By Sharon L. Shelton and Anja Williams
Avis Ridley-Thomas with INVLA Dialogue Practitioners who facilitated table conversations
LOS ANGELES — More than 100 leaders from across Los Angeles County gathered on April 8, 2026, at the Center of Hope for the Season of Nonviolence Leadership Dialogue, a powerful convening focused on advancing nonviolence as a year-round practice for community safety and leadership.
Hosted by the Institute for Nonviolence Los Angeles (INVLA) and its Days of Dialogue, the event marked the conclusion of the National Season of Nonviolence (January–April), a period inspired by the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. But organizers were clear: this gathering was not about reflection alone—it was about action.
“Nonviolence is not a moment. It is a method. It is a leadership practice” emphasized Sharon Shelton, emcee and dialogue practitioner.
That message grounded the morning as leaders from public agencies, nonprofit organizations, faith communities, and grassroots groups came together in a shared space to engage, listen, and collaborate.
The dialogue featured opening reflections from community and civic leaders, including Avis Ridley-Thomas, founder and Executive Director of INVLA and Days of Dialogue; Pastor Geremy Dixon, Center of Hope, Board Chair of United Faith Coalition and dialogue host, Dr. Breeda McGrath, President of Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School; Rhea MAC of the Empowerment Congress; and Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas, founder of the Empowerment Congress and former Los Angeles City Councilmember and County Supervisor.
Dialogue host and Center of Hope Pastor, Geremy Dixon
Together, they emphasized the need for leadership rooted in trust, accountability, and community voice—especially in a time when many communities are facing ongoing challenges related to safety, equity, and opportunity.
The dialogue honored the enduring legacies of Dr. King and Gandhi leaders who demonstrated that nonviolence is not passive, but an active and disciplined approach to addressing injustice and building stronger communities.
Unlike traditional events, this convening was intentionally designed as a participatory dialogue. Attendees engaged in facilitated small-group discussions, reflecting on what nonviolence means in their daily lives, where challenges exist, and how communities can move forward together.
At the heart of the gathering was a powerful idea: dialogue itself is a form of nonviolence. That is why dialogue matters. When diverse voices — generationally, racially, culturally, religiously — come together in the same room, something happens that cannot happen alone. People build on one another’s ideas. They name ills that might otherwise go unseen. They collaborate on solutions and identify what they are calling forward. They ensure that no part of the community is left out of the picture. The more complete the picture, the more honest and powerful the response.
Through structured conversation, participants practiced listening across differences, building understanding, and identifying shared solutions. This approach, developed through INVLA’s Days of Dialogue model, positions dialogue as a tool for prevention, relationship-building, and collaborative leadership.
Dialogue in action
The event also highlighted the continued growth of the Leadership Dialogue Systems Initiative, an effort to embed dialogue into organizations and institutions as a way to strengthen alignment, reduce conflict, and support long-term community impact.
As the session concluded, participants shared key insights during a full-group discussion, lifting up themes of trust, connection, and the need for sustained engagement beyond a single gathering.
The message was clear: the Season of Nonviolence may end, but the work must continue.
INVLA and its partners are now calling on leaders across Los Angeles to take the next step—by joining ongoing dialogue efforts, bringing these practices into their organizations, and committing to nonviolence as a daily leadership discipline. That is what April 8th was building toward. Not the finish line. The starting point.
L-R Sharon Shelton Emcee, INVLA Partners – Paul Beck Board Chair NewGround, Dr. Breeda McGrath President Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School, Avis Ridley-Thomas, INVLA Executive Director, Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas Empowerment Congress Founder and INVLA Senior Advisor
“Nonviolence does not begin with action. It begins with our willingness to come together, to tell the truth about what we see, and to decide–together–what must change and how that change unfolds.“ – Avis Ridley-Thomas, INVLA Founder
To learn more or get involved, visit:
www.daysofdialogue.org
About INVLA Days of Dialogue
The Institute for Nonviolence Los Angeles (INVLA) Days of Dialogue convenes cross-sector leaders to advance nonviolence as a strategy for community safety, institutional trust, and collaborative governance through structured dialogue and leadership engagement.