Our Story

In June of 2005, Yoga International published an article by Dr. John Davies describing the positive impact of consistent, deep meditation by One % of a community. The violent crime rates in that community were drastically reduced. The Article That Started It All. In September of 2005, Rev. Neusom Holmes urged his congregation at Unity Church of the Triangle in Raleigh, North Carolina to question the impact they could have in their area. They began to form the One % necessary to have an effect in the neighborhood.

Since that Sunday, a group of committed One %ers has been meditating daily and working to spread the message. We began to notice our lives changing. After spending time with John Davies, we have been moved to recruit One % of the population of the Research Triangle region (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC) to meditate or practice quieting prayer for 45 minutes daily and to measure the impact on the violent crime rate in the area. This grassroots effort is concentrated in the Triangle area, but we want to help plant the seeds elsewhere. Many groups from coast to coast are already poised to drive this effort in their communities. Our hope is that this first interfaith effort of its kind will spread to other areas of the country and, ultimately, throughout the world.

We are urging people to join us for at least a year while we gain the critical mass necessary to make a difference. Making a difference in our neighborhood and in the world will draw people to this cause. Seeing the difference in their own lives will keep them involved for years to come.

Our Intention

One Percent is dedicated to uniting people of all faiths in an effort to create a more peaceful and non-violent environment. Basing our actions on sound research, sharing our knowledge about the methods of meditation and silent prayer, and believing that there is an exponential quality when large groups of people meditate or pray silently for forty-five minutes a day, we are energizing one percent of the local population to commit to this daily practice. We believe that all people are entitled to live in peace and safety.

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