“Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” events open to the public will take place on Thursday, Sept. 20, and include the 2012 Connecting the Dots Summit and the Eastgate Library Blessing and Capstone Event featuring a keynote speech by Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Dr. Arun Gandhi on “A Season for Nonviolence.” Both events are free and open to the community, but reservations are required for the Connecting the Dots Summit. Free tickets are available online at “Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” link on ChattanoogaEAC on Facebook.

The 2012 Connecting the Dots Summit

Dr. Gandhi will present the keynote address at the summit—an annual event exploring arts and social issues, and co-sponsored by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, and the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture. This year’s summit will include a mediation and conflict resolution training presented by Chattanooga Bar Association and facilitated by Executive Director Lynda Minks Hood, Gang Task Force Director Boyd Patterson, and City Councilwoman Carol Berz. Students from Baylor School and CSAS, CCA, and other high schools are being invited and will be trained in conflict resolution with a focus on addressing issues like “bullying” and “gang violence.” Free tickets are available online at ChattanoogaEAC on Facebook.

Bessie Smith Performance Hall (200 E Martin Luther King Blvd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403)

Thursday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m.-noon.

Blessing of the Eastgate Library and Capstone Event featuring Dr. Gandhi’s Keynote Address: “A Season for Nonviolence.”

Residents of the greater Chattanooga region are invited to a free public event which will take place at the center stage of Eastgate Town Center where the community will celebrate a Blessing of the Eastgate Library and Dr. Gandhi will present his keynote address “A Season for Nonviolence” recapping his weeklong visit to Chattanooga and challenging the city to embrace nonviolence as it addresses social issues such as “bullying” and “gang violence.”

Center stage of Eastgate Town Center, 5600 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37411.

Thursday, Sept. 20, beginning at 5 p.m.

“Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” 2012 tour will feature:

· a community-wide invitation for all Hamilton County students to attend his visit to The Howard School

· a visit to Baylor School and interaction with leadership and service learning students

· the 2012 Connecting the Dots Summit with Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, and EAC, as well as mediation and conflict resolution training for local high school students presented by the Chattanooga Bar Association

· a visit to Eastgate Senior Activity Center and Blessing of the Eastgate Library

· the Tennessee Economic Council on Women

Mayor Ron Littlefield said, “We welcome Dr. Arun Gandhi to Chattanooga along with his message of nonviolence.  We look forward to learning from Dr. Gandhi’s expertise on nonviolence and incorporating these principles into our regional effort to address gang violence and empowering our young people to be part of the solution.”

Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd said, “Gandhi’s message of nonviolence is something that speaks to all of us. Everyone can be part of the progress as we address issues of gang violence in our schools and across our county. This is a once in a lifetime experience and the students and community members who will be meeting with Dr. Gandhi will never forget it. We have the momentum to carry on this vision in Hamilton County and Chattanooga and everyone can be part of it.”

EAC Administrator Missy Crutchfield said, “In a time of increased violence and community-wide awareness knowing that we have to do something—we are inviting Dr. Gandhi—one of the world’s preeminent experts on nonviolence taught by his grandfather Mahatma Gandhi—to address our city on a variety of levels. With Dr. Gandhi’s visit we begin an ongoing community-wide effort to educate our youth and adults alike about nonviolence and how these principles begin with each citizen.”

Community sponsors who have made the “Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” a reality are Mayor Ron Littlefield and Chattanooga City Council, Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd, Baylor School, Chattanooga Bar Association, DoubleTree by Hilton, 212 Market Restaurant, Custom Werks Graphics, Rico Monuments, Eastgate Town Center.

Please visit “ChattanoogaEAC” on Facebook for the full itinerary.

For more information about “Gandhi Visits Chattanooga” the week of Sept. 17-21, or the City of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture, contact Melissa Turner at 423 425-7826 or turner_m@chattanooga.gov.