Cooperative Living June 2020 - 17
CivicPride | by Jamie Ruff, Contributing Writer
Teaching More
than Just Tai Chi
Lonnie Calhoun's range extends
from literacy to martial arts
L
onnie Calhoun III's movements are
slow and deliberate - every turn,
every step, every hand movement.
They are the motions of battle -
albeit, in this instance, he is as a Tai
Chi instructor and they are the motions
of low-impact exercise.
But his actions and speech are
always just as measured, whether he's
teaching martial arts for self-defense
or in a meeting. There is always
something worthwhile to fight for.
" I'm trying to make meaning out of
my life, " he says. " I keep asking myself,
'How do I make meaning?' I want to be a
part of the community and the solution.
I don't want to be a bystander. "
" I like giving to causes - not just the
physical, but the financial is important
too, " Calhoun says. Ultimately, he says,
it is part of contributing to your world.
And, indeed, Calhoun picks up a
pertinent quote from civil rights icon
Martin Luther King Jr.: " Life's most
persistent and urgent question is,
'What are you doing for others?' "
Calhoun made a career promoting
diversity, and it grew out of activism that
taught him the need for involvement.
As a child in the small town of
Lonnie Calhoun III at a U.S.-China
conference in Washington, D.C., in 2018.
The litany of organizations he works
with is a recital of local good causes.
He serves as the founder and principal
facilitator of the Prince Edward County
Literacy Council, vice president of the
United Way of Prince Edward County,
and is on the advisory board of the
Longwood Center for the Visual Arts.
Calhoun is a member of the Farmville
Chamber of Commerce. He has also
served as the director of the Charlotte
County Adult Learning Center and on
the boards of directors of the Prince
Edward Public School Endowment
Fund, the Southside Virginia Family
YMCA and the Robert Russa Moton
Museum (featured in February's
Cooperative Living).
co-opliving.com
Vidalia, Ga., located in the south-central
part of the state renowned for its
namesake onions, he participated in
the local civil rights movement.
The family moved to Michigan and
then to England before returning to
Vidalia in the mid-1960s when Calhoun
was in middle school.
The return " marked the beginning
of my race consciousness, " he recalls.
Calhoun ran into the culture and
customs of the segregated South and
was given what was a standard talk
about how to interact, and not interact,
with white people.
But times were changing and his
father made sure he was part of it. First
his brother and then Lonnie became part
of school desegregation efforts. It wasn't
long before Calhoun and other students
started traveling around protesting.
They were taught not to make eye
contact. " Because when you made
eye contact it became personal, " he says.
From October 1995 until 2010,
Calhoun was Longwood University's
director of multicultural affairs and
Lonnie Calhoun III leading a
Tai Chi class at First Baptist Church
in Farmville.
international student services. He
used his office as a clearinghouse for
" the broad range " of minority issues,
be they religious pluralism or inclusion
of minority students, including a
rapid increase in Chinese students at
the time.
Calhoun's post-Longwood career is
as president and CEO of Cal-Lon LLC:
the Intercultural Professionals, the
Education Specialist. The company
provides strategy, evaluation and
capacity-building services to
foundations, nonprofit organizations,
small colleges and corporate community
involvement programs. He is also a
senior consultant with the Washington,
D.C.-based consulting firm.
But locally that has taken a back seat
to the visibility of his civic efforts.
It was poetic that he ended up in
Prince Edward County, where local
officials closed public schools from
1959 to 1964 rather than desegregate.
The area's history is part of the
motivation and need for his work with
the literacy council, a passion project.
He prompted the creation of the council
a few years ago out of concern that
nothing was being done to help adults
from being left behind or marginalized
because they were unable to read.
He has been the point person in
organizing the council, its primary
contact and chaired its monthly meetings
in the more-than-a-year-long effort.
He's fighting, seemingly in slow motion,
to get it done.
" Making meaning out of my life,
that's important to me, " he says. ■
June 2020 | Cooperative Living | 15
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living June 2020
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 1
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 2
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 3
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 4
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 5
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 6
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 7
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 8
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 9
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 10
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 11
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 12
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 13
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 14
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 15
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 16
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 17
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 18
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 19
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 20
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 21
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 22
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 23
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 24
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 25
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 26
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 27
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 28
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 29
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 30
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 31
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 32
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 33
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 34
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 35
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 36
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 37
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 38
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 39
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 40
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 41
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 42
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 43
Cooperative Living June 2020 - 44
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperative-living-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CL-May2024/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/CooperativeLiving-June2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com