Black History Celebration

Press Release

LMW GROUP, Inc (nfp)

Black History Celebration

Chicago, IL.

The LMW Group, Inc. (nfp) recently held a Black History Celebration event for its’ South End Global Youth Leadership and Employment Program Scholars Initiative in Joliet, Illinois with members of the Joliet Township High School of Will County and other stakeholders. The LMW Group was excited to welcome Dr. Tyran Laws as the Keynote speaker for the evening. His topic addressed the Six Principles of Nonviolence as expressed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Laws join Prairie College’s faculty as the New Testament professor. He, along with his wife, Dr. Marcella Laws, PharmD, and their three sons moved to Three Hills from Chicago, IL, USA. Dr. Laws has a B.A from Samford University, a M.A in Biblical Exegesis and a Ph.D. in NT Biblical Studies, both from Wheaton College. Dr. Laws says that he is "looking forward to having the freedom to focus on developing his scholarship while preparing the next generation of Christian leaders."

The six principles of nonviolence articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are:

1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.

2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.

3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.

4. Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.

5. Nonviolence chooses to love instead of hate.

6. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

Principle one: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people. It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

Principle two: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. The result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation. The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.

Principle three: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are not evil people. The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil, not people.

Principle four: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform. Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.

Principle five: Nonviolence chooses to love instead of hate. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish, and creative.

Principle six: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice. The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win. Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice.

  The position of Dr. King, Jr. as presented in his Six Principles of Nonviolence to hate was received with applause from both the youth and other individuals in attendance to this most energetic and profound presentation.

Dr. John W. Long, Executive Director, reminded the audience that the South End Global Youth Leadership and Employment Program Scholars Initiative is a mentoring and culturally affirming program. Additionally, the LMW Group mentoring, and leadership training aims to improve the positive attitudes of all who participate in the program. “We address positive academic achievement of at risk in-school youths from 16 to 19 years of age with employment enrichment skills, avoiding of violent interactions, increasing career opportunities, and other trade or higher educational pathways”, said Dr. Long.

Ms. Bernadine Canada, Program Director, spoke on LMW’s program’s policies or guidelines for its youth participants. She reiterated to the attendees, South End Global Youth Leadership and

Employment Program Scholars Initiative takes an integrated approach to improving the social, cultural, and educational areas of personal development of each youth participant. The goals and objectives are directed toward greater academic performance, self-confidence, resiliency, personal responsibility, and self-respect, all which leads to the enhancement of the youths and the enrichment of their communities. The LMW Group, Inc. (nfp) Black History Celebration event “the Six Principles of Nonviolence as expressed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” was an immense success and well received by all.