Stone Soup Leadership Institute

Category: W.PK-12.7 (Writing | Research to Build and Present Knowledge)

Freedom from Madness

Mahatma Gandhi had a very ambitious mission: to teach total nonviolence to the people of India. He had used civil disobedience and his fasts to free India from British imperialism in 1946. Now he wanted to teach his people how to create peace and racial harmony. “We are one human race,” he would say. “Religion must unify us, not divide us.” In this inspiring story, Gandhi’s grandson tells the story of how the great teacher helped Souren Bannetji, whose life had been ruined by religious hatred, to set aside anger and vengeance and learn how to forgive. Out of tragedy, Souren could create a new life for himself and his new family. He came to understand Gandhi’s words: “Change can come only one life at a time.”

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Fulfilling Martin’s Dream

When Frank Carr heard Martin Luther King Jr. give his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, it was a turning point in his life. Returning to Chicago, he challenged his business colleagues to join him in opening doors of opportunity to “all God’s children” so they could succeed in the. corporate world. His vision led to the national organization, INROADS which provides mentors and internships for over 6,000 young people like Juan, a young Mexican immigrant who was given a chance to succeed. Now a manager at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Juan says” There is so much talent in our youth. We all need to take the time to harvest it and help them realize their dreams.”

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