Do you want to be an agent of healing and peace in your family, work, or community?

Do you want to grow in your capacity to lead and follow in the ways of peace? Might you be empowered through co-creating an online learning community dedicated to supporting each other in growing our capacities to be present, listen, speak and act from our deepest truth?

This online journey is an opportunity for everyday peacemakers–those who wish to be a healing presence wherever they live, work, learn or play–to learn and grow while experiencing and co-creating a community of support. 

The Peace Leadership Academy (PLA) is for those who desire to be agents of peace, healing, harmony and justice in their world. We offer learning and growth in four skills essential for peace leadership. These are the MEDC (pronounced medic) skills of Mindfulness, Empathy, Decision making and Conflict transformation. These skills are based on Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication and Robert Gonzales’ Living Compassion.

PLA 23-24 develops peace leadership skills, provides support, and offers ongoing opportunities to practice and grow.

Sessions

We will on  Tuesdays at 7pm Eastern time, via Zoom for learning sessions and practice groups. Each session focuses on a theme related to Life seeking fulfillment and will include an invitation to stillness, input on the theme, exercises designed to cultivate skills related to the theme, and dialogue. Cohort members will meet in practice groups and with an empathy partner. Practice groups cultivate the skills and capacities introduced in the main session. They are also a place to experience support, a growing sense of connection, and clarity.

Practicum

An important part of this program is creating your own Peace Leadership Practicum. This begins with your choice of a context in which you live, work, learn or otherwise relate. You then apply the skills and awareness developed in the program, choosing to either:   A. Teach one or more skills that we are developing by sharing in the exercises that we draw on; OR,   B. Practice the skills in “stealth” way – simply by being intentionally present, dealing with conflict, listening deeply, and more.

“Needs are the doorway to spirit. Needs are the doorway to accessing spirituality in life and sharing our being in relationship. They are an aspect or an expression of the Divine Life in us. Needs arise from life, expressing the requisites of life necessary to fulfill and nurture itself. We experience the beauty of a need when we are in contact with the quality of its energy.” Robert Gonzales

Each month’s theme builds on the previous month. Themes may include:

Navigating Conflict
Life Seeking Fulfillment
Distinguishing What Is and Interpretations of What Is
Trauma, Healing and Cultivating Needs Consciousness
Two Ways of Living: Reactive or Connected
Empathy and Not Empathy
Reflecting and Responding
The Power of Please and Thank You
The Heart Dance and Inner Life Map: Tools for Discernment
Celebration, Mourning and Sending