University City Teens Picked to Serve as Ambassadors for Non-Violence

“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon.  It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding, and ennobles the man who wields it.  It is a sword that heals."  -Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The journey to South Africa began in University City and made a stop in Atlanta.

In the fall of 2009, a group of students rallied together and formed The Peace Committee with the goal of raising awareness of nonviolent conflict resolution.

Ernest Carter, a UCHS alumnus who also serves as Assistant Principal at the school, played a role in helping the students form the committee. 

“We wanted to organize the Peace Committee so that our students could spread conflict resolution for gang violence.  We had tremendous problems last year and we wanted to let students be a part of the solution,” Carter said.

Sophomore Monet Grant, who is also a Peace Committee member, said “We have already lost three students in my graduating class." Even though violence is a reality in town, Grant said it's just a small part of the picture.  

“When I came in as a freshman last year, every time I turned on the news they were talking about fighting in University City.  When we formed the Peace Committee, we threw a big concert for peace and had an assembly where we outlined the statistics about violence in America,” Grant said.

In an effort to move the committee's mission forward, Carter met with Chuck Alphin, another UCHS alumnus and founder of Building Life Foundations Nonviolence Center, to discuss establishing a Young Ambassador Kingdom House, which was a series of non-violence sessions.

Alphin, who is also a certified trainer in Kingian Nonviolence, arranged for Peace Committee members Breasia Thomas, Lynden Peoples, Jenee Chisholm and Monet Grant to participate in The Kingian Nonviolent Teaching and Education Certification for Youth and Adults at The King Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I wanted to get the youth in University City involved with the Kingian Nonviolence training, so I sent a letter to The Peace Committee inviting the students to The King Center,” Alphin explained.

The students who were selected were responsible for raising their own money to fund their trip. They received donations from their families and the community and were determined to represent their school and their community in Atlanta. 

“We told everyone we were coming back certified,” Grant remembers.

After a rigorous week-long training, each student returned to the community as a certified trainer. But Alphin believed the students needed to go beyond the training they got in Atlanta; so he urged them to apply for an opportunity to study non-violence teachings in South Africa.

All four students applied and were accepted to participate in the program. They will travel to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa from June 10 to June 21.

As Young Ambassadors for Nonviolence, they will study, “The Struggle from Apartheid to Democracy” and the role nonviolence played.

During the program, they will meet Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter. They will also visit Nelson Mandela’s home and the prison where he served time for his involvement in the apartheid struggle. The students will speak with South African high school students about issues related to violence in Africa and North America.

Alphin, who has been traveling to Africa for many years, said he loves taking young people to Africa. 

“Most of them have never left the country and have different perceptions of Africa," Alphin said. "So through this opportunity, I believe that their lives will be forever changed.”

Grant agrees. “To go to Africa is a dream, and I will not believe it is real until I am there,” she beamed.

A special account has been created to help the students at UCHS raise money for their trip. Donations and sponsorships can be sent to: 

University City High School Business Office 
Attn: UCHS Young Ambassadors for Nonviolence
7401 Balson Ave., University City, MO 63130

For more information, contact the School District of University City communications office at (314) 290-4016.