The pitcher cries for water to carry and a person for work that is real. (Piercy)

In 2001, while working for the Colorado Judicial Branch, I participated in a weekend workshop that Marshall Rosenberg offered for local mediators. That weekend was pivotal in awakening me to a whole new level of consciousness. Since then, I have been on a lifelong journey of learning, living, and sharing NVC. I have offered individual and group trainings for children, adolescents, adults, parents, teachers, university students, schools, and religious affiliations. As an Assessor-in-Training, I experience huge joy in accompanying candidates on their certification journeys where together we learn and grow.

In 2010, along with a handful of NVC colleagues, I cofounded a local nonprofit, the Rocky Mountain Compassionate Communication Network (rmccn.org), which is devoted to empowering compassionate relationships, building resilient and welcoming community, honoring the integrity of every individual, and celebrating life by drawing our attention to what is precious and enduring.

In 2013, I created Giraffe Talk, a children’s NVC school-based community program. Volunteers from the Rocky Mountain Compassionate Communication Network come together to help children integrate the intelligence of the mind with the intelligence of the heart. Adult Giraffe community volunteers support Young Giraffes in developing insight around their own experiences, expanding their feelings vocabulary, and learning to understand that their feelings are telling them what’s important to them. This helps the children understand why they behave the way they do. All of this supports them to develop empathy, kindness, and compassion, find meaningful relationships, feel good about who they are, and become more completely and fully themselves.