Hello BayNVC Community,
Since I stepped into the role of Celebrator/Interim Director a month ago, I have deepened in my appreciation for outgoing director Kit Miller's hard work, modeling and empathic presence that brought us as an organization to where we are today. From this space, I also appreciate anew, our founders, board, staff and volunteers and donors who have worked together to bring BayNVC's vision to life.
For those of you who don't already know me, I wanted to introduce myself. (For those of you who do know me, hi again).
I have been working behind the scenes at BayNVC for years now, and am experiencing a bit of trepidation at stepping out from under my rock to be seen by all of you. My passion in terms of working with this organization has centered around supporting staff and volunteers on a person-by-person basis to connect with the needs met (and unmet) by the day-to-day tasks that we do. I am thrilled to expand the scope of my vision to supporting the wider community in the work of humanizing the 'other' (often this is internal work), in the course of all of the programs that we offer.
I have been committed over the past years with BayNVC to living the values we teach. If you've ever wondered whether NVC can work in the 'real world,' my answer is yes! It takes community dedicated to a principle to really shift from a life of 'have to's' and 'shoulds' to choice and requests, but it is possible. We certainly don't have everything figured out here, we are learning with the rest of you. But our experience gives me confidence and joy as I step to the front of this organization and work with you to make your environments (home, work and play) spaces where honest expression and compassion are the guiding principle. Let me know if you have ideas about how I, and BayNVC, can serve you.
The BayNVC team is super excited about the opportunities for learning we are offering this summer: mediation programming, retreats, couples work, and much more. We hope you'll check some of them out!! Also see below, we are excited to offer an article about NVC that will give you tools to engage with right now. This month's article is by BayNVC co-founder Inbal Kashtan.
Erica Grevemeyer
Celebrator/Interim Director
Bay Area Nonviolent Communication
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 Connecting With Ourselves:
An NVC Foundation for Inner Trust and Freedom
By Inbal Kashtan
People often think about NVC as a practice for communication with other people. It is that, of course. But it is also much more, offering an approach to how we think about and experience life, and a consciousness that can support personal, interpersonal, and social transformation. The processes NVC offers us for connecting with ourselves are core for integrating NVC and for making significant changes in our lives. Why is that? In this article, I will share with you some reasons that I find self-connection so powerful and important, as well as suggest to you a practice you can explore in your daily life to deepen your relationship with yourself...
Click here for the full article.
...The process of building inner trust that we will hold all of our needs with care contributes to deep self-acceptance and a peaceful, nurturing internal environment. A variety of NVC practices can support this foundation of self-connection. Here is one you can try on your own, with a partner, friend, or empathy buddy. (If you don't already have an empathy buddy, consider taking one of our series - it's a great way to establish these mutually supportive relationships!) We call this process "Needs: Layers of Self-Connection," and many of our students have found it very supportive. You can find it here. BayNVC co-founder Inbal Kashtan is leading two daylong workshops in July: Self-Integration on July 12, and Truth and Dare (for couples) on July 26. She plans to share more brief articles in future bulletins and welcomes your questions and feedback. |
 NVC Mediation
For Beginners and Advanced Practitioners
Foundations of NVC Mediation
A six-week series starting July 14 in Oakland, with Sigal Shoham
This series will provide skill building towards applying the Nonviolent Communication process to mediate conflict in all types of situations, from legal mediation, to medical and other therapeutic relationships, to business and organizational conflict, and to personal relationships.
"I have co-facilitated with Sigal, watched her coach others, and she has mediated when I was deep in a dispute with another person. I wish I could have had her to learn NVC mediation from."
- Ike Lasater
NVC Mediation 5-Day Residential Retreat & Year-Long Training Program
5-Day Retreat: October 22-27, 2009 in Petaluma, CA
Year-Long Program: October 2009 - August 2010
with Ike Lasater & John Kinyon
Learn how to:
* Facilitate people in conflict, helping them to feel heard by each other and connected to their shared humanity
* Translate judgments into need language with greater ease and naturalness
* Express yourself from connection with needs, and make and support others in making clear requests and collaborative solutions.
You may attend the retreat on its own or as part of the year-long program. Read more and register here."I continue to bask in the afterglow of the training, and I am realizing how much I "grokked" from that 5-day immersion...I'm finding myself thinking and speaking more often from an NVC perspective. I'm wanting you to know that yours and Ike's teaching styles, methods and examples of embodying and living NVC... resulted in the richest learning experience of any training, workshop, seminar, etc. in my life."
- Rick Robbins |
| Celebrations |
BayNVC Reaches Out at Harmony Festival
"We fielded questions about our classes & workshops, teaching NVC, parenting, intimate relationships, grieving, and anger, among other subjects. We talked and we listened; we were touched; we connected. We saw people we knew, people who knew BayNVC that we didn't know, and we made many new contacts. We talked to around 323 people and sold over $140 in NVC merchandise. A couple of photos are posted on our Facebook page.
"I returned from Santa Rosa feeling...grateful for the experience; excited about what I perceive as increased momentum; confident that BayNVC will replicate this kind of success again soon."
- Judith Katz
Conflict Hotline Makes an Impression
From a former student of Sigal Shoham: "I saw you on the 2nd Conflict Hotline. Your performance made a deep impression on me and while dealing with an angry engineer shortly afterward, I had your examples to remind me to keep engaged in empathy and really hearing his concern. Thanks."
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Get Involved!
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Call In To - Or Appear Live On - The CONFLICT HOTLINE
With one call, you can help support the success of BayNVC's Conflict Hotline TV show. Please call the Conflict Hotline at (510) 433-0700 between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 and provide a situation in which Miki and the Conflict Hotline cast can demonstrate using NVC to transform the situation, and support you and other viewers in creating a world that works for all. If you have any questions, please email conflicthotline@baynvc.org.
The Conflict Hotline is also looking for volunteers to appear live on its Thursday, August 6 show and share their conflicts. The show airs on BETV at 7:30 p.m. These volunteers will be asked to arrive at the studio located in downtown Berkeley at 5:30 p.m. and stay through the end of the show at 8:30 p.m. Please email conflicthotline@baynvc.org for more information.
Write a Review of BayNVC
Let people know how BayNVC has helped you. We have a listing on the Great Nonprofits website where you can add your personal review of our organization. You can also write a review on our Yelp listing, or join us on Facebook. Volunteer
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.
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| Announcements |
Fellowship of Reconciliation Colombia Team
Training, September 12-17, 2009 in San Francisco
The Colombia Peace Presence is an accompaniment project begun in the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, one of several rural communities in Colombia that have taken an extraordinary stand against war by refusing to support any armed group. FOR seeks committed and skilled volunteers, 23 years or older at the time of service, with sound judgment and proficient in Spanish. For more information and an application, go to www.forcolombia.org/apply or contact FOR, tel: 510-763-1403, email: johnlp@igc.org. |
| Requests |
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Temporary Housing Sought for BayNVC Intern / Leadership Program Participant
"I am returning to the Bay Area to continue BayNVC's Leadership Program and support the BayNVC staff (as I did last summer and during the past 6 months). I am looking for a home for 3-4 months (from August until mid/end November) in Oakland or Berkeley. My finances are limited but I have some funds to contribute. I am wondering if you have a guestroom or a room for rent or know someone who does? I do not have a car and am therefore looking for a place near public transportation.
"With a big thank you, Josefine Hesse.
"Please e-mail me at:
josefinehesse@gmx.de."
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| Wishlist |
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BayNVC is in need of the following:
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We've outgrown our phone system! And we're looking for a small business system with a minimum 8-line capacity. Please email newphonesystem.
- 2 flat-screen 19-inch monitors
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A heavy-duty paper shredder
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An industrial paper cutter
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New or gently used office chairs
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A laptop PC, less than 3 years old, for trainers to use at retreats - please contact Francois. | |
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Foundations 2 Class Just Added
We've just added a Foundations 2 Series at BayNVC, to take place between July 9th and September 10th, from 6:45 to 9:15 pm. This is an 8-week series, and will skip August 3rd and August 27th. We hope you will be able to join us! Click here for more information.
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S.F. Intro Evenings Now On First Wednesdays
If you or someone you know has been unable to attend an Introductory Evening in San Francisco because of scheduling conflicts, we hope this new date will work for you. Locations will vary, so please refer to the individual event on our website. |
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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. Occasionally, events are canceled due to a low number of registered participants. If you are planning to attend, pre-registering will help ensure that the event will take place. If an event is canceled, all pre-registered participants will be notified and you will have the choice of refund or transfer to another event.
You may
pre-register by clicking the "Register Now" button at the bottom of most event descriptions, or by contacting our office at 510-433-0700 or register@baynvc.org You will receive a confirmation email with driving and public transit directions. Parking is free at BayNVC's wheelchair accessible
building near Piedmont Avenue in Oakland.
HERE for a complete, up-to-date listing of
our retreats, study series, workshops
and practice
groups in the Bay Area and beyond. | |
