Wholesome Practice: Dialogue/Mediation

Center for Social Concerns (University of Notre Dame)

“MISSION: To enact Catholic social teaching through community-engaged research, teaching, and learning. IDENTITY: Fulfilling Notre Dame’s mission to cultivate a disciplined sensibility to the poverty, injustice and oppression that burden the lives of so many, the Center for Social Concerns gathers, forms, and nourishes community-engaged scholars in the study, practice, and renewal of Catholic social tradition. By enacting human dignity, pursuing the common good, and standing in solidarity with the marginalized and poor, we advance pedagogies of engagement, leverage personal transformation for social change, and transform principles of Catholic social teaching into 21st-century leadership.”

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Bioneers Study Guides: Indigenous Knowledge e-Book

“As part of our mission to spread breakthrough solutions for people and planet, we collaborated with the education experts at Trio to create Bioneers Study Guides. Bioneers Study Guides leverage 26 years of actionable intelligence represented in our extensive media archive. The wide range of topics are relevant for inclusion in many different curricula—from science to civics, economics to art—and are easily integrated into any type of classroom. We’re making these guides freely available for download to ensure everyone, especially future generations, are learning in ways that engage the challenges and opportunities facing humanity today.”

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Bioneers Media – Video

Videos. “Bioneers is a fertile hub of visionaries and innovators who are developing practical solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.”

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Beyond Beliefs: A Guide to Improving Relationships and Communication for Vegans, Vegetarians, and Meat Eaters

Book: “Vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters can feel like they’re living in different worlds. Many vegans and vegetarians struggle to feel understood and respected in a meat-eating culture, where some of their most pressing concerns and cherished beliefs are invisible, and where they are often met with defensiveness when they try to talk about the issue. They can become frustrated and struggle to feel connected with meat eaters. And meat eaters can feel disconnected from vegans and vegetarians whose beliefs they don’t fully understand and whose frustration may spill over into their interactions. The good news is that relationship and communication breakdown among vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters is not inevitable, and it is reversible. With the right tools, healthy connections can be cultivated, repaired, and even strengthened. In Beyond Beliefs, internationally recognized food psychology expert and longtime relationship coach Dr. Melanie Joy provides easy-to-understand, actionable advice so you can: • Learn the principles and tools for creating healthy relationships • Understand how to communicate about even the most challenging topics effectively • Recognize how the psychology of being vegan/vegetarian or of being a meat eater affects your relationships with others, and with yourself”

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Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management

Book: “Classroom management is traditionally a matter of encouraging good behavior and discouraging bad by doling out rewards and punishments. But studies show that when educators empower students to address and correct misbehavior among themselves, positive results are longer lasting and more wide reaching. In Better Than Carrots or Sticks, longtime educators and best-selling authors Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey provide a practical blueprint for creating a cooperative and respectful classroom climate in which students and teachers work through behavioral issues together….Rewards and punishments may help to maintain order in the short term, but they’re at best superficially effective and at worst counterproductive. This book will prepare teachers at all levels to ensure that their classrooms are welcoming, enriching, and constructive environments built on collective respect and focused on student achievement. “

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Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs

“The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs seeks a more just and peaceful world by deepening knowledge and solving problems at the intersection of religion and global affairs through research, teaching, and engaging multiple publics. Two premises guide the center’s work: that a comprehensive examination of religion and norms is critical to address complex global challenges, and that the open engagement of religious and cultural traditions with one another can promote peace. To this end, the center engages students, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in analysis of and dialogue on critical issues in order to increase the public understanding of religion.”

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Bay Area Nonviolent Communication

“BayNVC is home to a number of projects and groups working under the same umbrella to apply and promote the principles and practices of Nonviolent Communication. Most of these are operated and run by BayNVC staff and trainers and include private sessions, classes, organizational services, retreats, and a variety of projects designed for social transformation. In addition, BayNVC provides fiscal sponsorship and financial services to other relevant projects by request. VISION: To create a world where everyone’s needs matter and people have the skills to make peace.”

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Ann McKnight – turn toward conflict

“Ann McKnight has been a licensed psychotherapist for over 20 years. Ever curious about what moves us toward wholeness and satisfaction in everyday living, she has been exploring the crafts of Nonviolent Communication and Restorative Circles for the last 10 years. Through experimentation in all areas of her life, she is growing to see conflict as an invitation to deeper understanding, strengthened relationships and dynamic, vital community. Ann is currently working with Grand Haven and Spring Lake Public Schools, Community Policing Officers through the Holland Police Department, Hope College, Western Seminary, Hope Church, Black River Public School, various health care organizations, churches, schools, families, couples and individuals in West Michigan.”

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Alternatives to Violence Project Queensland

“Welcome to AVPQ Online. AVPQ is a growing community of people who support those actively seeking nonviolent solutions to conflict. Members share experiences, skills, information and their time. It is a multicultural, independent, non-profit association of trained volunteers, offering experiential workshops that can help people to change their lives.”

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Active Peace

“Why Become an Active Peacemaker? Active Peace is a holistic approach to personal, interpersonal, and collective healing. It takes in the big picture and addresses the root causes of disrespect, division, and violence. Inner healing is fully integrated with heart-centered service to life and future generations. Through a restorative justice-inspired model of community peacemaking (Active Peace Circles) we address even the most challenging issues in a transformational way that includes root causes and systems change. After successful workshops in Boulder in January 2019, the Active Peace Circle model is ready to be implemented in communities hungry for an integrated and consistently nonviolent approach to conflict transformation. Active Peace prioritizes respect, deep relationships, personal responsibility, and repairing harm at all levels and includes unmasking Privilege, Patriarchy, and Internalized Racism in a proactive and compassionate way. As an Active Peacemaker you will become more relaxed, courageous, compassionate, and resilient. You will be a positive example of what humans are capable of and bring more hope into the world. You will also join a growing network of people channeling their care into effective action.”

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Youth Icons Ghana

“As a vibrant youth oriented non-governmental organization committed to the empowerment of the youth of Ghana and Africa, Our foremost goal is to inspire and empower the youth of Africa inform themselves of challenges that awaits them in their lifetimes and take action to address them. “

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Winona LaDuke

“Winona LaDuke—an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) member of the White Earth Nation—is an environmentalist, economist, author, and prominent Native American activist working to restore and preserve indigenous cultures and lands.”

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What Is Restorative Practices?

“All humans are hardwired to connect. Just as we need food, shelter and clothing, human beings also need strong and meaningful relationships to thrive. Restorative practices is an emerging social science that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities.”

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What Makes People Tick: The Three Hidden Worlds of Settlers, Prospectors and Pioneers

Book: “Chris Rose’ powerful guide to values mapping is a ‘must-read’ for campaigners. If you want to communicate effectively with people – especially if you want to persuade them to act – you need to start from where they are, not from where you are. The failure to do this lies at the root of many communications damp squibs, disasters and social conflicts. Knowing about the Three Worlds gives you a head start in getting it right. These invisible ‘Worlds’ can only be truly revealed by large scale detailed surveys which identify the connections and correlations between attitudes and beliefs. These sets of attitudes and beliefs create three different versions of ‘common sense’, three distinct ways of seeing the world and of evaluating any offer or ask, any campaign or political idea, any past-time, hobby, social opportunity, any purchase, product or service. Because our place in one world or another is determined by meeting, or not yet having met, unconscious needs – of safety and security or identity, or for esteem of others or self esteem, or for things beyond that such as new ideas, innovations or ethics – we are not ordinarily aware that these worlds exist.”

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Training for Change – Tools

“Below is our toolbox of tool topics. Click to reveal tools that correspond with the categories you select…3rd Party Nonviolent Intervention, De-escalation & Peacekeeping, Direct Action, Diversity & Anti-Oppression, Energizers & Games, Meeting Facilitation, Online Training Tools, Organizing & Strategy, Team Building, Training Fundamentals”

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Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions Can Come Together

Book: “‌In perhaps his most important book, the Dalai Lama shares his hopeful yet realistic views on how humanity must step into the future. In our daily lives today no one is untouched by what happens in the rest of the world. New technology, environmental problems, economic gain and loss, nuclear weapons, and instant communication have all created unprecedented familiarity among the world’s many cultures. With this historic development, the Dalai Lama understands that the essential task of humanity in the twenty-first century is to cultivate peaceful coexistence…In Toward a True Kinship of Faiths, the Dalai Lama also explores where differences between religions can be genuinely appreciated instead of becoming sources of conflict. Creating genuine harmony does not depend on accepting that all religions are fundamentally the same or that they lead to the same place. Many fear that recognizing the value of another faith is incompatible with having devotion to the truth of one’s own. Nevertheless, the Dalai Lama shows how a sincere believer can, with integrity, be a pluralist in relation to other religions without compromising commitment to the essence of the doctrinal teachings of their own faith. An issue of central importance for the Dalai Lama personally and for the entire world in general, Toward a True Kinship of Faiths offers a hopeful yet realistic look at how humanity must step into the future. “

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Tools for Change

“Tools for Change explores the nexus of social change and spirituality, working from the inside out. We promote healing, leadership development, and sustainable democracy. Our approach weaves together deep reflection, sharing stories and heart felt dialog to inspire social healing, generosity of spirit and collective genius.”

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The Peace Alliance

“The Peace Alliance empowers civic action toward a Culture of Peace…One of the unique things that the Peace Alliance does is to focus not only on doing, and also being. We shift human understanding toward empathy, compassion and connection, thus fostering interdependence among citizens and dialogue toward common ground and peaceful solutions to conflict. This is the only approach that will work. Our Peace Alliance Council Leads establish what they feel are the clear and direct actions, through education, advocacy and collaboration, to expand and reinforce this shift to compassionate understanding and an expanded culture of peace.”

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The Peace Foundation

“Vision: Peaceful local, national and global communities. Mission: To build peaceful relationships among people of all ages and cultures – from personal to global – through education , research and action. Values: In pursuing this mission we are committed to honour Te Tiriti O Waitangi, human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflict and to modelling peace-making values within the Foundation and beyond. “

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The Peace Abbey

“The mission of the Peace Abbey Foundation is to create and install public works of art that promote peace and nonviolence; and to administer and care for Abbey Interfaith Peace Chaplaincy, The Pacifist Memorial, The Animal Rights Memorial, Abbey Cremation Cemetery for Conscientious Objectors and the National Registry for Conscientious Objection. Throughout the year, the Foundation presents the Int’l Courage of Conscience Award at conferences and peace ceremonies and extends the impact of the Peace Seeds interfaith prayers for peace through their dissemination worldwide. We conduct and support programs that bring together and promote the cooperation of people of different faith traditions and non-theists as well. We do this in the spirit of the 1986 International Day of Prayer for World Peace, as celebrated that year by religious leaders from around the globe in Assisi, Italy. The Foundation supports grassroots efforts to link the many dimensions of the peace movement with a committed emphasis on human rights and animal rights. We recognize these two dimensions of intrinsic rights as inextricably interconnected, just as social and economic justice require environmental sustainability and deep respect for the biosphere. Central to our universalist approach is the premise that nonviolence is the most effective and long-term strategy in addressing the multitude of challenges that now threaten our increasingly imperiled planet.”

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The Network of Spiritual Progressives

“The Network of Spiritual Progressives is a broad network that seeks to transform our materialist and corporate-dominated culture into a loving and just society. We envision a world based on a New Bottom Line of awe and wonder at the universe where everyone is seen as fundamentally valuable regardless of their role in the marketplace. We call this framework “a spiritual progressive worldview.” Our network includes environmentalists, social activists and people of all walks of life who identify as religious, spiritual, atheist, and secular humanist. We are the interfaith advocacy arm of Tikkun magazine.”

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The Little Book of Restorative Justice

“Howard Zehr is the father of Restorative Justice and is known worldwide for his pioneering work in transforming understandings of justice. Here he proposes workable principles and practices for making Restorative Justice possible in this revised and updated edition of his bestselling, seminal book on the movement. (The original edition has sold more than 110,000 copies.) Restorative Justice, with its emphasis on identifying the justice needs of everyone involved in a crime, is a worldwide movement of growing influence that is helping victims and communities heal, while holding criminals accountable for their actions. This is not soft-on-crime, feel-good philosophy, but rather a concrete effort to bring justice and healing to everyone involved in a crime. In The Little Book of Restorative Justice, Zehr first explores how restorative justice is different from criminal justice. Then, before letting those appealing observations drift out of reach into theoretical space, Zehr presents Restorative Justice practices. Zehr undertakes a massive and complex subject and puts it in graspable from, without reducing or trivializing it. This resource is also suitable for academic classes and workshops, for conferences and trainings, as well as for the layperson interested in understanding this innovative and influential movement.”

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The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools

“Much more than a response to harm, restorative justice nurtures relational, interconnected school cultures. The wisdom embedded within its principles and practices is being welcomed at a time when exclusionary discipline and zero tolerance policies are recognized as perpetuating student apathy, disproportionality, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Relying on the wisdom of early proponents of restorative justice, the daily experiences of educators, and the authors’ extensive experience as classroom teachers and researchers, this Little Book guides the growth of restorative justice in education (RJE) into the future. Incorporating activities, stories, and examples throughout the book, three major interconnected and equally important aspects of restorative justice in education are explained and applied: creating just and equitable learning environments; building and maintaining healthy relationships; healing harm and transforming conflict. The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education is a reference that practitioners can turn to repeatedly for clarity and consistency as they implement restorative justice in educational settings.”

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The Listening Project

“The Listening Project provides guidance and training for: Community Listening Projects (CLP) and Facilitated Group Listening (FGL). Both programs have a thirty-year history of helping community organizations achieve transformative change around issues of justice, conflict, health, community development, education, environment, and other concerns…our organization has worked with hundreds of national and international community-based organizations to overcome divisions caused by social and economic injustice, as well as ethnic, racial, religious and cultural conflicts. The Listening Project training and resources can enable communities to find unity on issues of health, education, sustainability, and countless other forms of community strengthening and development.”

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The Little Book of Circle Processes : A New/Old Approach to Peacemaking

“Our ancestors gathered around a fire in a circle, families gather around their kitchen tables in circles, and now we are gathering in circles as communities to solve problems. This peacemaking practice draws on the ancient Native American tradition of a talking piece and combines that with concepts of democracy and inclusivity. Peacemaking circles are used in neighborhoods to provide support for those harmed by crime and to decide sentences for those who commit crime, in schools to create positive classroom climates and resolve behavior problems, in the workplace to deal with conflict, and in social services to develop more organic support systems for people struggling to get their lives together. The circle process hinges on storytelling. It is an effort bringing astonishing results around the country. A title in The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding Series.”

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The LIFE program

“The primary focus of the LIFE program is to develop awareness of the consciousness of “the living energy of needs” or “the beauty of needs.” This is the foundational base for Living Compassion and is core to living and integrating NVC into life. The deepening work of the LIFE program is designed to establish a clear pathway to first identifying, then experiencing and cultivating this consciousness. This work supports an embodied spirituality and a way to engage in a living practice in our everyday, moment-to-moment living. Processes and tools are offered that serve this integration and development.”

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The Forgiveness Project

“The Forgiveness Project collects and shares stories from both victims/ survivors and perpetrators of crime and conflict who have rebuilt their lives following hurt and trauma. Founded in 2004 by journalist, Marina Cantacuzino, The Forgiveness Project provides resources and experiences to help people examine and overcome their own unresolved grievances. The testimonies we collect bear witness to the resilience of the human spirit and act as a powerful antidote to narratives of hate and dehumanisation, presenting alternatives to cycles of conflict, violence, crime and injustice. At the heart of The Forgiveness Project is an understanding that restorative narratives have the power to transform lives; not only supporting people to move on from harm or trauma, but also building a climate of tolerance, resilience, hope and empathy. This idea informs our work across multiple platforms – in publications and educational resources, through the international F Word exhibition, in public conversations, and our award-winning RESTORE prison programme. The stories of forgiveness on our website demonstrate that forgiveness is first and foremost a personal journey, with no set rules or time limits. We are a secular organisation sharing stories from all faiths and none.”

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The Fearless Heart

“The Fearless Heart is a project of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication. Like many projects, it started small when, in 2010, Miki Kashtan finally got the nerve to start her own blog. The response was so positive, and the pleasure of putting out her ideas and experiences so meaningful, that writing emerged as a core aspect of Miki’s work. As her visibility and reach grew over time, a team of people coalesced in support of the vision that she is holding for what’s possible for individuals and for the world. The Fearless Heart is where Miki blogs. It acts as the publisher for her books and upcoming multimedia self-study guide to Nonviolent Communication. The Fearless Heart team supports trainings around the world conducted by Miki, and a number of other projects. We invite you to look around this site and see what draws your attention. We believe there is something here for anyone, from CEO to social activist.”

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The Circle Works

“Circle work is one of the oldest restorative practices utilized by humankind. Our goal is to institutionalize circle work in every aspect of American life. We see this as best demonstrated when we can work in collaboration, with compassion, as we strive toward competency…Since ancient times, people have been sitting in Circle to discuss difficult and emotional issues. They’ve also come together in Circle to reflect on and celebrate various occasions and individuals. Through the many uses of Circles; one common thread is community. Through the recognition and participation in Circle, the community can deepen its level of trust and understanding. Circles can help transform conflict, create trust and heal damaged relationships, build stronger teams, empower individuals, enhance personal accountability, and facilitate creative problem-solving.”

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The Circle Works – Services

“We specialize in research and evidence-based practices for bringing about reconciliation to conflict and disharmony between individuals and within organizations and communities. We offer training utilizing the peacemaking circle process, theories of nonviolence, and other restorative practices to bring about peace, harmony, and balance in relationships. We can customize our services to meet your specific needs. We provide social justice-based training, consultation, and coaching. We assist individuals, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, community groups, non-profit and governmental agencies, faith-based communities, and others by utilizing restorative and transformative processes for problem-solving, conflict resolution, peace-building, team and community building, strategic planning, leadership development, racial healing, and racial equity analysis. We are an active partner of The Nonviolence Training Hub, an international consortium of trainers.”

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The Barefoot Guide Connection – The Resource Library

Resource Library: tools and exercises, readings and presentations, stories of change, frameworks, poetry of change, contribute to the library. “We are a open network of social change practitioners and leaders from dozens of countries, on every continent, sharing our creative ideas, stories, approaches and resources about effective social change practice, believing in the value of the real, on-ground-experiences and insights we all have. “

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Teach for Life

“The Teach for Life: NVC Educators Institute provides educational professionals with practical experience in a beautiful, nurturing retreat environment. Participants learn hands-on processes for facilitating vibrant and compassionate classrooms – places where students, teachers and parents thrive.”

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Spiritual Activism Training

“In this training, you will gain the following skills: -How to listen to people who do not share a progressive worldview without criticism and blame. -How to express empathy and understanding for contrary points of view without necessarily agreeing with those views. -How to identify the needs (social, political, spiritual) of the person who expresses a position with which you don’t necessarily agree. -How to express the vision of a world based on a New Bottom Line. -Understanding of how the Right attracts people who are not racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semitic, Islamophobic and whose economic interests are with the Left – and how to win them back. -How to take these ideas into local social change organizations, or religious or spiritual communities, seek endorsements for proposals from elected officials, and raise these issues with your friends.”

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SPIN Academy

“Nonprofit Communications Capacity Building Retreat…Communications as a Tool for Deep Change. The SPIN Academy trains advocates for social change to adopt a strategic approach to their communications work. The SPIN Academy is built on the premise that nonprofits working for positive social change must communicate effectively to achieve results. During our nearly 20 years, we’ve trained thousands of nonprofit leaders from all across the country to craft smarter strategies, build stronger brands, and deliver more meaningful messages about their vital work. Through our annual four-day retreat at Walker Creek Ranch in Petaluma, CA, we offer an accessible and affordable training that includes practical tools, coaching, and network opportunities – so nonprofits can communicate effectively for themselves. Our curriculum is inspired by the best practices in the field and offers the building blocks of strategic communications, including brand development, storytelling, message creation & more.”

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SouthFront

“SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence is a public analytical umbrella organization created and maintained by a team of experts and volunteers from the four corners of the Earth. SouthFront focuses on issues of international relations, armed conflicts and crises. The organization provides military operations analysis, military posture of major world powers, and other important data influencing the growth of tensions between countries and nations. We try to dig out the truth on issues which are barely covered by the states concerned and the mainstream media. The SouthFront Team believes that not only well-paid “professional journalists”, but common people with inquisitive minds are able to produce balanced content in a modern information-oriented society.”

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Social Ecology: Applying Ecological Understanding to Our Lives and Our Planet

Book: “Social ecology addresses the burning question of how to apply ecological understanding to every aspect of our lives. The twenty-seven contributors, all of whom have directly or indirectly contributed to the teaching of social ecology in Australia and beyond, share their experiences in this “coming of age” anthology of keynote articles. These are of particular relevance to educators and students. The book provides a holistic framework for change, based on the interrelationships among the personal, social, environmental, and spiritual. It helps the reader realize how we got where we are and how to better understand sustainable, caring futures. Students from all disciplines can use this valuable resource to help enrich their learning with insights and principles from the field of social ecology. The introduction maps social ecology as an emerging field. Articles about place, story, nature, education, and community illustrate ways to apply our understanding of social ecology, systems theory, transformative learning, holistic education, empathic intelligence, sense of place, shamanic practices, poetic inquiry, archetypal theory, deep ecology, aesthetics, creativity, curriculum design, drama education, cross-cultural learning, and indigenous knowing. Includes inspiring stories of activists and community educators applying the wisdom of social ecology at the leading edge of change, including a chapter by tCA director James Whelan.”

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School Mediation Associates

“The mission of School Mediation Associates is to transform schools into safer, more caring, and more effective institutions. Through our work we: -Encourage young people to become leaders in their schools. -Help students and educators see conflict as an opportunity for personal and institutional growth. -Teach students and educators the skills to resolve conflict non-violently and collaboratively. -Mediate challenging conflicts at educators’ requests. -Disseminate an approach to problem solving that values diversity and respects differences of opinion. -Provide educators with the knowledge, experience and the materials necessary to integrate collaborative conflict resolution processes into their professional practices, their curricula, and their personal lives.”

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Roots to Power: A Manual for Grassroots Organizing

“When ordinary people band together to gain more control over their life conditions, the first order of business is to organize in pursuit of collective action. This how-to manual presents strategies, tactics, methods, and techniques that community members can use to set their own goals, select issues, campaign for these issues, recruit members, develop leaders, hold effective meetings, conduct research, lobby politicians and legislators, and get the word out to the media. The author brings more than three decades of experience to the task of explaining root principles for developing and exercising collective power; he moves effortlessly from such broad discussions into providing specific tips for effective organizing methods and techniques. Armed with the information in this book, any community can bring about social change through collective action.”

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Public Listening Project

“We have been going regularly to the local train station for five years wearing t-shirts bearing questions: one always reads, “What’s Your Opinion?” and the other might be, “Should We Have Gone to War?” or some other provocative question. Such questions are a non-threatening invitation to people who are ready to approach us and share their views on policy issues and how they came to hold them. As we listen with interest and respect, people vent feelings and, then, often become more free to think anew. People appreciate being listened to without interruption. If their opinion is listened to with respect, then their “suspicion” of talking to someone who may have a differing viewpoint quickly evaporates…Our names are Dan and Trey. We are two friends who, during the buildup toward war with Iraq in the fall of 2002, felt that not enough people were talking about this vital issue. We thought that such an action, which surely would cost our nation money and lives, merited discussion among Americans of all political persuasions. It is our belief that people do their own best thinking when they are listened to with respect. We decided, as concerned citizens, to create a forum for discussion on the topic of war and all related issues. We have conducted this project without the sponsorship of any political group.”

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Proposed Mini Manual of Council Circles

Guidelines for meeting. “Council is the process of figuring out how the group feels; it’s not just for thinking. The goal is not necessarily consensus of action, but of understanding: once we understand each other, what to do should be obvious.”

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Power and Diversity Sequence

A training exercise “My goal was to create something short that could be integrated into a regular direct action training to provide some consciousness raising.” 20-30 minutes

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Play in the Wild

“Play in the Wild! Initiations into Nonviolence offer a full-immersion education in the principles and practices of nonviolence. We define nonviolence as a lifelong commitment to seeing beyond differences, respecting all living things, and being of service to ourselves and others…Students in these programs learn practical and effective skills for living interdependently with all forms of life while developing knowledge of self and others. These skills and knowledge form the basis for peaceful, harmonious, and productive communities, not just at Play in the Wild!, but in the circles of relationships that the youth create after they leave our program.”

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Peacemaking Circles: From Conflict to Community

Book: “A time-tested paradigm for healing relationships and keeping them healthy, Peacemaking Circles explores how communities can respond to crimes in ways that address the needs and interests of all those affected – victims, offenders, their families and friends, and the community. Based on indigenous teachings combined with current research in conflict resolution, the Circle process described here builds an intentionally safe space where we can bring our best selves to some of our most difficult conversations. Though the book relates the process to criminal justice, the explanantion of Circle philosophy and practice can be readily applied to hurts and conflicts in other areas of life. Above all, the book offers a grounded vision for how we can be together “in a good way,” especially when it seems hardest to do.”

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Peace Factory

“At Peace Factory, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is our source of inspiration for communication, dialogue and conflict resolution…Peace Factory comes to life as an adult training center and eco-hamlet cooperative, firmly rooted in valuing the needs of every human being. The transformation of the site, initiated in spring 2009 aims to develop a place of eco-cohabitation, integrating a training and well-being center anchored in the development of universal human needs.”

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Peace Learning Center

“Peace Learning Center educates, inspires and, empowers people to live peacefully. Our vision is to build a community of peace where respect is primary and justice is real. Through the modeling of behaviors, community collaboration, and by providing services, we value: -Peaceful resolution of all conflicts. -Strength of diversity in our community. -The potential of youth. -Responsible stewardship of the environment and community resources.”

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Peace Circle Center

“We believe in human relationships where we go beyond the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ thinking to curiously approach differences and connect to the deeper internal motivations and needs and create bridges of connection…The Peace Circle Center offers standard and customized programs to schools, groups, communities, organizations, parents to bring powerful and compassionate character-building, peacemaking, social and coaching skills. The Peace Circle Center caters directly to youths and children through ‘Mom & Daughter’, ‘Dad & Son’, ‘Youth empowerment’, “Bullying Transformers’ mentorship groups and retreats. The Peace Circle Center has a large community-building effort for interested parents, educators and ‘friends of children’ through DC-area social events, camping trips and annual summer camp partnerships.”

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Papers on Nonviolent Action and Cooperative Decision-Making

“Collected here are papers about progressive social change… In 1980, I began facilitating workshops to prepare people for nonviolent direct action. I found it useful to prepare sample agendas which I could then easily modify to suit the occasion. I also developed notes and handouts that included everything I had learned about these subjects. I freely distribute these papers and encourage other people to use them to facilitate workshops for progressive activists. Please spread the word!.”

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Pacifica Network

“The Pacifica Affiliate Network is a mutually supportive community of independent radio stations and production groups who cooperate to create and broadcast community media. We advance community- building and citizen participation by giving voice to the unique residents, visions, and environments in our local areas and raising them to a national platform. The Pacifica Affiliate Network’s mission is to advance the widespread practice and pursuit of grassroots community radio, an entrepreneurial activity to increase community radio’s capacity by extending the reach and benefits of Pacifica Foundation Radio’s infrastructure, programs and assets, and also extending the reach and assets of all stations in the network through cooperation.”

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Pachamama Alliance

“Pachamama Alliance is a global community that offers people the chance to learn, connect, engage, travel and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all…Vision: The vision that informs the Pachamama Alliance’s work is of a world that works for everyone: an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on this planet—a New Dream for humanity. Mission: To empower indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and, using insights gained from that work, to educate and inspire individuals everywhere to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world.”

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NVC in Australia

“This website represents a growing community of trainers and supporters of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) committed to teaching and creating Nonviolent Communication awareness throughout Australia and neighbouring regions. This community is an informal arrangement of people making individual offerings, and individually holding legal responsibility for their own offerings. It includes volunteers giving freely and joyfully, time and energy to this vision. Others are enjoying contributing to sharing this work and supporting and sustaining themselves financially as independent business entities.”

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NVC Aotearoa NZ

“Welcome! NVC (Nonviolent Communication) is a practical toolkit that provides you with a set of concrete skills that you can use to communicate more effectively with others and even yourself!”

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NVC Family Camp

“Family Camp is a place where everyone’s needs matter: – playing – learning – growing – loving – autonomy – safety – respect… It’s a place to explore the realm of compassionate strength and connection, starting at home.”

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NVC Academy

“The NVC Academy was established in 2006 by Mark Schultz and Mary Mackenzie. Its mission is to ensure the accessibility of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) training to individuals worldwide, regardless of the availability of trainers in their immediate geographic region. Our primary purpose is to serve as the worldwide online classroom for learning Nonviolent Communication.”

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Nonviolent Leadership for Social Justice Intensive

“Since it’s inception in 2007, we have worked together to design, develop and present the work offered at the Nonviolent Leadership for Social Justice Intensive. Our passion for this work is founded in our own life experiences with the issues we address and is fueled by extensive study in Nonviolent Communication and the theories and practical application of frameworks for social transformation.”

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Nonviolence Training

“Our Training and Special Projects Team provides internal and external nonviolence training, alongside outreach that cultivates new trainers and innovative partnerships…Our Nonviolence trainers provide over 8,000 hours of nonviolence trainings every year. We work with companies, nonprofits, schools and professional and social groups to teach the principles and practices of nonviolence, to inspire others to spread the message of nonviolence, and to grow The Beloved Healthy Community. “

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Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

Book: “1,000,000 copies sold worldwide • Translated in More Than 30 Languages. What is Violent Communication? If “violent” means acting in ways that result in hurt or harm, then much of how we communicate—judging others, bullying, having racial bias, blaming, finger pointing, discriminating, speaking without listening, criticizing others or ourselves, name-calling, reacting when angry, using political rhetoric, being defensive or judging who’s “good/bad” or what’s “right/wrong” with people—could indeed be called “violent communication.” What is Nonviolent Communication? Nonviolent Communication is the integration of 4 things: -Consciousness: a set of principles that support living a life of empathy, care, courage, and authenticity. -Language: understanding how words contribute to connection or distance. -Communication: knowing how to ask for what we want, how to hear others even in disagreement, and how to move toward solutions that work for all. -Means of influence: sharing “power with others” rather than using “power over others”. Nonviolent Communication serves our desire to do three things: 1. Increase our ability to live with choice, meaning, and connection. 2. Connect empathically with self and others to have more satisfying relationships. 3. Sharing of resources so everyone is able to benefit.”

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Nonviolence Institute

“Our Mission: The mission of the Nonviolence Institute is to teach, by word and example, the principles and practices of nonviolence, and to foster a community that addresses potentially violent situations with nonviolent solutions. Our Vision: We work every day to build a Beloved Healthy Community reflective of the actions and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We serve as a leader in the nonviolence movement, serving as a model for other organizations across the country and training people from all walks of life in the principles and practices of nonviolence. We envision the Institute becoming an international center of excellence for the nonviolence movement.”

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Nonviolence International

“Nonviolence International researches and promotes nonviolent action and seeks to reduce the use of violence worldwide.  We believe that every culture and religion can employ appropriate nonviolent methods for positive social change and international peace.”

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Non-violence

“Our mission is to inspire, motivate and engage youth to understand how to solve conflicts peacefully. We have educated and trained more than 8 million students, athletes, teachers, coaches and youth leaders since 1993 and are aiming to reach one hundred million by 2030.”

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New York Center for Nonviolent Communication

“The New York Center for Nonviolent Communication (NYCNVC) is a spontaneous, cooperative network of NVC learners, proponents, trainers, facilitators and practitioners who share a passion for the work of Marshall Rosenberg. Our immediate intention is to carefully develop and deliver amazing NVC trainings within and across pervading geographic, cultural, economic and language bounds. Our long term intention is to establish a widespread understanding of Nonviolent Communication as a key to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world to leave for our children’s children.”

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Muslim Peace Fellowship

Our objectives: -To work against injustice and for peace in ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world. -To affirm the commitment to peace on behalf of all Muslims. -To explore and deepen our understanding of Islamic teachings about peace and nonviolence. -To expose and transcend the vicious circle of religious stereotyping and false identity. -To develop faithful and authentic nonviolent strategies for the establishment of sustainable social balance and the redress of wrongs. -To reach out to people of other religious traditions to further mutual understanding and respect, and to build solidarity in the service of the planet. -To work together with all people of good will to keep open the Straight Path between human conscience and the creator of the worlds. Muslim Peace Fellowship pursues its goals through conferences, publications, service projects, teaching in academic and grassroots settings, speaking engagements, coalition building, and interreligious social action. And, of course, through interior work and prayer.

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Multimedia (Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs)

Videos & Audio. “The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs seeks a more just and peaceful world by deepening knowledge and solving problems at the intersection of religion and global affairs through research, teaching, and engaging multiple publics. Two premises guide the center’s work: that a comprehensive examination of religion and norms is critical to address complex global challenges, and that the open engagement of religious and cultural traditions with one another can promote peace. To this end, the center engages students, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in analysis of and dialogue on critical issues in order to increase the public understanding of religion.”

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Mohawk Nation News

“Mohawk Nation News service began during the Mohawk/Oka crisis of 1990 by providing updates on the resistance. MNN grew to become an internationally recognized news service providing independent indigenous commentary on land, legal, culture, history, and current issues as they affect the nation.”

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Meta Peace Team – Skills Training

An outline of the skills training. ​”Creating an alternative to militarism and violence through empowered peacemaking. Our Vision: We seek a just world grounded in nonviolence and respect for the sacred interconnectedness of all life. Our Mission: Meta Peace Team pursues peace through active nonviolence in places of conflict. Our Goals: -Educating the public to the vision and practice of nonviolence, particularly as it relates to nonviolent conflict intervention/transformation. -Providing training in active nonviolence designed for the specific needs of the participants. -Recruiting, training, and placing Peace Teams both domestically and internationally. -Cooperating, supporting, and participating with local peace and justice groups, particularly as it relates to our Mission.”

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Mediation Works

Link to Mediation Works – Peace Education Programmes Newsletter. “The Peace Foundation (Foundation for Peace Studies Aotearoa/New Zealand) offers innovative and quality programmes, services and resources that are used in many schools, homes and communities – both in New Zealand and overseas. It helps to establish and maintain peaceful and non-violent relationships by teaching skills that encourage better communication, co-operation and non-violent conflict resolution.”

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Mediate Your Life – Shedule

Upcoming Trainings. “The skills and processes that comprise the Mediate Your Life training are drawn from the worlds of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), mediation, mindfulness, compassion, positive psychology, and brain science. The result is nothing less than in-depth training in a new language and consciousness. It offers a set of skills and “maps” to be able to mediate and navigate any aspect of conflict or challenge in your life, internal or external, and help other people by offering empathic communication coaching and mediation.”

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Mediate Your Life – A training company

“The skills and processes that comprise the Mediate Your Life training are drawn from the worlds of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), mediation, mindfulness, compassion, positive psychology, and brain science. The result is nothing less than in-depth training in a new language and consciousness. It offers a set of skills and “maps” to be able to mediate and navigate any aspect of conflict or challenge in your life, internal or external, and help other people by offering empathic communication coaching and mediation.”

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Mediate Your Life – Blog

Blog. “Peace, connection, happiness and fulfillment are learnable skills. When we are able to understand and communicate our needs with clarity, and with empathy for the universality of those needs, conflict leads to connection. The illusion of separation between self and other fades. Finally, we are at home with the world, and can work together to respond to the challenges we face.”

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Mediate Your Life

“Peace, connection, happiness and fulfillment are learnable skills. When we are able to understand and communicate our needs with clarity, and with empathy for the universality of those needs, conflict leads to connection. The illusion of separation between self and other fades. Finally, we are at home with the world, and can work together to respond to the challenges we face.”

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Media Alliance

“Media Alliance was formed in 1976 by a group of media workers to unite the professional media community with the public interest communities of the Bay Area. MA was founded with the belief that in order to ensure the free and unfettered flow of information and ideas necessary to maintain a truly democratic society, media must be accessible, accountable, decentralized, representative of society’s diversity and free from covert or overt government control and corporate dominance. MA dedicates itself to fostering a genuine diversity of media voices and perspectives, holding the media accountable for their impact on society and protecting freedom of speech. Media Alliance is a media resource and advocacy center for media workers, non-profit organizations, and social justice activists.”

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M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence – Workshops & Trainings

“In addition to public offerings, the Gandhi Institute offers learning experiences to groups of all kinds on a donation basis. We adjust the length and content of our offerings to best serve the groups with whom we work. Furthermore, we offer training to high school and university student groups and community groups. Gandhi staff members are available to offer the following workshops designed to build critical skills. The cost of workshops are negotiated by the coordinators, but all contributions benefit the work of the Gandhi Institute.”

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M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

“The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence is a nonprofit that equips people to use nonviolence to create a sustainable and just world for all. The Gandhi Institute collaborates with local organizations, academic institutions, students, and committed peacemakers in the following areas: nonviolence education, sustainability and environmental conservation, and the promotion of racial justice. We prioritize programming for people between the ages of 12 and 24 as well as those who serve those age groups. The Institute continuously offers groups and individuals training in skills such as Nonviolent Communication, meditation, and experiential interconnectedness, and fosters responses to systemic violence in the Rochester area through projects focused on urban agriculture, racial healing work, and restorative approaches to conflict.”

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Little Friends For Peace

“Our Mission: To counter violence and contribute to a worldwide culture of peace by sharing skills to prevent, resolve, and transform conflict with individuals, families, teams, and communities. Our Vision: LFFP’s vision is the Beloved Community, a world where relationships are based on respect and acceptance, conflicts end in reconciliation, and everyone is safe, cared for, and able to realize their unique potential.”

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Little Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges & Universities

Book: “Here’s a call to colleges and universities to consider implementing restorative practices on their campuses, ensuring fair treatment of students and staff while minimizing institutional liability, protecting the campus community, and boosting morale. From an associate dean of student affairs who has put these models to work on his campus. Restorative justice is a collaborative decision-making process that includes victims, offenders, and others who are seeking to hold offenders accountable by having them (a) accept and acknowledge responsibility for their offenses, (b) to the best of their ability, repair the harm they caused to victims and communities, and (c) work to reduce the risk of re-offense by building positive social ties to the community.”

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Let’s Talk

“Let’s Talk is a space for movement builders to share our favorite insights, funniest moments, worst fears, highest hopes, most embarrassing questions, and warmest wishes. Let’s Talk is for anyone and everyone trying to build the relationships, power, strategy, collaboration, narratives, and new ways of being that can transform our society, economy, and culture. Let’s Talk is a labor of love from Movement Strategy Center.”

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Karuna Center for Peacebuilding

“Karuna Center for Peacebuilding envisions a just and peaceful world in which difference is a source of creativity and strength. Our mission is to empower people divided by conflict to develop mutual understanding and to create sustainable peace…We work across deep divides to transform violent conflict: to foster reconciliation, interrupt cycles of violence, and strengthen community resilience. Through collaborations with local partners in conflict-affected areas, we help people discover their shared capacity for building peace. In many cases, participants go on to create their own local peacebuilding organizations and networks that remain Karuna Center partners. “

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International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

“IPPNW is a non-partisan federation of national medical groups in 64 countries, representing tens of thousands of doctors, medical students, other health workers, and concerned citizens who share the common goal of creating a more peaceful and secure world freed from the threat of nuclear annihilation.”

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International Institute for Restorative Practices

“The International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) Graduate School is the world’s first graduate school wholly devoted to restorative practices. Our faculty — all scholar/practitioners — are dedicated to helping individuals find new ways to empower people and transform communities. This field, as well as our institution, is developing across national borders and professional disciplines, in order to positively influence human behavior and improve civil society.”

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Initiative for Equality (IfE)

“Initiative for Equality (IfE) is a global network of individual activists and partner organizations working to build more equal and participatory societies around the world….Our mission is to work towards a more equitable world. We facilitate the empowerment and participation of people who have been socially, economically or politically marginalized. We promote more equitable political and economic systems, and coordinate citizen monitoring of governments and corporations. We help civil society groups around the world share information, develop political strategies, and take collective action towards more equitable and sustainable development.”

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Indigenous Environmental Network

“IEN is an alliance of Indigenous Peoples whose Shared Mission is to Protect the Sacredness of Earth Mother from contamination & exploitation by Respecting and Adhering to Indigenous Knowledge and Natural Law”

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ImaniWorks

“ImaniWorks ​is a 501(c)(3) Noprofit Public Charity for the promotion of Human Rights through advocacy and education. We believe: -Human Rights are to be enjoyed by all. -Advocacy is easier than you think. -Sustainable living is healthy and fun.”

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Implementing Restorative Practice in Schools: A Practical Guide to Transforming School Communities

Book: “Restorative practice is a proven approach to discipline in schools that favours relationships over retribution, and has been shown to improve behaviour and enhance teaching and learning outcomes. However, in order for it to work, restorative practice needs a relational school culture. Implementing Restorative Practice in Schools explains what has to happen in a school in order for it to become truly restorative. Section 1 explains the potential of restorative practice in schools, describing the positive outcomes for students and teachers. It also outlines the measures that need to be in place in order to embed restorative practice. Section 2 examines the process of understanding and managing change, providing realistic and pragmatic guidance on the practical and emotional barriers that may be encountered. Finally, Section 3 provides in eight practical steps, strategic guidance for achieving a restorative culture that sticks. Featuring useful pro formas and templates, this book will be an indispensable guide for educators, administrators and school leaders in mainstream and specialist settings.”

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Human (2015)

Film: “What is it that makes us human? Is it that we love, that we fight? That we laugh? Cry? Our curiosity? The quest for discovery? Driven by these questions, filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand spent three years collecting real-life stories from 2,000 women and men in 60 countries. Working with a dedicated team of translators, journalists and cameramen, Yann captures deeply personal and emotional accounts of topics that unite us all; struggles with poverty, war, homophobia, and the future of our planet mixed with moments of love and happiness…HUMAN shows the dark side of mankind but sheds light on the best of it, for we all have inside of us this will to live together. This is the message that this film tries to convey. Together, united, we can meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. HUMAN is part of an overall logic whose intention is to gather together initiatives and resources from the community scene and from the humanitarian, ecological or social sectors. “

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How to Win Campaigns – Communications for Change

Book: “Written for the new campaigner and the experienced communicator alike, this is a comprehensive and systematic exploration of what works in campaigning, and a practical how-to guide for using principles and strategy in campaigning as a new form of public politics. Applicable to any issue and from any point of view, the book’s 100 key steps and tools provide models of motivation, analysis and communication structure.”

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Honor the Earth

“Honor the Earth uses indigenous wisdom, music, art, and the media to raise awareness and support for Indigenous Environmental Issues.  We leverage this awareness and support to develop financial and political capital for Indigenous struggles for land and life.”

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