Programming
Circle Facilitation Training
Community Conversations
Information Coming Soon
Past Programming
Please join RCPVermont for a community circle conversation! We will be meeting on Zoom on Saturday, April 15 from 1-3pm EST for a thoughtful and supportive conversation about pronouns.
This circle is intended as a safe, brave, and confidential space where you can share your questions, feelings, and experiences related to pronouns. We'll explore what pronouns are, what they mean to different people, and the experiences we've had in conversations about pronouns. Whether you're curious or confused, looking to share your experiences and hear others', or simply interested in exploring this topic, we invite you to join us.
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Claire Summers is an experienced facilitator who is dedicated to creating welcoming spaces where every voice can be heard. She'll guide this conversation with compassion and care, cultivating respect, vulnerability, and learning.
Register Below
Weekly Empathy Circle - 8 Week Series
Free Event
May 17 - July 5, 7:30-9:00 pm EST
Facilitated by Paula Willoquet, Nonviolent Communication practitioner and mediator
The simple act of listening with our full presence and attention can be one of the most compassionate and powerful gifts we can offer ourselves and each other. Wouldn't you agree?
I am offering a facilitated Empathy Circle practice specifically for anyone who has participated in the training offered by the Restorative Community Practice of Vermont and/or has a basic understanding of the compassionate practice of Nonviolent Communication, developed by Marshall Rosenberg.
Our Empathy Circles meet remotely on Tuesdays 7:30-9:00 pm EST, starting May 17th until July 5th. You can attend on a drop-in basis as your schedule allows. We will keep the room open until 9:00 pm, for those who would like to stay a bit longer.
For more information and to receive a Google Meet Link to this Empathy Circle practice, please email paula@pathwaystoconnection.net. This is a free offering.
Empathy Circles provide a confidential, respectful, compassionate, and judgement-free environment where we can feel seen, heard, and welcomed. We will practice: Silent Listening with our full presence and open heart; Reflective Listening; Listening for Feelings; and Listening for Needs met and unmet.
With warmth and gratitude,
Paula
paula@pathwaystoconnection.net
pathwaystoconnection.net
For more information, click here.
HUMANITY NETWORK of GREATER FALLS OFFERS INTRODUCTION TO RESTORATIVE CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Thursday, July 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lawn behind Butterfield Library, Westminster, Vt (Rt 5)
… aka Westminster Institute
Bring a lawn chair!
Please register with Anne Dempsey programming@rockinghamlibrary.org if
you will be attending this event, but you are welcome to come to the event
without registering.
Would you like to learn skills that might help you improve communication with people in your community and your family?
We have all experienced the discomfort of a disagreement that did not end well for either party. Whether with coworkers or family members, neighbors or professional interactions, we can all benefit from learning and practicing Restorative Conflict Resolution (RCR), aka Nonviolent Communication (NVC) skills. Although we may not always agree or we may not even solve a conflict, RCR can help us to remember the humanity of those with whom we are in conflict and ourselves.
The Rockingham Free Public Library is sponsoring a collaboration between The Humanity Network of Greater Falls (HNGF) and Restorative Community Practice of VT (RCPVT) to offer a free introductory workshop on Restorative Conflict Resolution and to learn more about HNGF and RCPVT.
Join us Thursday, July 8, 6:30-8:30 on the lawn behind the Butterfield Library in Westminster on RT 5 (bring a lawn chair). The Humanity Network of Greater Falls is a recently forged grass roots group that is working toward an egalitarian society by supporting cultural education and social engagement opportunities.
The workshop will be led by Dan Dewalt, Laurie Rabut and Claire Summers of Restorative Community Practice of VT. Dan is an educator with many years experience in teaching Restorative Practice, facilitating conflict resolution conferences and founder of RCPVT. Laurie began her studies in NVC under the tutelage of founder of the method, Marshall Rosenberg, in the early 1990’s. She is also an educator with 20 years of experience with NVC consciousness and circle work. In recent years, she has been facilitating restorative circles and co-facilitating trainings for RCPVT with Dan. Claire has a degree in restorative justice from Bennington College and leads community impact circles for RCPVT. Together, Dan, Laurie and Claire are dedicated to practicing and teaching the skills useful to de-escalate potentially antagonistic interactions, while honoring relationships and restoring well being in our local communities. To learn more about RCPVT visit their website at https://rcpvermont.org/
We hope this free introductory workshop will inspire your membership in the Humanity Network of Greater Falls and encourage your participation in Restorative Circle Conference Practice, a 6-week workshop planned for September. Clear, honest and empathetic communication is a learned skill and a muscle that requires nurturing and practice, a skill that benefits both individuals and communities. All Are Welcome.
For more information on the HNGF or to get the link to the monthly meetings, contact Jeanette Staley at jeanette.staley@vcfa.edu or Representative Michelle Bos-Lun at mboslun@leg.state.vt.us Contact Laurie Rabut with any questions about RCPVT’s work at rabutlaurie@gmail.com.
3-Session Community Circle
Putney Community-Building and Reconciliation Circles
May 4th, May 11th, and May 18th
Email rcjsvt@gmail.com or fill out the form below to RSVP and receive a Zoom link
May 4
Community Restoration in 2021 and Healing from National Trauma
“Community” is a term which means many different things to many different people. In the past few years, people across the country have expressed concern that their valued communities, no matter what that may mean, are being divided by the trauma the entire nation has undergone. We at RCJSVT strive to create a space where Putney community members can come together to listen without judgement and engage in dialogue. We hope that this community circle will help Putney connect and create unity while communities everywhere are working to do the same. Join us on May 4th to talk about finding balance, accountability, healing, and more.
May 11 & May 18
Community Reconciliation
- Do current tensions in the community make you uneasy?
- Do you have ideas and/or experiences regarding Black Lives Matter, Antifa, White Supremacy, or Donald Trump and his adherents which make it difficult to trust your neighbors' intentions or fear their actions?
- Are you willing to participate in a restorative process that will allow you to articulate your feelings in a way that others can hear, and to hear the concerns and feelings of others?
Join RCJSVT for one or both of our community reconciliation circles, in which we can work through these challenging tensions in a safe and constructive manner, intended to help communication and respect flourish even where there is disagreement.
For these circles, we will ask you to confirm your participation in advance, so that you can have an "intake" or individual conversation with an RCJSVT facilitator prior to the circle. This helps to ensure that all participants are well prepared to express themselves and to actively listen to others in the circle.
Any outcome of these circles will be determined by the collective wisdom of the participants. RCJSVT will be there to ensure that the process is safe, equitable, and focused on the issues and relationships at hand.
Participation in our first two community circles is not required to attend these reconciliation circles, but it is strongly encouraged, especially for those without prior experience sitting in circle.
All circles will be facilitated by Dan DeWalt, Laurie Rabut, and/or Claire Summers. We hope you will join us and feel free to reach out to rcjsvt@gmail.com with any questions!
Six Week Training Intensive
Training for Facilitating a Restorative Circle Conference
Training Details
Facilitated by Dan Dewalt and Laurie Rabut, this six-week intensive will be a comprehensive training full of opportunities for participants to put the skills they learn into practice.
This training will take place Thursdays from 7-9 PM EST, starting on April 1st. You will receive a Zoom link after signing up in the days leading up to the first session.
Course Objectives:
Participants will leave this course with:
1. A working understanding of “restorative consciousness” and restorative practices.
2. A working understanding of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as it applies to restorative work.
3. A working understanding of the Restorative Circle Conference process and the facilitation skills required.
4. Experience with facilitating the pre-circle “Intake” and Restorative Circle Conference.
Course Outline:
Week 1: History and consciousness of Restorative Practices, facilitator role and NVC.
Week 2: Deep dive into NVC and practice.
Week 3: Process for setting up the “Circle” and the individual “Intake” process.
Week 4: The “Intake” process continued with role playing practice.
Week 5: The Circle Conference - facilitator role, circle preparation and process.
Week 6: The Circle Conference with role playing practice.
How to Register
To honor the hard work of our facilitators, we will be charging a total fee of $60 for this training series ($10 per session). If you are interested in the course but the fee creates a financial barrier, pay only what you are able to. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you have any questions, email rcjsvt@gmail.com.
To sign up, please click on the “Register” button below, fill out the form, and include the $60 fee or other payment. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there!