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RSVP Conference! Working with Circles. John Stratton Ashland Center for Nonviolence Cindy Swanger Lifeworx Yvonne Gramse Lifeworx. Welcome to T.A.L.K. Community Partnership. With additional support from Park Street Brethren Church Wooster Friends Meeting - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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RSVP Conference!Working with Circles
John StrattonAshland Center for Nonviolence
Cindy Swanger Lifeworx
Yvonne GramseLifeworx
Welcome to T.A.L.K.
Community Partnership
With additional support fromPark Street Brethren ChurchWooster Friends Meeting& Others throughout the community
Working with Circles
• Origins of the circle process• Role of circles as a conflict resolution tool• Basic circle process & the way that circles work• The Lifeworx story, Testimony from the Trenches• Pitfalls and challenges in using circles• Possibilities for using circles – build community values– serve as a support group– discover and resolve potential problems in the group
Conflict – it’s always with us
• With children• With parents• With siblings• With wives, husbands,
significant others• With neighbors• With co-workers
• About things• About duties• About money• About what was done &
not done• About what was said
and not said• About rumors, back
biting, & gossip
Conflict – it changes things
Destructive Conflicts Constructive Conflicts
• People interact with intent to protect self & hurt the other
• People are rigid, inflexible, insistent
• People become stuck in & defined by the conflict
• Increased fear, anger, • “Fight or Flight”• Focus on self-interest• Competitive & destructive
• People interact with intent to learn rather than to protect
• People change, adjust, compromise
• People allow conflicts to move & change
• Increased self-esteem, motivation for positive connection
• Focus on relationships• Primarily cooperative
Conflict Resolution
“Typical” Responses – Competitive• Yelling, Screaming, Silent Treatment• Hair pulling, Face Scratching, Slapping• Fighting, Shooting, and More
Nonviolent Responses – Cooperative • Coin Tossing• Rock, Paper, Scissors• Tug-of-War – Community Activity• MEDIATION• CIRCLE PROCESS
Two Types of voluntary Conflict Resolution
• Community Mediation
• Circle Process
Restorative Values
• Healing rather than Hurting• Moral Learning• Community Participation and Community Caring• Respectful Dialogue• (Forgiveness, Responsibility)• (Apology and Making Amends)
Things that look like mediation
• Arbitration – contract-required, fact-finding & decision making
• “Mediating” – getting in the middle• Mediation – court-ordered, e.g. divorce &
related matters, voluntary solution• Mediation – voluntary searching for win-win
agreement
Community Mediation
• Adversarial Disputes (mediation may be mandated by courts or other agency)• Fact Based (but not evidence based)• Formal Process & Structure • Disputants Create Solutions that Everyone
Can Live With• Focus on Problem Solving• BTW – No cost
What belongs in Mediation
What Can Be MediatedBehaviors• How people treat each other• Sharing space• Respecting boundariesThings• Property • Reimbursement• LoansStructures & Systems• Procedures• How decisions are made
What Cannot Be Mediated• Beliefs• Principles• Truth of something• Addictive behavior• Feelings• Abusive situation or
behaviors• Issues of people who are
not present
Circle Process• Community Focus (but may be framed by courts,
school, or other agency)• Often Story/Experience Based• Always Values Based• Formal Process & Structure (but may include other
structures, such as brainstorming or small group work)• Community Identifies Problems,• Community Creates Solutions• Focus on Building Trust, Understanding, and
Community
Modern Origins of circles
• Restorative Justice MovementHoward Zehr, Eastern Mennonite Univ
• Indigenous People, Pacific Rim (Maori People)New Zealand Juvenile Justice System
• Minnesota Department of Education, among others
Components of Circle
• Opening and Closing MomentsCreating a Sacred Space – Calm, an Oasis Set Off from
the World• Talking Piece
Ensuring Equal Contribution at a Reflective Pace• Center Piece
Allowing for a Visual Time Out • Circle Agreements
To Speak and Listen from the Heart • Time to Create Community Before “Attacking” Problems
Typical Agreements during a circle
• Speak & Listen from the Heart• Respect the Talking Piece• Take the Time You Need, But Remember that
Others Need Time• You May Pass• What Is Said in Circle, Stays in Circle
Using Circles
When to Use Circles• Check In & Check Out• Community Building• Welcome or Farewell• Celebration or Loss• Problem Solving• Stressful Moments (before
they get disruptive)• Stressful Moments (after
they have calmed down, but not pointing at people)
When Not to Use Circles • Possibility of Continuing Pain• Possibility of Retribution• Power Imbalances
When to Use Circles Cautiously• Repairing the Harm• Bringing Victims and
Offenders together
Why circles work• Happens in a Different Place• Happens at a Different Pace
Introduction, Agreements, Shared Values Before “Work”
• Starts with and Focuses on Strengths• Exchanges Ideas in Oblique Ways
Storytelling Embodies ValuesStorytelling “Prevents” Preaching
• People Reflect on Experience• People Come to Their Own Quiet Discoveries
Lifeworx
• A consumer operated program challenging and encouraging persons who find life difficult.
• A place that provides belonging, friendship, trust, caring and security in an atmosphere that helps support recovery from mental health issues and addictions.
Lifeworx --Tales from the Trenches
• Cindy SwangerLifeworx
• Yvonne GramseLifeworx
Questions – Comments&
Then We Eat
For More Information on Circles or Circle Training
Contact Ashland Center for Nonviolence John Stratton, 419-289-5313
419-207-TALK (8255)
For Information on Mediation and Mediation Training