Training Outcomes:
- Participants will have an opportunity to participate directly in the peacemaking circle.
- Participants will experience speaking openly, honestly, and from the heart.
- Participants will experience listening fully, carefully, and non-judgmentally to their colleagues.
- Participants will begin the process of creating healing and reconnection on the [company] campus.
- Participants will be trained in facilitating peacemaking circles.
Peacemaking Circles: What are they?
Peacemaking circles are one process in the realm of Restorative Justice. Although restorative justice is seen primarily in judicial and legal arenas, restorative practices—specifically circles—hold great promise for restoring or perhaps even creating community. Two important principles form the foundation for restorative justice in a community setting:
- Justice requires that we work to restore those who have been injured.
- Those most directly involved and affected should have the opportunity to participate fully in the response if they wish.
The circle process is an ancient one; many indigenous peoples have used circles as a way of resolving conflict for centuries. Contemporary principles and practices of consensus-building, dialogue, and dispute resolution have found their way into the modern practice of peacemaking circles, making them not only effective in conflict resolution, but in creating new opportunities for clearer communication among communities. Kay Pranis, a national leader in restorative justice and peacemaking circles states that society needs “now, more than ever before, to find ways to connect with each other constructively, to understand and respect our differences, and to recognize the invaluable contribution each of us can make to creating community” (Pranis, K., Stuart, B.; & Wedge, M. (2003). Peacemaking circles: from crime to community. St. Paul, MN: Living Justice Press). Peacemaking circles provide the space where this type of connection can begin to happen; where conflict can be seen as an opportunity rather than something to be avoided; where relationships that may have been damaged can be restored, and new relationships formed with a common vision and purpose.
How this training benefits [company]:
As a result of the recent transitions occurring at [company], many faculty and staff members are likely experiencing a variety of emotions. Some may not feel as if their voices have been heard, while others may simply wish a forum in which to safely air their concerns. Peacemaking circles provide that forum in a unique way. As a result of peacemaking circle training, ideally followed by subsequent, regularly held peacemaking circles, the campus will begin to heal and focus on the future. A renewed sense of connection and commitment to the mission of [company] will be apparent at all levels of the campus community.
[company] focuses on providing experiential educational opportunities for its students. By its very nature, peacemaking circle training provides participants with the opportunity to experience first-hand the impact of being in circle, the healing that is able to take place in this form of dialogue, and the hope for the future that emanates from participants throughout and following the circle process.
Training process:
During the training, the consultant will facilitate, (or, keep, in the parlance of peacemaking circles) a peacemaking circle for up to twenty-five participants. Participants in this initial training will have the opportunity to take part in an actual peacemaking circle focused on creating connection and community on the [company] campus. They will have the opportunity to speak and listen to each other on how they have been impacted by the recent changes at [company]. In addition, participants will also receive training on various aspects of the circle process, such as the talking piece, creating guidelines and values for the circle, consensus building, dialogue, and other important characteristics of the peacemaking circle.
Because this initial group of participants will be trained to keep future circles, participants will ideally be members of the [company] community who 1) have or had strong feelings regarding the transition at [company]; 2) are participating in the training voluntarily; 3) are interested in participating at future circles on campus, either as members of the circle or as circle keepers. Suggestions for participants include, but are not limited to: members of the junior and senior class, faculty, staff, administration, or any others who wish to be involved. It is recommended that this training take place for at least three participants, and no more than twenty-five.
The program will take place ideally in a Friday evening-through-Saturday evening retreat format, in order for participants to maximize both the personal peacemaking circle process as well as the train-the-trainer portion of the training. Times, dates, and venue will be determined by [company] and the consultant.