When: June 6-8, 2008
Host: Nonviolent Peaceforce Boston Chapter
Where: Walker Center, 144 Hancock St., Newton, Massachusetts
Cost: $125 to $35 sliding scale
RSVP NOW: Contact Sherry Zitter at sherry@sherryzitter.org or 978-897-5693.
More Information on Boston
When: June 20-22, 2008
Host: Nonviolent Peaceforce Bay Area Chapter
Where: Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $150 to $35 sliding scale
RSVP NOW: Contact Gilda Bettencourt: at gbettencourt at nonviolentpeaceforce.org or (415) 242-0278.
More Information on San Francisco
To build a culture of peace, these skills need to be spread to every neighborhood and community until they are as common as reading and writing!
You are invited to a special event in which you can learn how to teach the basic nonviolent communication & conflict intervention skills daily life and of our NP international peacekeepers! If you're comfortable teaching or leading a group (e.g. camp counselor, CPR instructor), and have been looking for a way to contribute to Nonviolent Peaceforce's work, you may be interested in becoming a local volunteer trainer in nonviolent conflict intervention. NP Boston and NP Bay Area are offering a weekend course in June where you can learn these skills and provide a valuable service to your community by teaching about nonviolence.
Nonviolent Conflict Intervention (NCI) differs from other nonviolence training by focusing on nonpartisan, active, third party intervention. Most nonviolence courses teach what to do when you are in conflict with another person - NCI training introduces and builds upon those skills while showing how you might intervene to deescalate conflict between two other people or parties.
All US and Canadian residents are welcome to apply - especially those with previous teaching/training experience, young people, people of color and bilingual/bicultural applicants. No travel subsidies are available. The training course is 2.5 days starting at 5 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Sunday. To become an NP volunteer trainer, you should enjoy working with people in a team, have some experience in teaching, leading, or training, and have the confidence to stand in front of a group. We welcome persons who can generate conversation among participants and connect ideas, but respectfully and warmly cut them off, if necessary, to keep a course on track.
Those who participate in the full weekend will receive ongoing mentoring and will be expected to lead, with a co-trainer, at least 4 one-day trainings. These trainings are suited for civic groups, faith groups, colleges and the general public.
Trainers: Delia McGrath, co-developer of the NCI Training manual, practitioner of Nonviolent Communication, Buddhist chaplain in prison ministry, peace activist in Pacifica, CA. and Sherry Zitter, social worker, peace activist and trainer, one of 5 national trainers for NP, chair of the Boston NP chapter.
The full weekend training workshop is offered on a sliding scale from $125 to $35, with an additional cost of $50 for two lunches and two dinners (some partial scholarships available for food). Those staying overnight at the Walker Center will pay an additional $35/night. Housing hospitality may be available for those traveling from out-of-town; please ask.
Trainers: The June 20-22 "Training for Trainers" in San Francisco will be led by two very experienced trainers who helped develop the NCI curriculum:
Amy Gilmore Cairns, MA of Portland, Oregon, has developed and led nonviolence trainings and workshops for the NP member organization Michigan Peace Team for nine years, and trained and coordinated international team support for MPT work in Palestine/Israel.
Delia McGrath, a lifelong peace activist of Pacifica, CA has taught communication skills for over 20 years, is involved in prison ministry as a Buddhist chaplain, and is Buddhist Peace Fellowship's Member Organization representative to Nonviolent Peaceforce.
In addition to the $150-$35 training fee, there will be an extra charge for food, probably around $25-30. Housing hospitality may be available for those traveling from out-of-town; please ask.