Dear Friends,
One of my personal heroes, Michael Nagler, says that the most addictive substance on the planet is meaning. When I heard that for the first time, I experienced it as a transformative moment - it helped to explain a mystery in my own life, and the lives of many people I know, who are in countless ways moving mountains to make the world a place that works for all. Have you re-organized your life to search for meaning, or to include more meaning in your life? Then you know what I am talking about!
This past weekend at the New Living Expo, 8 BayNVC volunteers found meaning for themselves by spending 3 days letting hundreds of people know about NVC in general and BayNVC as a resource in particular. I'm so grateful to each of them, and to Judith Katz for helping to make it happen. Afterward, Judith and I wondered aloud what it would be like to get the word out about NVC at more events like this. It's such a powerful, low cost way for us to share our work. Would you like to be part of an outreach team like this for BayNVC? Email Judith if you are interested.
I am also grateful to Phoenix Soleil and others who have been working hard to create online community and support for community members near and far on Facebook, Twitter, Wiserearth and elsewhere. Click here to become a fan of BayNVC on Facebook - it's a great way to stay connected.
Meanwhile, people from our community are making meaning in extraordinary settings around the world. Read about NVC in mental health settings, about Leadership Program graduate Lucy Perry's work with NVC in Sri Lanka, and about Miki Kashtan's recent trip to Poland, Spain, and Israel. And remember to share your own story, either with one of our online groups or by sending it to the office at BayNVC for us to appreciate. You never know - your story might be the spark for someone else's transformative journey.
This comes with love,
Kit Miller Director/Celebrator Bay Area Nonviolent Communication
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Passion and Compassion: An NVC Retreat for Couples June 26 - 28, 2009 near Petaluma, CA
This weekend retreat is intended for couples with NVC experience who are trying to integrate NVC into their relationship. The weekend will include teaching and practice time, along with significant time for couples to focus on their relationship with support from each other, from Kathy or Inbal, and from assistant trainers.
Trainers Kathy Simon and Inbal Kashtan have a 10-year-old son and rich experience of living NVC as a couple and a family.
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Forgiveness and Reconciliation A 7-Week Series with Nancy Kahn Starting Thursday, May 7 in Oakland
Are you longing for the harmony with others and the inner peace that come with healing and forgiveness?
We will take our time during this seven week series to: - Explore what gets in our way - Learn to hold our "obstacles" with compassion - Discover and practice steps we can take to heal and rebuild our connections with others and ourselves.
Click here to learn more and register.
Also with Nancy Kahn: NVC Tools for Multicultural Work Sponsored by CPHP, UC Berkeley School of Public Health Wednesday, June 10, 8:30 - 4:00 in Oakland
This experiential workshop will focus on: - Principles, tools and practices of NVC in multicultural settings - Applying NVC for effective communication with diverse colleagues and clients and across power imbalances - Identifying "moments of choice" when we can transform conflict and promote understanding and connection
Details and registration here.
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Workshops and Telecourses With Miki Kashtan
Inner Spaciousness in the Face of Habits, May 9, Oakland. Do you want to experience awareness and choice in relation to habits and patterns of behavior that no longer serve you? This daylong workshop will focus on discovering needs underneath habits and consciousness about "shoulds" and other forms of self-talk.
Interdependence in the Face of Cultural Imperatives, June 13, Oakland. In this class you'll learn skills and practices to: * Overcome self-sufficiency and provide others the opportunity to give * Risk your significance so you can offer yourself in full * Hold everyone's needs and shift from conflict to dilemma * Make collaborative and inclusive decisions
These workshops are also offered as telecourses through NVC Academy.
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Visiting Trainer Arnina Kashtan Watch our website for dates and times in June.
Arnina Kashtan, sister of Miki and Inbal, is coming from Israel for a short visit in early June! She has been teaching NVC for 17 years in Israel and the Bay Area, working with anger, fear, guilt and shame, shifting limiting patterns and beliefs, and transforming family relationships. A senior facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, Arnina has developed a special path of working with needs through weaving these two modalities. She brings deep empathy and a rare sense of humor to the process.
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Celebrations |
NVC Helping People Around the World!
"I would like to celebrate and share the article about 'NVC and Anger' which appeared in 'Guardian Health Chronicle' which publishes from Delhi and has a circulation of 125,000 readers. They also have the e-newsletter version which goes to several thousand people.
"I am celebrating the way NVC consciousness is spreading in India. I am grateful to the NVC India team and all those people out there who are supporting our activities."
- Aniruddha Gadankush, NVC Trainer in India
Support BayNVC Whenever You Shop Online
Through BayNVC's page at shoptoearn.net/baynvc, a percentage of everything you purchase goes directly to BayNVC. Matthew Blom has created an instructional video to show you how it works. Thanks, Matthew!
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Announcements |
Teach for Life!
Announcing this summer's Teach for Life! - 8th Annual NVC Educators Institute with Sura Hart, Jean Morrison and John Cunningham, in Union, WA, July 21-26. Each year educators gather for five days to co-create a vibrant, compassionate classroom. For more information, contact Barbara Larson, or visit trainforlifecommunication.com.
Free NVC Training in Santa Barbara
With Kit Miller, Barbara Larson, Jeff Brown and more!
Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17.
Register online here.
BayNVC is offering Continuing Education Units to psychotherapists and registered nurses for workshops, study series and retreats offered by CNVC certified trainers Miki Kashtan and John Kinyon in 2009. Click here for more information.
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Requests |
Conflict Hotline Needs a Volunteer
Our new monthly television show (see above) needs a volunteer to answer phones at the BayNVC office when viewers call in. This is an opportunity to contribute to the TV show, one of BayNVC's most exciting current projects, even if you have no technical skills. The job involves talking to callers before they go on the air; determining if the content is relevant; explaining to callers how to participate on the show; and keeping a record of all callers. You will also be invited, if it's fun for you, to join the cast and crew in viewing and discussing shows and planning changes for future shows.
Hours needed would be the first Thursday of every month from 6:30-8:30pm - the next show is May 7. Please contact Lou Zweier, Director of the Conflict Hotline, if you are interested. |
Wishlist |
Volunteers
We are excited to offer some new ways to support BayNVC's mission. In addition to in-office opportunities, we have many new outreach tasks we'd love help with. Many of them require as little as an hour a month of your time and can be done from home. Your commitment can be as large or as small as you want. See our Volunteer Opportunities page for more details.
BayNVC is in need of the following:
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NVC on TV! Call the Conflict Hotline
 BayNVC's live TV show, the Conflict Hotline, is looking for people to call in to the show with a conflict. When you call, host Miki Kashtan and the show's cast members will play out your conflict live in the studio and demonstrate how NVC can transform the situation. The next show airs Thursday, May 7 on Channel 28 or 33 at 7:30 p.m. if you are local to Berkeley and simultaneously streams live on betv.org. The call-in phone number is (510) 433-0700. This can also be a great way to introduce your friends to NVC - invite them to call the show!
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Practice Groups
For a list of practice groups in the bay area and beyond, click HERE
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More Information & Registration
Since many of our events fill quickly, please consider pre-registering to ensure your space. You may pre-register by clicking the "Register Now" button at the bottom of most event descriptions, or by calling our office at 510-433-0700. You will receive a confirmation email with driving and public transit directions. Parking is free on all of the streets around BayNVC's wheelchair accessible building in the Piedmont area of Oakland.
HERE for a complete, up-to-date listing of our retreats, study series, workshops and practice groups in the Bay Area and beyond.
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