To develop a common analysis on violence in all its forms (direct, structural and cultural) in our

communities and create a collaborative peace plan that is guided by our faith values which seeks to change hearts and minds, policies and dominant

narratives that contribute to racist and oppressive systems in Orange County.

Peace and Justice in O.C.Local Organizing Committee

Defining Violence

Direct Violence

war, murder, rape, assault, verbal

attacks — is the kind we physically

perceive, but it manifests out of

conditions created by the first two invisible forms and can’t be eliminated without eliminating them.

Structural Violenceinjustice and exploitation built into a social system that generates wealth for the few and poverty for

the many, stunting everyone’s ability to

develop their full humanity. By privileging

some classes, ethnicities, genders, and nationalities

over others, it institutionalizes unequal

opportunities for education, resources, and

respect.

Cultural ViolenceThe prevailing attitudes and beliefs that justify

and legitimize the structural violence,

making it seem natural. Feelings of

superiority/inferiority based on class, race,

sex, religion, and nationality are

inculcated in us as children and shape our assumptions about us and the world. They

convince us this is the way

Framework: John Galtug

Defining Conflict Transformation

Conflict: relationship of two or more parties in their pursuit of real or perceived incompatible goals, normal

part of human relationships, conflict is a motor of change.

compatible goals

relationship of two or more parties in their pursuit of real or perceived incompatible goals

Conflict Transformation: is to envision and respond to the ebb and flow of social conflict and life-giving opportunities

for creating constructive change processes that reduce violence, increase justice… in direct interaction and within

social structures that respond to real-life problems in human relationships – John Paul Lederach

Defining Restorative Justice

a process where all stakeholders affected by an injustice have an opportunity to discuss how

they have been affected by the injustice and to decide what should be done to repair the harm. With crime, restorative justice is about the idea that because crime hurts, justice should heal. It follows that conversations with those who have been hurt and with those who have inflicted the

harm must be central to the process.

Guiding Principles

1. Systems thinking: Peace is embedded in justice. It's about building right relationships and social

structures through radical respect for human rights and life." - John Paul Lederach

2. Radical inclusivity: we will deliberately brings people together who have different interpretations of their common past,

groups with different experiences, and rather than trying to get one group to accept the narrative or interpretation of the other

– we find ways to create new relationships and develop understandings of the interdependence that shapes them and

the future they may share.”

Guiding Principles

3. Bottom-UP Change: Community driven solutions create a stronger democracy and increases the

possibility for change.

4. Collaborative: community comes TOGETHER and identifies issues, analyzes

root causes and creates solutions.

Guiding Principles

5. Not Value Neutral: a desire for community based peace and justice is grounded in values

often driven by our diverse faiths. Respect, honesty, humility, sharing, courage, inclusivity, empathy, trust, forgiveness, love, human dignity, value in many narratives and

perspectives.

The OCCCO Tool Box for Change• 1-1 meetings for relationship building• LOC: Local Organizing Committee: regular meetings led by

community members as planning committee and the organizer.

• Public actions: Non-violent direct actions such as: peace marches, prayer vigils, die-ins, civil disobedience, public education forums, community forums etc.

• Community Transformation Circles: Restorative Justice Circles, Healing Circles, Understanding Circles etc.

• Research Meetings: Meet with policy makers, systems leaders and elected officials to strategize and learn how to best implement interventions

• Analysis and Learning: variety of analysis strategies: asset mapping, conflict mapping, power analysis conducted collaboratively with leaders.

• Community Policing standards, policies and training.• Confronting ‘Broken Windows” practices by police.• Frontline violence prevention: night walks with clergy, mediation

and conflict transformation workshops.• Commitment to changing police-community relations through

procedural justice practices (police legitimacy) • Allocation of funds in County and City budget to address violence

prevention/intervention and address underlying social and economic causes.

• Implementation of Prop. 47• Educating community on issues• Investment in supportive services for trauma healing, community

building and creating opportunities for transformation. • ….more….

Possible Public Policy Initiatives in Community Based Peace Plan

1. To research current conflict situation in Orange County and analyze root causes, who, what, where,

and why.

Community Peace Plan: Proposal

2. Draft Community Peace Plan that addresses results of research and analysis and develops the

policy and social methods of transformation.

3. Implementation: Prioritize and strategize implementation of ‘Community Peace Plan’ that brings restoration, transformation and justice to

our county.