A Response ...Our Charlottesville community was shaken by the presence of the white supremacist and white nationalist groups that descended here on the weekend of August 11 & 12, 2017, and by the violence it precipitated including the death of Heather Heyer.
The incident intensified the already present political divide and left many feeling anxious, fearful, shocked and angry ... feelings that have lingered long after the violence. A number of people have reached out to me, asking about the availability of Nonviolent Communication™ (NVC) training in the Charlottesville area. Inspired by these requests and desiring to support our community, I offer this webpage of local NVC resources and training. In my 17 years of experience in teaching and embracing Nonviolent Communication, I trust that it has the capacity to transform these intense emotions and empower people to show up with a presence and with skills that can shrink the divide among us ... to see and embrace the humanness in each other. I am fearful that those who are angry and who want to find a clear and powerful way to respond, will move toward violence ... because it may look like the only option that expresses power. I agree, If there are only two choices, violence or submission, then I too would choose violence rather than let go of values I hold dear. "Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him." NVC invites us to see that there are more choices ... and that there are more powerful choices than violence.
If it is even slightly possible that there are choices more powerful than violence, isn't it worth exploring? If there is an alternative, isn't the cost of violence--the loss of our humanity--too high? When we use violence to hold onto values we hold dear, aren't we trampling on other values we hold dear? I invite you to learn about these other choices ... to learn how to own your reactions, and by doing so, to empower yourself to see new choices ... choices where you can hold your values high while still caring deeply about the human beings in your midst--even those human beings you vehemently disagree with. Gregg Kendrick Certified Trainer for Nonviolent Communication (NVC) 35-year resident of Charlottesville November 8, 2017 |
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NVC WorkshopsWorkshop: "An Introduction to NVC"In this 90-min interactive session, you’ll experience how to move beyond the unconscious reactions of anger, guilt or fear — and move toward a conscious response of human connection to both yourself and others.
Come and see the beautiful simplicity of Nonviolent Communication™ (NVC) concepts, along with the invitation—and challenge—to develop a new perspective of seeing people through human needs. Participants will walk away with concrete answers to questions such as:
Register NOW! Use the button below to see upcoming dates and to register. Workshop:
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