Tools for Nonviolent Transformation – Weekend Workshop!

Date: Saturday March 21st and Sunday March 22nd from 10am – 6pm
Location: Arlene Francis Center for Spirit, Art and Politics, 99 6th St, Santa Rosa, CA
Facilitators: Rivera Sun, Mica Stumpf, Peijman Kouretchian

TransformationloveEveryone experiences conflict–it’s unavoidable. In families, businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, and politics–conflict can lead to destructive or constructive ends. Learning to engage conflict constructively on all of these levels through the power of nonviolence is the challenge of our times!

This dynamic and active workshop designed to nourish and support both those who are new to nonviolence and are interested in harnessing its power in their daily lives, as well and “seasoned” in nonviolence who would like to engage its power more safely and effectively, including tools related to movement building and making positive change in our communities. This is about harnessing love in action on all levels.

To register, please visit http://goo.gl/forms/d1EEtaMDJ3

Workshop Topics Include:

  • Nonviolence Theory
  • Power Dynamics in conflict
  • CLARA method for conflict de-escalation
  • Choosing the right level interventions for each level of conflict
  • Structural/systemic roots of violence
  • ROADMAP: Long-term Strategy for building a nonviolent future
  • The 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action
  • Building a campaign
  • The Pillars of Support
  • Spectrum of Allies
  • And more!

Day One: Conflict is inevitable, violence is not.
The first day will be lead by Mica and Peijman of Metta Center for Nonviolence. After delving into nonviolence theory, the nonviolent conflict intervention and de-escalation skills taught in this training give participants the necessary tools to confidently and creatively engage in conflict. They challenge workshop participants to view and engage conflict for what it is, an opportunity for change.  Conflict itself is neutral— how we respond to it determines a positive or negative outcome. Instead of avoiding conflict, we find ways to be comfortable in the midst of it and open ourselves to the abundance of learning and growth doing so allows.

Day Two: Seeds of Change
The second day of this workshop will be lead by Rivera Sun. Ordinary people like you have made change using the tools of Dr. King, Gandhi, Jesus, and Cesar Chavez. Learn these strategies for change and how to apply them in your community and in the world. Day two will cover dynamics and strategies of nonviolent action. Participants envision and build campaigns, become familiar with an array of strategic analysis tools. Together we explore how ordinary people can make extraordinary change!

Please bring a sack lunch. Light refreshments/snacks will be provided.

Contribution: Because it is important to use that everyone can afford to come to our trainings, we offer several ways for participants to contribute. You can choose the standard fee (which covers our basic costs) or sliding scale. We have scholarships and payment plans as well (please contact financialaid@mettacenter.org to inquire). Any contribution above the standard fee will go towards scholarships and will be considered a tax-deductible donation.

UPDATE 3/19/15: We still have several unclaimed scholarships. We would love to find someone to give these to!

$50-140 Sliding Scale
$80 Standard Fee
$30 Youth (22 and under)

Register here: http://goo.gl/forms/d1EEtaMDJ3

About the presenters:

facilitatorsMica Stumpf received her BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley and has been actively involved with the Metta Center for Nonviolence for the past four years. In the fall of 2013, she spent six weeks working with an international peace team in Jeju Island, South Korea. Upon Mica’s return from South Korea in 2013, she and Peijman Kouretchian founded Emergency Peace Teams.

Both Peijman and Mica have trained in restorative justice and mediation. Since January of 2013, they have been working as Kingian Nonviolence trainers with East Point Peace Academy. This has opened the opportunity to teach nonviolence in local jails, tapping their passion to serve communities most affected by violence. Peijman also works with individual clients in his empowerment coaching practice.

In the spring of 2014, Mica and Peijman began developing Empathy App, a smartphone service connecting trained empathizers to people seeking empathy in the moment. In January of 2015, Mica and Peijman became the official trainers for The Metta Center for Nonviolence.

Author/Actress/Activist Rivera Sun is the author of two social protest novels, The Dandelion Insurrection and Steam Drills, Treadmills, and Shooting Stars, as well as nine theatrical plays and a book of poetry. Rivera cohosts Occupy Radio with David Geitgey Sierralupe, and cofounded the nationwide nonviolent study and action group network, the Love-in-Action Network. She went to Bennington College to study writing as a Harcourt Scholar and graduated with a degree in dance. After six years working as a professional playwright, choreographer, and director in the San Francisco Bay Area, she founded the nationally touring Rising Sun Dance & Theater company. Rivera lives in an earthship house in Taos, New Mexico.