WE WILL PROVIDE ALL THESE BASIC NEEDS AND NOT LIMIT THE TIME SOMEONE CAN STAY IN THE HOME, PROVIDING EACH PERSON WITH THEIR OWN ROOM, ALLOWING FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES TO VISIT, AND HAVING AN AGREED VALUE SYSTEM THAT CREATES SAFETY FOR ALL THAT LIVE IN THE HOME.

CIRCLES IN PRISON - REALIZE AND EMPATHIZE ARE CIRCLES IN PRISON PROGRAMS. REALIZE IS A 16-MONTH CIRCLE PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TO EXPLORE PARTICIPANTS' INSIGHT WITH INTIMATE VIOLENCE (FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEXUAL HARM, AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE) TO CONNECT THE DOTS, UNDERSTAND CAUSATIVE FACTORS, INCREASE EMPATHY, AND BECOME DEEPLY ACCOUNTABLE USING A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (RJ) APPROACH. WE BRING IN GUEST SPEAKERS AND SURVIVORS OF VIOLENT CRIME TO SHARE THEIR STORIES. EMPATHIZE IS A 9-MONTH VICTIM IMPACT PROGRAM CENTRED ON AND SHAPED BY VICTIMS' STORIES, EXPERIENCES, AND A DEEP EXPLORATION OF THE IMPACTS ON THEM. THE SEEN AND UNSEEN IMPACTS, RANGING FROM MORE VISIBLE MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS TO EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL IMPACTS SUCH AS ABIDING SHAME, TRAUMA, GRIEF, LOSS, ANGER, LOSS OF MEANING IN LIFE, AND POTENTIAL ADDICTIONS. EACH PARTICIPANT WILL WORK ON WRITING AN APOLOGY LETTER THAT WE CAN VET AND FILE WITH OVSRS'S PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING WITH THEM AND OTHER VOD PROVIDERS.

LIFE COMES FROM IT - WE PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES FOR LIFE COMES FROM IT, WHICH INVITES REQUESTS FOR FUNDING PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOUR THAT FOCUS ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE, INDIGENOUS PEACE-MAKING AND LAND-BASED HEALING. WITH ONE GRANT CYCLE A YEAR, WE MAKE SMALL GRANTS UP TO $25,000 TO ORGANIZATIONS. MOST GRANTS WILL BE ONE-TIME GRANTS, THOUGH THERE MAY BE EXCEPTIONS. TO RECEIVE A GRANT, YOU NEED TO BE A 501C3 ORGANIZATION OR BE FISCALLY SPONSORED BY A 501C3. IF YOU ARE NEITHER, WE CAN HELP CONNECT YOU TO FISCAL SPONSORS. THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES: INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS; NETWORKS, CONVENINGS AND COLLABORATIONS THAT ENHANCE MOVEMENT BUILDING.

OTHER PROGRAMS