Mission

The University of Louisville Muhammad Ali Institute (MAI) for Peace and Justice aims to advance the work, study, and practice of peacebuilding, social justice, and violence prevention through the development of innovative educational programs, trainings, service, and research. The MAI’s approach to peacebuilding, social justice, and violence prevention are guided by Ali’s Six Core Principles:

1. Confidence: Belief in oneself, one’s abilities, and one’s future.
2. Conviction: A firm belief that gives one the courage to stand behind that belief, despite pressure to do otherwise.
3. Dedication: The act of devoting all one’s energy, effort, and abilities to a certain task.
4. Giving: To present voluntarily without expecting something in return.
5. Respect: Esteem for, or a sense of the worth or excellence of, oneself and others.
6. Spirituality: A sense of awe, reverence, and inner peace inspired by a connection to all of creation and/or that which is greater than oneself.

Vision

Drawing strength from the vision and work of Muhammad Ali, the MAI promotes support for human dignity, fosters responsible citizenship, furthers peace and justice, and explores the impact of violence in local, state, national and international arenas. The MAI exposes college students to the scholarship and best practices concerning peacebuilding, social justice, and violence prevention, with the goal of cultivating safe and thriving communities.

Strategies 

In this spirit, we offer workshops, trainings, service opportunities, research, student leadership development, and programs. We further this commitment through a strong partnership with the Muhammad Ali Center.