The View from Here: Nonviolence, the U.S. Crisis, and Our Role in Global Change
A 4-week participatory discussion series with Michael Nagler
Overview:
The United States is in the midst of a profound crisis — of democracy, meaning, and direction. Yet the patterns we’re facing here are deeply connected to global forces — climate collapse, systemic injustice, rising authoritarianism, and spiritual disconnection. These challenges call for more than reactive solutions; they ask us to think deeply, act wisely, and stay rooted in what truly matters.
In this four-week discussion-based series, Michael Nagler invites you into a space of shared reflection, strategic inquiry, and nonviolent insight. We’ll begin from the U.S. context, but expand our view to the global interconnectedness of our moment. Through the lens of nonviolence, we’ll examine the deeper causes of today’s crises, and explore how to respond in ways that are grounded, effective, and humane.
What We’ll Explore:
The deeper roots and patterns behind today’s U.S. and global crises
Nonviolence as a framework for engagement and transformation
Cultivating vision and imagination in uncertain times
Clarifying your own role and opportunities for meaningful action
Format:
4 weeks of live Zoom sessions
Wednesdays at 2:00–3:30 p.m PT
Each session includes a short framing by Michael, guided inquiry, and open conversation
Optional readings and reflection prompts between sessions
Start Date: June 11, 2025
Cost: Free, Donations Appreciated.
Who Should Join:
This space is for anyone who wants to understand our current moment more deeply—and to engage with it through the principles and practice of nonviolence. Whether you're an organizer, educator, student, activist, or simply seeking clarity, you're welcome here.
Facilitator:
Michael Nagler is the founder of the Metta Center for Nonviolence and author of The Third Harmony: Nonviolence and the New Story of Human Nature. A lifelong scholar and practitioner of nonviolence, Michael has taught and written widely on its strategic, spiritual, and cultural dimensions.
