A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy; Sue Klebold

Sue Klebold - 20/20 Diane Sawyer Interview [2016/02/12 ...

Emergency Over (Synthetic) Drugs

'Dateline' highlights story of MN teen who overdosed on ...

How synthetic drugs are killing kids - CNN.com

Drug overdose deaths reach all-time high - CNN.com

New Hampshire Declares Emergency Over Synthetic Drug ...

An Alternative To Suspension And Expulsion: 'Circle Up!'

By ERIC WESTERVELT • DEC 17, 2014

http://wuwm.com/post/alternative-suspension-and-expulsion-circle

Chet Hodgin: Victim Assistant Advocate

"After the murders of his two oldest sons, Chet became a devoted victim advocate who has volunteered his time for this cause.  Chet, a kind, loving father of four sons and a Grandfather, works with our "Safer Schools" Team, and has worked constantly and state wide with the families of homicide victims.  Chet counsels them; Chet goes to court with them to try to help them understand our judicial system.  He tries to make sure they understand they are not alone.  Chet has worked with more than 100 families and attended more than 60 trials and hearings.  Chet founded a support group, "Victims of Violence, Inc."  Chet is past president of the "NC Victim Assistance Network", past president of the "HP Community Against Violence", past president of "Crime stoppers of High Point" and very active member of the "NC Interagency Council of Victim Service Providers".  Chet is a certified Victim Service Provider.  He has attended multiple conferences on working with victims such as "Federal Domestic Violence Conference", "Death Notification", ... This was all volunteer.

Chet also was a Real Estate Broker." 

p 174:  Don't Shoot: One Man, a Street Fellowship, and the End of ...

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NC Victim Assistance Network - Victims of Violence

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Tariq, Azim, and Tasreen Khamisa: Restorative Justice Practices

"In 1995, Azim Khamisa’s 20 year old son, Tariq, was delivering a pizza when he was shot to death by a 14 year old gang member.  Experiencing the pain, grief, frustration, and anger that a parent would, Azim decided that the only way he could better the situation was to use the tool of FORGIVE to ensure that this type of tragedy happens less frequently in the future.  After meeting with the grandfather of the boy who shot Tariq, Azim decided that he would bring his message of forgiveness and mutual respect to groups of young people all over the country.  The foundation in his son’s memory, the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, raises awareness and engages youth to resist a culture of violence and learn to live in harmony with one another."

7:45 min.: Azim Khamisa - FORGIVE - YouTube                                            

 7:05 min.: Father Forgives Son's Killer - YouTube

February 2016  A Wonderful Daughter Who Takes a Stand for Her Brother

In This Issue Quotes of the Month Monthly Musings Question of the Month Gift for Loved Ones On Kindle! Quick Links  Book Azim to Speak Inspirational Products Free Meditation Link  Calendar of Events Previous Newsletters Contact E-mail Website (858) 452-6849

Dear Friend, I am a father of a daughter and a son. Both wonderful and beautiful souls. Both work for peace and nonviolence in their own way. One is with us in the physical and one is not. I am so proud of both Tariq and Tasreen, the latter of which spoke so eloquently about the good works done by TKF, the foundation named after her brother. May we all contribute our good works for the good of all.      ~ Azim N. Khamisa   QUICK LINKS  ·         Radio Show - Tasreen and TKF ·         Azim's Book "From Forgiveness to Fulfillment" on Kindle     QUOTES OF THE MONTH        "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."    ~ Edith Wharton "Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."    ~ Joshua J. Marine "The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible."    ~ Joel Brown AZIM'S MONTHLY MUSINGS   Tasreen:  A Wonderful Light in my Life   I am truly blessed to have a beautiful, compassionate, intelligent and a kind daughter as is evident from a recent radio interview in which she described in such clear and elegant style the story of her brother and the background of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation www.TKF.org. (See highlights and linkbelow.) Tasreen now serves as the Executive Director of the foundation named after her brother. I am in deep gratitude that Tariq was not my ONLY child. I have met many parents who have lost an only child and my prayers are with them. Tasreen and I have always been on the same wavelength. Often at TKF Board meetings she will say something about an issue which were exactly my sentiments. She has also given the family three amazing grandchildren: Shahin, Khalil and Miya. They are all healthy, good looking and very smart. It is a pleasure to spend time with them which we are able to do often as they live in Escondido, about 45 minutes from my home. I can truly say that I am extremely proud of her. Every father should have the joy of a daughter like Tasreen. TKF is in good hands with her as ED, and when I pass on I know she will continue Tariq's legacy with someday the grandchildren being a part of TKF.  I am also blessed to have fathered Tariq. Although he was with us for a short 20 years he touched more lives than most do in a lifetime. For me he was the catalyst that helped me find the purpose of my spiritual life. The work that I have done with Tasreen's help - in the aftermath of the tragedy that took Tariq's life - has been very meaningful and fulfilling for both of us. Tariq continues to change hearts through the work done by TKF, Tasreen, and many others. This legacy will live forever. So thank you Tariq and Tasreen from the bottom of my heart. Highlights of Radio ShowFreedom For All recorded January 21, 2016, twenty one years to the day of Tariq's murder: ·         "I was in Vancouver, BC. I was with my grandmother. And the phone rang, and my grandmother answered the phone and she started screaming. I've never heard anyone screaming like that in my life. I grabbed it and it was my dad on the other end." ·         "Tariq was a very old soul in a young body. He was the comedian. He was the risk taker and always lived life to the fullest. The importance of time was really a driving force in my brother's life. Even at a young age he would always say we don't have much time on this earth. We have to make most of our time while we are here." ·         "I feel he is doing this work hand in hand with me and Azim. It's like we are carrying on his dreams and what he wanted, and that makes it a little easier to not have him here physically." ·         "I am ready to meet Tony face to face, and I haven't been able to say that until now." ·         "It has always been my passion and my drive to work with the youth. The fact that I'm doing it in my brother's name is truly rewarding on so many levels." The entire interview is HERE!       Best Wishes, Azim Khamisa QUESTION OF THE MONTH LESSONS IN LOVE IN MONTH OF LOVE    QUESTION:    Since it's Valentine's Day, do you have an update on your journey of discovering some lessons in love?    ANSWER: POPE FRANCIS QUOTE: "There is no perfect family. We have no perfect parents, we are not perfect, do not get married to a perfect person, neither do we have perfect children. We have complaints about each other. We are disappointed by one another. Therefore, there is no healthy marriage or healthy family without the exercise of forgiveness. Forgiveness is vital to our emotional health and spiritual survival. Without forgiveness the family becomes a theater of conflict and a bastion of grievances. Without forgiveness the family becomes sick. Forgiveness is the sterilization of the soul, cleansing the mind and the liberation of the heart. Anyone who does not forgive has no peace of soul and communion with God. Pain is a poison that intoxicates and kills. Maintaining a wound of the heart is a self-destructive action. It is an autophagy. He who does not forgive sickens physically, emotionally and spiritually. That is why the family must be a place of life and not of death; an enclave of cure not of disease; a stage of forgiveness and not of guilt. Forgiveness brings joy where sorrow produced pain; and healing, where pain caused disease." As Pope Francis eloquently addresses, there is indeed no such thing as a perfect family or a perfect relationship. When you are in a relationship, the big lesson I have learned is you are paired with a partner who is a perfect teacher to help you grow ... and vice-versa. I believe that sometimes when that growth is complete, some couples do separate and others get to a new plateau. The main thing to remember is relationships are about growth, and the challenges in love and relationships are "bardos"or "transitional states" taking us from one state of being to another. These events in relationships can often be very painful but upon further reflection and meditations there are hidden gems to help us grow and become a better person! So when the arguments subside, take time out to reflect and meditate on the lessons. And see this as a blessing. Also it is important, as Pope Francis mentions, to forgive. Holding on to resentment or guilt is not healthy. There are plenty of resource, books, CDs and DVDs on how to forgive on my website www.AzimKhamisa.com. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OF THE MONTH, CLICK HERE

Restorative Justice Practices: video links with Oprah

18:21 mins.   Oprah Restorative Justice (Part 1) - YouTube

18:35 mins.   Oprah Restorative Justice (Part 2) - YouTube

18:55 mins.   Oprah Restorative Justice (Part 3) - YouTube

 

·         8:12 mins.   Oprah Restorative Justice (Part 4) - Duration: 8:12. Amanda Cisneros1,105 views

Lorenn Walker on the Oprah Winfrey Network on Vimeo

Finding Forgiveness - Oprah.com

Howard Zehr: The Call of Restorative Justice video link

57:18 mins.  The Call of Restorative Justice P1/2 - YouTube

76 mins.    The Call of Restorative Justice - Heartspeak Productions ...

Feb.10 - Apr 14, 2016 Teaching Peace in Schools Course: Peace Alliance/NACRJ

Peruse: description and registration

10-week course  "It will be a chance to really learn more about all this work, and how each of us can get involved in making a difference! Learn more and register here.

Peace Alliance
National Association of Community and Restorative Justice

Feb. 1 & Feb. 3, 2016: Teaching Peace in Schools Summit: Peace Alliance/NACRJ

2-1-16: Dominic Barter and CamishaFatima Gentry and excellent host, Molly Rowan Leach

 posted the audio up on our website 

"Here's a little snippet. When one of our participants asked a question about how restorative processes work for teachers and administrators who have a primary job of maintaining control in schools, guest speaker Dominic Barter spoke about how a restorative systems approach might look at the issue:

“As a teacher and someone who spends a lot of time with folks who teach and direct schools, I have seen so many examples of this extraordinary sense of liberation when people stop trying to manage other people’s behaviors, stop seeing conflict as something negative that needs to be resolved or marginalized or shut down, and actually discover this extraordinary sense of well-being and satisfaction and contribution that they get when they are no longer controlling people but actually creating the conditions for people to work out what kind of school society and what kind of wider society do they want themselves. And when they do that, people don’t want to treat each other badly. They want to live in relationships of trust. They want to establish that kind of basic community well-being... its a beautiful experience for a teacher to realize that they can get some of that, that they were hoping for, that original dream that led them into the profession in the first place — and let’s face it, it’s a really, really tough job — they can get some of that dream back. In fact when they try and control a little less, they find that the order works out for itself.” 

2-3-16: U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan and Jim & Jori Manske.

listen to the recorded audio 

"Last night's session with Congressman Tim Ryan and Jim and Jori Manske was a profound conversation (listen to the end, it only got more inspiring as it went along).

Apology for the technical glitches at the beginning. Luckily, most of it is recorded to hear now (sadly, a few minutes of Congressman Ryan's talk did not get recorded properly, but there is still plenty of great sharing from him)."

The Peace Alliance
National Association of Community and Restorative Justice