Something New

Something Different, Something Needed, Something New

New Alternative

Why Clarkston?

In a time when our nation’s highest administration is working to build barriers to keep refugees out of the country, Something New is committed to building community with our neighbors in Clarkston, GA. Clarkston is an example of a community where new neighbors and long-time residents are embracing the challenges that come with building a strong community.  It is a place where many cultures and languages collide and where people are discovering the strength in diversity.  It is a place where bridges are working better than walls. Clarkston is worth exploring and a powerful place to learn more about refugee resettlement and get involved, now is the time!

With its high population of recently resettled refugees, Clarkston, GA is a vibrant community—rich in diverse experiences, cultures, and by extension—food! Located just a few miles from downtown Atlanta, Clarkston is a small town that takes you on a trip around the world in just a few blocks.

The residents of Clarkston are from all over — Burma, Bhutan, Cuba, Somalia, the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Refugees from these countries bring with them their own ways of life, as well as the incredible and difficult circumstances they have endured on their journey to rebuilding their lives.

About 85% of local businesses are owned by people who came to Clarkston as refugees.  Students attend schools where 60 languages are spoken and adults often work multiple minimum wage jobs to make ends meet.  As people work to rebuild their lives, about 40% live below the poverty line and many adults are not able to work in the same careers they had in their home countries.

Each refugee has a story of war, separation, violence and hardship and they also share a common drive to build a safe, secure, and brighter future for their children and new community.  The daily demonstration of sacrifice and the warm hospitality felt among new neighbors makes Clarkston a unique and powerful place for an alternative break.

Spoken Word Reflection on New Way’s Summer Institute

New Way, Summer Institute, Nonviolence Training, Conflict ReconciliationMichael, a former New Alternative participant and a 2016 New Way Summer Institute participant, wrote this spoken word piece after his influential experience with nonviolence training this summer.

Something New

The moment I realized I was fighting against something was the moment my movement fell apart.

I called for a revolution of the heart but the evolution of the movement had changed.

It twisted and turned in a game of word scramble to fit the word “for” into the word “against.”

What are you fighting for?

Non-violence, that’s non hyphen violence is simply no violence.

Well, maybe not simply.

It’s the absence of violence, a passive act. [Read more…] about Spoken Word Reflection on New Way’s Summer Institute

New Way Community Guidelines

New Way, Community Agreements, Nonviolence Training, Conflict Reconciliation, Alternative Break

New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation trainings begin with forming a safe space for every participant. Part of this process involves the trainees creating Community Guidelines – an agreement on how they each will behave and act throughout the duration of their training. The Guidelines help to keep participants accountable and begin to form a unity and team among those being trained. This atmosphere helps facilitate safe, purposeful discussion later in the training.

These Community Guidelines were created by 2016 New Alternative participants that spent a day of their trip in Selma being trained in Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation.

To learn more about New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation, please visit our website!

Describe New Way in One Word!

2016 New Alternative participants spent a day of their alternative break trip in New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training. They were asked to give one word to describe their experience; here’s what they said!

To learn more about New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training, please visit our website!

New Way Testimonial – Eryka

Contributed by Eryka, 2016 New Alternative and New Way participant

New Way, Nonviolence, Conflict Reconciliation, New Alternative, Selma, Alabama
Eryka first experienced New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation training through her New Alternative trip to Selma!

Although I was only able to spend a day in Nonviolence Training, the knowledge and skills I gained have allowed me to better myself not only as an aspiring psychologist, but also as a student, sister, daughter, and friend. My college campus is filled with thousands of students from all over the world. As you can imagine, this provides for an extremely diverse group politically, socioeconomically, geographically, and in many other ways. These differences often make for tense, sometimes even hostile interactions. Nonviolence training has allowed me to become more aware in my everyday life by helping me develop a better consciousness of those around me as well as the inspiration to always choose love. In turn, I have improved my daily interactions and relationships with those around me. Every day, I am faced with countless conflicts, both big and small, and I am confident that my Nonviolence Training helps me tackle each and every one of them with an open heart and a conscious mind.

To learn more about New Way Nonviolence and Conflict Reconciliation Training and to book a training, please visit our website!