Active Peacemaker Training
Active Peacemaker Training is for anyone who is passionate about unfolding their love and care and becoming a true force for transformation. It is holistic and includes the inner work of self acceptance and becoming more consciously attuned to the wisdom of the body, strengthening interpersonal skills, and learning cutting edge conflict transformation practices such as the restorative justice-inspired Active Peace Circle Process.
This is work that ripples out to all areas of life and builds the overall capacity and resilience needed to navigate the personal and collective challenges we all face, while contributing toward co-creating a more beautiful and life-affirming world.
There are four main entry points into becoming an Active Peacemaker:
New Offerings – Regenerative Relationships
We have created three offerings for individuals and groups interested in strengthening their interpersonal capacities and maximizing their effectiveness: a six week series that thoroughly explores the foundations of personal and collective healing through the lens of regenerative relationships, and two FREE 90 minute introductory sessions that can be customized based on the interests of specific groups.
1. The Relationship Pivot: Catalyst for the Great Turning
We will cover the basics of trauma and the resulting disconnection and how to heal those wounds by leaning into relationships. Specifically, we’ll explore the 5 Rs of Regenerative Relationships (relationship, responsibility, repair, regenerative mindset, and resources) along with other capacities. The end result is a potentially life-changing introduction to relational principles and practices that are foundational if we are to navigate the challenges ahead and co-create more life-affirming ways of being.
This free 90-minute interactive Zoom session is well suited to anyone or any group engaged in any kind of activism where there is interest in making that work as effective and transformational as possible. It can be customized based on the interests and needs of specific groups.
2. Foundations of Community Restorative Justice
This free 90-minute online session seeks to empower individuals, groups, and communities with the principles and practices of restorative justice — a tried and true way to repair harm and address its root causes, rebuild relationships, and strengthen communities.
We will cover the 5 Rs of restorative justice (relationship, responsibility, respect, repair and reintegration) and other aspects of a restorative/regenerative mindset. This session is designed for those interested in learning how the principles and practices of restorative justice can be used outside of the justice system at the group, organization, or community level to repair harm and strengthen damaged relationships.
3. Rising to the Relationship Challenge: Foundations for Personal and Collective Healing
More and more people are coming to understand that the predicament we face—ecological, social, political—is rooted in the illusion of separation and the disconnection that results. The most challenging work to be done in creating a more beautiful world is not “out there,” but within ourselves and our own relational capacities. Learning how to stay connected to ourselves and others when inevitable disagreements arise, is key to realizing our deepest personal longings and navigating the collective challenges we face.
The next series is currently planned for fall 2025. Join us for a deep dive into core principles and practices for personal and collective healing, community building, and co-creating a more life-affirming and regenerative culture.
Active Peace Book Group
This 12 week training moves chapter by chapter through ACTIVE PEACE: A Mindful Path to a Nonviolent World. The journey takes you from the psychological roots of separation and fear, to deeper self-awareness and acceptance, to the lived experience of interbeing with nature and all that is. From this foundation you’ll learn and integrate bedrock skills for transforming conflicts into more authentic relationships and stronger groups, and end up embracing the world and our shared predicament with a fresh, regenerative approach to activism and social change.
You will:
- Root yourself in a paradigm-shifting worldview that helps you hold the big picture and stay grounded–no matter what;
- Deepen your felt sense of connection to the earth,
- Learn the basics of a transformational approach to restorative justice, including the 5 foundations of restorative justice, the four capacities for Active Peacemaking, and the two core values of nonviolence;
- Practice a full range of new skills and capacities that support personal, interpersonal, and collective healing and resilience; and
- Become part of a growing network of active peacemakers supporting each other in a variety of ways.
Foundations of Restorative Process
This is a 5 week training that will give you the core principles and practices of active peacemaking and personal resilience. It is offered to specific groups and organizations that want to establish more safety and trust, deepen connections, repair specific harm and strengthen ongoing conflict transformation capacities.
In this training you will:
- Explore the deep context of personal, interpersonal and collective healing;
- Strengthen your restorative mindset through the five foundations of restorative justice, the four capacities of the peacemaker and the two core values of nonviolence;
- Expand relational awareness and abilities through a focus on universal human needs;
- Taste the health and wholeness that ecopsychology and nature-based practices bring;
- Develop capacities that you can apply to all your relationships and groups;
- Begin to learn the basics of the Active Peace Circle Process.
Active Peace Circle Training
*Note: With some exceptions, the Book Group or the Foundations of Restorative Process training are prerequisites for Active Peace Circle Training.
Active Peace Circle Training is open to anyone with a desire to learn a comprehensive grassroots approach to restorative justice. This is an approach to restorative justice that is community initiated and independent of the justice system.
The process has evolved over the years to include a framing of harm as unmet human needs and other aspects of Nonviolent Communication. It facilitates respectful, courageous conversations about the full extent of the harm (framing harm in terms of unmet universal human needs), shared understanding, accountability and personal, interpersonal and community-level repair and healing.
We offer two levels of APC training via Zoom:
Level 1: Embodying the Principles (Six Sessions)
Integrate the principles and practices of Active Peace in this highly experiential training where you will:
- Practice the steps of the Active Peace Circle process;
- Watch demonstrations and learn by doing using role plays and realistic circle scenarios;
- Strengthen your foundation for personal well-being and resilience;
- Deepen your ability to transform conflict into deeper, more authentic relationships.
Level 2: Facilitator Training (Six Sessions)
Building on all that’s come before, this offering is for those who want to take the next step and become Active Peace Circle facilitators. This integrative training offers fresh challenges and time for deep personal reflection. We tap the collective wisdom as we create a community of learning and support.
Balancing Love and Power
I attended a talk recently that brought home one of the most difficult balancing acts in restoration: love and power. The speaker was Adam Kahane, an internationally recognized expert on conflict resolution and the author of Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of...