The Tenderness Network
The Tenderness Network is a community of artists & activists who
believe in a radically different way of living. We celebrate life and love by working together to create a peaceful home for
every child by working to end violence in the lives of every child.
We believe wholeheartedly in the power of one human being to change lives.
We believe in doing small things with great love, as Mother Theresa once said.
We are an intentional community of lovers and believers who embrace
the challenge of creating a community of hope that offers a peaceful home for every child, indeed, every human being. We seek
to build positive relationships with those whom we agree and those with whom we disagree. We seek to meet the needs of those
around us who are hurting, lonely, hungry, desperate and seeking. When we are unable to physically meet those needs, we seek
to love and provide assistance and support in whatever ways we can.
We break cycles of abuse, violence, poverty and injustice not by
confrontation, but by compassion. We seek to heal, nurture, empower, educate, challenge, affirm, believe and, yes, love so
that our communities become communities of hope, healing, safety, peace and celebration.
Peace,
The Tenderness Network
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| Tenderness Network Founder Richard Propes Touring in Orlando, Florida |
What is the Tenderness Network?
In its simplest definition, the Tenderness Network is a peace & justice
cooperative uniting artists and activists from around the globe in an effort to build a cooperative and nurturing community
committed to growing peaceful children by ending violence in individuals, families, communities and governments.
We are an intentional community in the sense that we remain as committed
to each other as we are to "the cause" of peace and justice. In other words, we practice what we preach.
We are artists, activists & anarchists whose individual and collective outreach efforts,
crafts, creative expressions, social actions, ministries, community service organizations and humanitarian projects reflect
our commitment to the children of the world. We think and act both locally and globally.
At this time, we are not gathered in residential community. There is talk
of changing this in the near future, and those of us who live near one another do gather for work, play, fellowship and simply
to share the communal experience more fully. If you are in Indianapolis, where Richard is based, you are welcome to join us
in any of our community activities.
Are you interested in joining the Tenderness Network and affirming your
commitment to peace and justice while living in a peaceful, supportive network of unique, yet like-minded individuals?
We are very interested in building relationships, both locally and globally,
with individuals, organizations, supporters, volunteers, community partners and those who'd like to participate with us on
a deeper level here in Indianapolis.
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| Richard's Lead Consultants, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum! |
Richard Begins Year Long "Hunger for Peace"
On the weekend of January 5
and 6, 2008 I continue the "revolution" with a year-long commitment to "Hunger for Peace," a personal commitment to fast the
day after every homicide in Indianapolis
in 2008. As there have been two already in 2008, I will begin by fasting both Saturday and Sunday this weekend and, throughout
the year, I will fast each day after a homicide occurs.
You are invited to join me...for one meal, for an entire day or in fasting from something else of significance to you.
For those of you who live in other cities, you are encouraged to do something similar for your hometowns. Wouldn't it
be awesome if we started this all over the country?
Indeed, the power of one handed off to another...and another...and another.
I will update the Tour website and Myspace blog throughout the year...and I will try not to inundate you with e-mails (please
let me know if you want none!).
Thank you again for your ongoing love, support and encouragement as we work together to build a peaceful, loving
together as the revolution continues and I "Hunger for Peace."
Peace,
Richard
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Tenderness Network
Community Values
- Love: Unless love is the essence of everything we do, then we have
failed. Love is the foundation of our community, our relationships, our faith, our social action, our work and our play.
- Peace: We are deeply committed to living our lives peacefully.
This peace must be made manifest in our inward lives, our relationships, our communities and globally. We are committed to
helping others break the cycles of abuse and violence. We are committed to nonviolent social action and, when needed, civil
disobedience.
- Justice: We seek justice, reconciliation and transformation for
individuals and within systems.
- Simplicity: We are committed to living our lives simply recognizing
that there is enough to go around. Love mandates simplicity. Love does not allow for poverty and oppression.
- Community: We believe that humanity is created for community. As
a non-residential community of artists, activists & anarchists, we are challenged to be in relationship with one another
in ways that love, empower, dignify and value one another.
- Healing: We are all broken in one way or another. We believe in
healing our bodies, our minds and our souls in community. We commit to serving each other and being served by each other.
To the best of our abilities, we live our lives transparently so that we may love one another openly and wholly.
- Service: We are committed to serving one another, individually
and collectively, to build peaceful individuals, families, communities and nations.
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| Richard's 1st event in 1988, the Compassion Street Festival at the Arlington Theatre in Indy! |
A Brief History of the Tenderness Network
The Tenderness Tour started as one man's island, a safe but lonely harbor in
the storms of life.
Richard Propes was sitting in his wheelchair in front of the office
of Prevent Child Abuse, Indiana on October 8, 1989. He was alone with $20 in his pocket, a backpack on his
wheelchair and a few typed press releases designed to announce his intentions...He wanted to wheel...and wheel...and
wheel in an effort to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect in Indiana. He wasn't particularly hopeful about changing
anything, but he simply had to do something.
He describes himself as feeling broken during this time. He was nearly
destitute and was contemplating suicide. He was desperate for hope.
The "desperation" fueled that first "Tenderness Tour," in which Tenderness
Network founder Richard Propes traveled the roads of Indiana alone in his wheelchair for 41-days and 1086 miles.
What started out as skepticism from those around him, turned into a community of hope that surrounded him with enough
love, enough hope, enough care and enough inspiration to keep going until his mission was done.
The only problem was...once finished, the mission had just begun.
After wheelchair treks to Cincinnati, Lexington and Chicago, Propes' life
had changed dramatically. No longer living on disability, Propes was a college graduate, working full-time and surrounded,
again, by hope and inspiration.
In 1996, it became clear that the Tenderness Tour was no longer a one-man show.
The first Tenderness Team, a devoted group of roadies and volunteers, began to take shape and to companion me on along my
road journeys. What had been this one man's lonely journey was rapidly becoming a small group of committed and loving
friends, supporters and, well, family.
In 2001, the Tenderness Tour became a non-profit organization in an effort
to expand our outreach and provide a corporate structure to the vision.
In 2007, we've abandoned the non-profit structure after deciding it was
hindering the spirit of our community and mission. We are in the process of exploring less formal structures that still promote
accountability and fiscal responsibility without compromising our values, visions and commitment to one another.
The Tenderness Trail
In 2006, Richard started the "Tenderness Trail," a web-based global memorial
to child victims of violence. In one year, the "Tenderness Trail" has become the largest online memorial devoted exclusively
to children & youth with memorial listings for every state in the U.S. and every country of the world including links,
when available, to stories about the children.
In 2007, the "Tenderness Trail" is being moved to its own website and this
summer we are developing our first physical trail in Indianapolis.
We are actively seeking "trailblazers," individuals who will assist us
by contributing names and stories from their own states to the "Tenderness Trail." We also seek volunteers in Indianapolis
to help with the upcoming "Tenderness Trail" development and, likewise, other communities interested in developing a trail
for their city, state or country.
Click on the Tenderness Trail photo above to visit the web-based "Tenderness
Trail."
Tenderness Network Current Projects
- The Tenderness Tour remains our longest-running and most
visible supported project. Since 1989, Richard has traveled over 3,000 miles and helped children's organizations raise over
$200,000 through one of America's most unique and respected grassroots efforts. These days, Richard focuses more on low-mileage,
intra-community events than long-distance wheels, however, he remains one of America's most visible advocates speaking out
against violence towards women and children. Richard's already held three events in 2007 with the August 18th event with the
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence just around the corner. Visit the Tenderness Tour page for more information on upcoming events, volunteering and current needs!
- The Tenderness Trail started as a modest effort to document
the impact of violence on children's lives. In one short year, the Tenderness Trail has become the largest online memorial
dedicated to children. It is our vision to begin developing physical trails in locations around the country beginning with
an Indiana Trail that begins development in Summer 2007 in cooperation with the Peace Learning Center-Lawrence. For more information,
visit the Tenderness Trail page!
- The Tenderness Award recognizes excellence for those working
to break the cycle of abuse/violence in the community. This annual award is in its 7th year, and in 2007 will be expanded
to include media, legislator, filmmaker, music and international awards. Visit the Tenderness Award page for a complete listing of previous winners!
- The Tenderness Fund is our newest project. Started as a
result of the decision to forego our non-profit status, the Tenderness Fund is in development as a public foundation dedicated
exclusively to the support of grassroots peace & justice issues around the world. The Tenderness Fund will fund our current
projects along with offering support to Tenderness Network partners & friends. Watch here for the upcoming page devoted
to The Tenderness Fund!
- Ideas for upcoming projects include:
Words of Hope:
A used bookstore and Center for Creative Social Change.
Peace Resource Center for Kids: A resource center
devoted exclusively to providing children and youth resources in all areas related to peace & nonviolence in all their
forms.
These ideas are currently in the discernment stage and we appreciate your ideas, thoughts & prayers as we seek
guidance and wisdom in their development.
- Along with these "Network Projects," members of the Network are encouraged
to develop their own individual projects that are supported and promoted through regular Tenderness Network channels. Each
Tenderness Network Partner is offered a minimum of one page on which to promote their own projects, ideas, writings, crafts
or fund-raisers. Watch this space for a listing of pages!
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