Regenerative communication

Regenerative communication is a holistic human-centric approach to communication. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore our collective sources of energy through resilient practices that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. Regenerative communication restores our connection to humanity and nature, by taking responsibility for our roles in co-creating a regenerative society.

Foundational practices

Restorative practice

Restorative practice is a social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities. The purpose is to build healthy communities, increase social capital, decrease crime and antisocial behavior, repair harm and restore relationships. It ties together research in a variety of social science fields, including education, psychology, social work, criminology, sociology, organizational development and leadership. learning and decision making. For example, restorative circles and restorative conferences allow victims, offenders and all those affected to come together to explore just how everyone has been affected by an offense and, when possible, to decide how to repair the harm and meet their own needs. Example guide.

Restorative circle

A restorative circle is a technique that builds and restores relationships through equal opportunity sharing and listening. These talking circles proactively build the skills individuals need when conflicts arise because they give every individual the opportunity to speak and be heard. Restorative circles are especially beneficial for youth learning how to negotiate conflict, as they help them practice respectful listening and healthy self-expression.

Restorative conference

A restorative conference is a structured meeting between offenders, victims and both parties’ family and friends, in which they deal with the consequences of the crime or wrongdoing and decide how best to repair the harm. Neither a counseling nor a mediation process, conferencing is a victim-sensitive, straightforward problem-solving method that demonstrates how citizens can resolve their own problems when provided with a constructive forum to do so. Conferences provide victims and others with an opportunity to confront the offender, express their feelings, ask questions and have a say in the outcome. Offenders hear firsthand how their behavior has affected people. Offenders may choose to participate in a conference and begin to repair the harm they have caused by apologizing, making amends and agreeing to financial restitution or personal or community service work. Example guidelines.

Nonviolent communication

Nonviolent communication (NVC) is an approach to communication based on principles of nonviolence. It is not a technique to end disagreements, but rather a method designed to increase empathy and improve the quality of life of those who utilize the method and the people around them. Nonviolent communication evolved from concepts used in person-centered therapy, and was developed by clinical psychologist Marshall Rosenberg beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. There is a large ecosystem of workshops and clinical and self-help materials about NVC. Rosenberg's book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, popular as a self-help book and psychotherapy textbook, is considered the authoritative text about the concept.

Conflict resolution

Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of group (e.g., intentions; reasons for holding certain beliefs) and by engaging in collective negotiation. Dimensions of resolution typically parallel the dimensions of conflict in the way the conflict is processed. Cognitive resolution is the way disputants understand and view the conflict, with beliefs, perspectives, understandings and attitudes. Emotional resolution is in the way disputants feel about a conflict, the emotional energy. Behavioral resolution is reflective of how the disputants act, their behavior. Ultimately a wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including negotiation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, diplomacy, and creative peace building.

Basic training

Overview

As community leaders, this process is how we take responsibility for our role in actualizing each other in developing a regenerative culture. Participants are trained in regenerative communication through a program known as the Dialogue Road Map, facilitated by Maria Arpa. Maria was recently the executive director of the Center for Nonviolent Communication. The video is from a recent conversation where she talks about the origin of her work, and what it takes to implement in a community:

This program supports local communities looking to train a group of certified mediation counselors and regenerative communications stewards. These graduates will be a foundation from which we develop a caring-based regenerative culture, including a conflict resolution program.

This Dialogue Road Map training is intended to reach people in regenerative communities who want to design a nonviolent/healing/restorative response to conflict and who have the authority or influence to pave the way for change. It is intended to benefit the community as a community practice, not to benefit individual practitioners utilizing it for private practice.

Applications:

• One-to-one settings
• Mediating disputes
• Facilitating circles
• Building ground up community structures based on nonviolence, healing, restorative practice and love

We will present an orientation on March 21 as an introduction to the Dialogue Road Map and how it works in communities, groups and organizations.

Then we will select a group to undertake the year long training once sponsorship is found. Maria Arpa is founder of a nonprofit and all income generated goes towards the running of the nonprofit. Therefore this is not a commercial proposition and must not be treated as such.

Out of the one year training you will be skilled and accomplished at working with people in conflict:

• As a therapist/coach in one to one sessions
• As a mediator for two party disputes
• As a facilitator in group conflict, decision making and topic based dialogue.

As places are limited please tell us something about:

1. The community you belong to that can benefit from conflict resolution and tools for better collaboration
2. Your role or position in that community and how you will effect change
3. Any previous learning, capacity and resilience in conflict situations

A Dialogue Road Map Conversation

The following example only applies if there isn’t already a trusted or psychologically safe environment.

One Regenerative vs Degenerative Conversation Example
Dialogue Road Map		Domination Culture
1. Listening	'What I hear you're saying...'	1. Feedback	'What you should do is...'
2. Probing	'Is there anything else?'
3. Empathy	Identifying feelings and needs
4. Feedback	'Would you be open to feedback?'
5. Support	'Would you be open to support?'

Conditions

Because this is highly sensitive work, to the very best of your ability…

• You agree to use a high-speed internet connection and have familiarized yourself with Zoom. These trainings are designed to be done in person.
• You agree to join from a laptop or computer screen (not a phone)
• You agree to sit in a well lit space with your head and shoulders facing square onto the camera and not to move around.
• You agree to keep your camera on at all times (except for breaks)
• You agree to attend in a silent and private location that enables you to participate without background noise or interruption
• You understand that you are responsible and accountable to the whole group therefore if you miss any sessions Maria will make the call on whether you have missed too much to continue and her decision is final.
• You understand that if your internet is not stable or you have background disturbances Maria may put you in the waiting room without notice in order to minimize disruption.
• You agree not to record any part of the training or have anyone listening in who is not on camera as a participant
• Because the tools provided are meant to be utilized only by trained practitioners, you agree not to share, distribute, broadcast, adapt or use in part or in whole, any of the training materials shared with you without written permission from the facilitator.

Join this Telegram group if you're interested in participating.

Facilitator training

The ability to train others requires completion of a nine-month program, based on the basic training program:

• 20 total days (5 hours a day) in a year. This is 100 total hours over nine months, facilitated 2-3 days at a time, 6 times a year.
• 4 hours/month practice with fellow participants.