Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC) Full-Staff Retreat

Designed & Led by:Lynn Johnsonlynnjohnson.org

Foster City LibraryFoster City, CADecember 7, 2012

Agenda for Today Introductions & Setting the Stage Icebreaker: Gratitude Garland Interactive Presentation: The 7

Elements of a Compassionate Community Theater Games | Active Sharing/Active

Listening | The Power of an Ally | Make a Play Lunch Working Scenarios: Discussing the Tough

Stuff Work Time Closing

Compassionate Conversation Requests

Be HereSay Yes!Assume the

BestSeek

Opportunity in the Discomfort

Gratitude Garland Find a strip of paper and some

crayons/markers Write and/or Draw 1-3 things you have

been most grateful for in your work this year

Share your gratitudes with the group String our gratitudes together to create

garland What does our garland represent?

What is a Compassionate Community?

An interdependent group of people connected by passion, proximity, or both and care deeply for the well-being of each other

“There is great strength in the closeness of the connections we build through interdependence, and this is ultimately the strength of a community. A community of completely independent people is a not a community at all.”

- Mary Gordon, Founder, Roots of Empathy

The 7 Elements of a Compassionate Community

Art

Empathy

Gratitude

Peaceful & Powerful

InteractionsHonor Altruism

Play

GratitudeCelebrating our

own giftsCelebrating the

gifts in each otherThe key practice of

HopeExample Practices:

Gratitude JournalsGratitude Garland“Best Things”

The Superpower that can transform any situation.

Empathy Get quiet & presentListen to and Share

our StoriesIdentify & Accept

all FeelingsExample Practices:

Journalism/Interviews Playback Theater Emotion Coaching

The ability to recognize, understand, and relate to the humanity in each other

Empathetic Listening

I heard you say…

Does that capture it?

Peaceful & Powerful Interactions

Boundaries not BarriersCourage to stand up for

self and othersTelling the TruthPractice & Do-OversForgivenessExample Practices:

Community Conversations Martial Arts/Chi Gung Theater of the Oppressed Kidpower Restorative Justice

Finding Opportunity in the uncomfortable moments to grow together

Dangerous ConformityWhat did you notice/what struck

you about this video?What do we learn about being an

ally, an advocate?What makes it difficult to be this

brave?What can we do to make it easier?

Theater of the Oppressed

Augusto Boal, Brazil

Games and activities for full civic & community participation

Forms that can be practiced

Honor Honoring elders/history

Choosing right action IntegrityExample Practices:

Creating & Upholding Agreements/Requests

Keeping promises Think before you speak Showing up and

following throughTo respect what is and show up for it fully

This Becomes an “Honor System”Be HereSay Yes!Assume the

BestSeek

Opportunity in the Discomfort

We are all welcome to the same entitlements

From Top-Down Punishment to Community Owned Standards of Being

Making community values explicit

AltruismGenerosityLoyaltySacrificeExample

Practices: Pay it forward Volunteerism/

Service Learning Donating money/

“tithing”

Giving your time, money & stuff to those who can use it

Art Problem SolvingEngaging,

Generating Ideas & Putting those ideas together

Taking RisksExample Practices:

Trying to Fail Making Art, Music,

Theater, Poetry, etc. Brainstorming

Creating something new that has value in your life, your community, & beyond

Play Creative PlayPhysical ActivityGamesExample

Practices: Play, play and

play some more.

Let’s Make a Play!

Our right as living beings to enjoy ourselves and each other. The ultimate mechanism to explore human interaction.

ReflectionAfter making/watching the

performances, what new thoughts do you have about Compassionate Communities?

What are your reflections about PCRC as a Compassionate working Community?Where are you strong?Where do you need work?

Rapid Writes The reason I came to work at PCRC in

the first place is… The main impact I want to make with

my work is… What’s getting in the way of me fully

being able to do that is… Right now, what I really want to share

with you all is…

Scenarios The goals of these small group

discussions are: To practice empathy instead of judge or

criticize To honor folks’ stories and experience

instead of correct or give advice To walk away with learnings that will

benefit the whole community

Top 5 Tools to Facilitate a Compassion Conversation1. Know, Remember & Return to the Goal

of the Conversation2. Know, Remember & Return to the

Agreements/Requests of the Community3. Always Model Empathetic Listening 4. Make space for and balance all of the

voices in the room5. Help the group see & find their

connections

Large Group DiscussionTo gather information on: What have we learned today that we

can use in our work with our partners in the community?

What we are already doing that we can build on?

What will we have to do differently? What might our next steps be?

Follow Up Full Packet/Toolkit from Today

Facilitator’s Agenda Powerpoint Hand-Outs

Possible Workshops Facilitating for Compassion The Power of Empathy

Contact http://lynnjohnson.org lynn@lynnjohnson.org 415.595.9798