When we look around us - at our personal as well as sociopolitical discourse, we are sorely aware of the violence that underlies and taints a lot of it. Violence is not just manifest physical violence, but includes psychological violence. Furthermore, violence may be directed toward another, or toward oneself. When faced with violence around and within us, we often throw up our hands and say, "oh, but what can I do?" This month, we have an opportunity to learn about a methodology developed specifically to facilitate dialogue that is intentionally devoid of violence.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) was developed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg, who grew up in inner-city Detroit and was daily confronted with violence as a child and an youth. As he engaged with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, the NVC methodology slowly took shape. NVC is based on the idea that all human beings have the capacity for compassion, and only resort to violence or behavior that harms others when they don't recognize more effective strategies for meeting their needs. Habits of thinking and speaking that lead to the use of violence (psychological and physical) are learned through culture. NVC theory supposes all human behavior stems from attempts to meet universal human needs and that these needs are never in conflict. Rather, conflict arises when strategies for meeting needs clash. NVC proposes that if people can identify their needs, the needs of others, and the feelings that surround these needs, harmony can be achieved. The practice of NVC uses the basic steps of observation, identifying feelings and needs, and making a request.

Please come and join us, and learn about this wonderful methodology of communication that draws from age-old insights from cultures across the world, as well as from contemporary research in psychology. The workshop will be led by Diana Crowder and Louise Murray.