Shanti Foundation

Shanti Foundation for Peace

Influenced by an artist father and a mother, who was a social activist, Johnson believes strongly that art and activism are a powerful combination for social change. In 1993, in response to the rise of ethnic violence the world over, she started Shanti Foundation for Peace, a Chicago area arts based non-profit organization, that fosters the practice of non-violence in everyday life.

Shanti’s Mission:

To foster peace, acceptance, and understanding in the everyday interactions of people, by bringing visual, literary, and performing arts programs to schools and communities.

Shanti’s Goal:

To assist communities with issues of diversity and inclusiveness and to help all people succeed and contribute in a diverse society by providing creative experiences which develop imaginative, flexible, inclusive, collaborative thinking.

To learn more about the work of Shanti Foundation go to www.shantifoundationforpeace.com

Shanti works toward a future in which:

• The arts are recognized as a key element to the creation of vibrant, creative, and peaceful communities

• Nonviolent decision-making is valued as an active force essential to a just and equal society, a thriving economy, and an inclusive democracy.

• Diversity and differences are celebrated, seen as assets, and used wisely to strategize and solve problems that we face individually and collectively.

• Individuals are valued for what they can contribute to the culture in our society.

The Shanti Methodology:

In 1995, Shanti Foundation for Peace, with the help of artists, curriculum experts, teachers, parents, and peace-activists, developed the Arts and Nonviolence Concepts Handbook, in scope and sequence for grades 1-12. Since then Shanti has worked successfully with more than 50 Chicago Area Public School partners and 25 community institutions, binding communities and people together in ways that have enriched their understanding, their voices, and their enduring spirits.

Shanti Foundation’s distinctive methodology, rooted in the creative process, uses group dynamics as an integral component, challenging participants to brainstorm, form collective decisions, critically analyze, and self evaluate. Shanti Foundation developed this unique methodology with the assistance of curriculum experts, nonviolence consultants, educators, artists, and peace activists. Shanti artists are trained to go beyond the narrow interpretations of nonviolence and peace and to explore these concepts through connections with issues and concerns of everyday life as identified by participants.

Shanti Program Types:

All Shanti programs ; IN School, After School. Professional Development and Community are customized to meet participant needs by combining artistic, nonviolence, and curricular or site-specific objectives. Shanti teaching artists have a wealth of experience in an array of art forms including: story telling, photography, theater, creative writing, mural making, dance, bookmaking, percussion, hip hop, and spoken word.

Shanti’s line of greeting cards combine artist-designed graphics with distinctive quotes that challenge and inspire the reader. The quotes on all of our products are chosen to represent a variety of cultures, famous leaders, and unknown visionaries. This diversity demonstrates the beauty of our differences and the similarities of our hopes and dreams. You can see many more designs on the Shanti website

www.shantifoundationforpeace.org