Transform Conflict into Unity: Achieving Peace, Prosperity, and Purpose Through Forgiveness

Committing his life to halt the cycle of violence among youth, Azim Khamisa became a social activist after his 20-year-old college son Tariq was senselessly murdered while delivering pizzas in 1995 by Tony Hicks, a 14-year-old gang member. Out of unspeakable grief and despair, Khamisa was inspired to transform his loss through the power of forgiveness. This session addresses the importance of self-forgiveness, a much harder journey, from Tony’s journey of redemption. Through this experience you see that peace can only be obtained by not only forgiving people that have harmed you, but is important to forgive yourself as well. This experiential session explores the six principles on non-violence: violence is real and hurts everyone, actions have consequences, we can all make good and nonviolent choices even when we are violated, we can choose forgiveness over revenge, everyone deserves to be respected and treated well, and from conflict you can create love and unity.