Kathleen Macferran

Language of Report: 
English
Year of Report: 
2011
Share My Report With: 
General Public
A. Approximately how many training days did you have this year?: 
81
B. Briefly list the groups and organizations you worked with this year as a trainer.: 

Parenting groups, Eagle Harbor High School, Bainbridge Police Dept, community groups, Houston Decade of Nonviolence, AWARE- Juneau (domestic violence), State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services, Tlingit and Haida tribe representatives, CNVC trainer candidates

C. Approximately how many people did you offer NVC training to this year?: 
988
D. What are you celebrating about your training experiences this year? What was significant for you? What touched your heart?: 

The overall celebration was the forging of community in my trainings and the exploration and experiences of what community means. I was moved numerous times by the level of support and learning that emerged, the beauty and power of coming together with shared vision and purpose. I was deeply touched by the level of vulnerability and courage I perceived in participants and the inspiration that brought to me and to other members of the groups I was with.

I really want to celebrate the community that has developed in the Trainer Candidate Community Program (TCCP). I’ve chosen to work as an assessor (I use the term “advocate”) for CNVC in a community model where the candidates, those who have been certified and I live the NVC consciousness with each other as we learn and grow together. By living in honesty and empathy we give each other feedback and support regularly. We are building life-long community with the intention of working side-by-side with our global network to create a more life-serving world. I’m celebrating the exploration of the systems we can create to sustain community and love the messiness that comes with this edgy learning. The amount this community is teaching me is tremendous. Their companionship is precious to me.

E. Would you share some difficult experiences you had while training this year and how you handled them?: 

Some of my difficult and rich learning is around how to invite shared power without giving up my own. This is particularly evident in the candidate gatherings when we wrestle with the idea of assessment/evaluation/feedback/authority. It has been through a willingness to speak honestly that we continue to navigate these issues, increase awareness, come into connection. How do we stay in our power and give/receive feedback on whether or not our actions/words are serving life?

I’ve also been exploring how to create spaces where all voices trust that they are valued and are willing to speak what’s true. One workshop in Alaska I was working with some members of the local tribes, the government office of children’s services, court appointees and staff at a domestic violence organization. Historically, there was much pain between these groups. I guided them through a process to get clear about how they wanted to communicate with each other, then offered some skills to put that into practice. The conversations that arose from there had a quality of honesty/transparency and respect that was appreciated by all. Part of the invitation was to walk toward the pain and trust the container we created was strong enough to hold it.

F. How do you teach the spiritual basis of Nonviolent Communication in your workshops and training programs? : 

Primarily by living the process. I have a strong intention to walk my talk in every aspect of my life. I almost always share the consciousness of NVC prior to any sharing of the model and refer back to the consciousness throughout the sharing.

G. Please describe your social change goals...: 

My interest now is on how to create life-serving systems that are practical and accessible to all. I’m challenging myself daily to live the underlying principles in ways that are fluid and flexible. I’m specifically exploring ways to create and maintain systems that allow communities to flourish, and justice systems to be restorative. I’m grateful to my colleagues Karl Steyaert and Dominic Barter for their guidance and companionship in this area.

One of the main places I’m living out this exploration of restorative, life-enriching systems is by working with CNVC trainer candidates. My vision is that we explore/create/prototype ways of being in sustainable community where the needs of all are honored and served, then we go out to communities around the globe and co-create with them enlivened communities knowing we have support and shared vision with our global CNVC network.

H. Please describe your efforts to create, or join, an NVC circle or organization.: 

I’m part of the Trainer Candidate Community program, CNVC’s educational services team, NW Compassionate Communication and the Freedom Project.

NW Compassionate Communication- our local network which is happily growing includes Barb Larson, Doug Dolstad, Mel Sears, Sura Hart, Liv Monroe, Elana Sabajon, Holly Eckhardt, Karl Steyaert, Marcia Christen, David Weinstock, Dow Gordon and Donna Kramer. It’s an amazing resource for me both in learning and support. We have a monthly gathering that varies in the number who can attend. I have a sense of being emotionally connected and have huge trust with my colleagues. I’d love to find ways we can work together more.

Freedom Project- This organization has been struggling to stay in operation in the past few years. We are still offering NVC and mindfulness training in four WA state prisons. It is a great joy and honor for me to be exploring NVC consciousness with inmates and meeting each other as authentic human beings. I learn so much from them and am inspired by the way they strive to live NVC consciousness in very difficult circumstances.

CNVC educational services team-I’m working with Rita Herzog, assessors around the world and Marisa from the CNVC office. I love the shared vision and support from this team, the passion to create a world where the needs of all matter, the willingness to move into action and prototype ways of being that are in alignment with our values. I appreciate the willingness to mourn and try again when we have not been able to serve in the ways we had hoped.

TCCP- I’m working with 25+ trainer candidates, Kara Bowman and Marcia Christen who have become certified and remain a huge support for this group, and Karl Steyaert who is exploring joining me at the core of this co-led group. As stated before, I cherish the companionship and intense learning of this community and celebrate the challenges of creating spaces where every participant steps into his/her own power.

I. Summarize participants’ evaluations, and how their feedback resulted in new learning or growth for you this past year.: 

The gist of the evaluations boils down to an appreciation of the embodiment of the process, gratitude to have one’s beauty and power reflected back, celebration in a leadership style that invites co-creation and shared power, gratitude for a container that allowed safety and vulnerability, appreciation for the ways I showed my own vulnerability.

Hearing how much those pieces meant to people, I’ve tried to gain more clarity on what specific, repeatable things I say/do that give people a sense of experiencing those things they value. I’m growing into an understanding of that and learning to articulate it more.

J. What are your current growing edges or challenges as a trainer that you will be working on in the future?: 

Many areas: 1) how to be fully grounded in consciousness/principles and fluid in form as called for in every situation, 2) becoming increasingly aware in every moment of what is wanting to emerge and be co-created by the group I am with 3) how to invite each person I’m with into their full power without backing off on my own 4) how to create sustainable, renewable, restorative systems 5) how to take full responsibility for what is mine and to not take responsibility for what is others 6) self-compassion that empowers me.

K. If you found opportunities to work with other trainers this year, please share the most meaningful experiences for you.: 

Karl Steyaert invited me into his Path of Compassion and Empowerment community. I celebrate the rich personal and community learning I had during that time around shared power, co-creation, gift economy, and exploration of systems that create strong community. That experience gave me a community to learn with/from as well as Karl’s support in exploring what enlivening collaboration means to me.

Assessors around the world- I have a sense of a global presence that is passionate about having NVC consciousness serve the world. I love the partnership I feel about preserving the integrity of the work that will support transformation. I’m grateful to know I’m not alone.

L. Is there anything else you would enjoy sharing with the CNVC network?: 

I have a huge sense of gratitude for the companionship I feel from our global network. I have a great sense of hope and power in the possibility of our working side by side to bring about transformation to a world where we can all celebrate the power and beauty of all.

Posted Tue, 2012-05-15 15:07 by kdm143

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