BayNVC - Bay Area Nonviolent Communication

Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Description: (Please read all of this before you come the first time.) I welcome all skill levels. Usually about 3-7 folks attend so there's plenty of time for getting empathy and personalized coaching. Those who are more versed at NVC get pointers on a higher level of colloquial, more natural sounding NVC, while those who are newer get more structured tips. I give more coaching than most trainers to support learning a clear distinction between what is NVC and what isn't (no analysis and diagnosis). We use vocabulary sheets to expand consciousness on subtle differences between a variety of feelings and needs. Beginners and intermediate students also learn from me and other more advanced students modelling NVC. I like to foster community connection by having 3-5 minute check-ins for each person. After check-ins we use someone's real life issue to practice giving and receiving empathy. We also do role-plays to practice expressing in NVC. After we work together as a group, we pair off into one-on-one empathy sessions. There's usually a lot of laughter, sometimes tears. Most feel very safe and cared for. We end with short check-outs and a closing circle. $65-$25 sliding scale. I ask that those who are financially more well off pay at the high end of the scale so that I can make this work available to those who are less so (and still take care of myself while doing this work). Having said that, I don't want anyone not to come because of money issues. I have a great need to contribute to the world through NVC and welcome everyone. I invite you to drop in and see what you think! :-) I've been studying NVC for 15 years and using it professionally as a counselor/coach, mediator and trainer for 13. Please go to www.NVCpenisula.org and click BIO for my bio. On the homepage you can also click TESTIMONIALS for testimonials. On the homepage you can also click WORKSHOPS to see about my upcoming workshops. Before you come the first time, I'd like to give you a free 30 minute overview of practical tips so that you can roll up your sleeves and dive right in, even your first time. This can be in person at 6:20pm before the group or on the phone sometime.

Time: 6:45pm - 9:15pm
Description: (Skips March 31st) Note:This will be a fairly small class and it is expected to fill. We encourage you to pre-register to ensure your space. (See below for registration information.) Interested in communication tools that promote connection in times of conflict? Want to increase your capacity for clear expression and empathic listening? Longing for more inner peace and less struggle? Join this 8-week series to explore the basics of nonviolent communication, also known as compassionate communication, and to have an opportunity to learn and practice it with a trained practitioner. Two books are strongly recommended: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg and the Nonviolent Communication Companion Workbook by Lucy Leu - both available at a reduced cost at the first class. ($15 each) Class format varies, and includes instruction, individual work, small group and large group practice. Most of the learning is experiential and draws on examples from participants lives. What past participants have said about this series: "The NVC Foundations I class has been an opportunity to make NVC come alive, and I have been able to deepen my practice and learn the initial steps for learning this new language. I have applied this knowledge in the groups I lead, my clients, my children and my family; and have seen relationships enriched because of it." "The class has been a critical support and inspiration to apply NVC in my life. The thoughts and experiences shared by the group members have helped me to deepen my learning and practice. Great sense of community." "The practice sessions will give you a strong grounding in the basics of NVC. Don't skimp on the homework. Don't miss a single exercise. Every exercise has the ability to take you deeper into the practice and understanding of NVC. The work transforms at a very core level." "The basics group has given me a transformative perspective on the possibility of shifting my allegiance from the violent, punishing model I tried to grow up in, to a world view I can breathe and be supported within as a real, honest expression of life force." Nancy Kahn is a collaborative trainer with BayNVC, a social worker, and the founder and executive director of a youth-led organization in San Francisco's Mission District. Her passion is bringing the tools of compassionate communication to diverse settings such as communities of color, youth, and other under-represented groups. She facilitates organizational trainings and offers private coaching and mediation to individuals, couples and families. Nancy is currently focusing her efforts on the integration of nonviolent communication and diversity work practices to support understanding, healing, and communication across differences. Video interview of Nancy Kahn. While there are no prerequisites for this study series, we also welcome those with some prior knowledge of NVC who wish to experience a more structured learning of the fundamentals of NVC.

Time: 3:15pm - 5:30pm
Description: Interested in communication tools that promote connection in times of conflict? Want to increase your capacity for clear expression and empathic listening? Longing for more inner peace and less struggle? Join this 8-week series to explore the basics of nonviolent communication, also known as compassionate communication, and to have an opportunity to learn and practice it with a trained practitioner. Two books are strongly recommended: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg and the Nonviolent Communication Companion Workbook by Lucy Leu - both available at a reduced cost at the first class. ($15 each) Class format varies, and includes instruction, individual work, small group and large group practice. Most of the learning is experiential and draws on examples from participants lives. What Past Participants have said about this series: "The NVC Foundations I class has been an opportunity to make NVC come alive, and I have been able to deepen my practice and learn the initial steps for learning this new language. I have applied this knowledge with the groups I lead, my clients, my children and my family; and have seen relationships enriched because of it." "The class has been a critical support and inspiration to apply NVC in my life. The thoughts and experiences shared by the group members have helped me to deepen my learning and practice. Great sense of community." "The practice sessions will give you a strong grounding in the basics of NVC. Don't skimp on the homework. Don't miss a single exercise. Every exercise has the ability to take you deeper into the practice and understanding of NVC. The work transforms at a very core level." "The basics group has given me a transformative perspective on the possibility of shifting my allegiance from the violent, punishing model I tried to grow up in, to a world view I can breathe and be supported within as a real, honest expression of life force." Sigal Shoham was introduced to NVC in 2003, and began teaching in 2006 while completing the BayNVC Leadership Program. She facilitates BayNVC's introductory evenings, foundations courses, practice groups and organizational trainings, and also assists at retreat intensives. In addition, she is a mediator for the San Francisco Small Claims Court. Sigal hopes to share the support, self-awareness, transformation and fun that NVC has brought to her life. "Sigal brings freshness, clarity and a fearless authenticity to her work. On more than one occasion, I have seen her steer a sleepy group into an engaged aliveness. Her sense of fun is deeply contagious." While there are no prerequisites for this study series, we also welcome those with some prior knowledge of NVC who wish to experience a more structured learning of the fundamentals of NVC.

Time: 6:45pm - 9:15pm
Description: Note: This study series will be a small group of participants. Pre-registration is recommended to ensure your space. Interested in communication tools that promote connection in times of conflict? Want to increase your capacity for clear expression and empathic listening? Longing for more inner peace and less struggle? Join this 8-week series to explore the basics of nonviolent communication, also known as compassionate communication, and to have an opportunity to learn and practice it with a trained practitioner. Two books are required: Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, and Lucy Leu's Nonviolent Communication Workbook - both available at a reduced cost at the first class. Class format varies, and includes instruction, individual work, small group and large group practice. Most of the learning is experiential and draws on examples from participants lives. What Past Participants have said about this series: "The NVC Foundations I class has been an opportunity to make NVC come alive, and I have been able to deepen my practice and learn the initial steps for learning this new language. I have applied this knowledge in the groups I lead, my clients, my children and my family; and have seen relationships enriched because of it." "The class has been a critical support and inspiration to apply NVC in my life. The thoughts and experiences shared by the group members have helped me to deepen my learning and practice. Great sense of community." "The practice sessions will give you a strong grounding in the basics of NVC. Don't skimp on the homework. Don't miss a single exercise. Every exercise has the ability to take you deeper into the practice and understanding of NVC. The work transforms at a very core level." "The basics group has given me a transformative perspective on the possibility of shifting my allegiance from the violent, punishing model I tried to grow up in, to a world view I can breathe and be supported within as a real, honest expression of life force." Meganwind Eoyang came to the study of nonviolent communication from a very different world. She grew up fighting in gang wars on the south side of Chicago. Her longing for sweet, deep connection with fellow humans arose after first finding safety and meaning in nature. She was excited to discover that nonviolent communication offers clear steps for practicing the compassion, self love, and love for others which her Chinese, European and North American spiritual traditions invite us to live. She has been a staff trainer with Bay Area Nonviolent Communication since 2004. While there are no prerequisites for this study series, we also welcome those with some prior knowledge of NVC who wish to experience a more structured learning of the fundamentals of NVC.

Time: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Description: You are personally invited to enroll in a new San Francisco based class led by Nancy Kahn, beginning Thursday night, March 25, 2010. This series is equivalent to 12 weeks of class time with a special retreat day workshop held on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Please join us in working on a cutting edge process in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) that focuses on the integration of NVC (also known as compassionate communication) and traditional diversity practices to connect across our individual and collective differences. A REEXAMINATION, RENEWAL AND HEALING OF OUR COMMUNICATION ACROSS DIFFERENCES, with an emphasis on Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Power Imbalances will provide the supportive container for opening to new experiences in relating across differences with greater authenticity, as well as the consistency of deepening our learning by grounding ourselves with opportunities to practice over the span of three months. The tools of Nonviolent Communication will be the framework for participants to connect to feelings and needs and develop strategies to support self awareness and authentic expression even in charged situations. This series will help us to slow down to do our internal work and identify key moments of possibility for self connection and empowerment; to experience greater choice, and for responding in alignment with our values. The tools of Nonviolent Communication will be our anchor in navigating situations and conversations that have often felt hopeless and left us with unmet needs for safety or trust that our needs matter. We will be guided to engage with curiosity, looking at what is below anger; learn to describe power dynamics or differences in observation language; dialogue across class and privilege divides; and explore the role of mourning unmet needs. We will also create space to collectively share the vision of a world in which more needs are met relating across both perceived and lived walls of separation. Celebration of our differences and of what is working in our communication will also be attended to. We will practice in "street giraffe" (Nonviolent communication consciousness using everyday language) as well as "classical giraffe" through compassionate communication to support connection and honesty. This series will provide practice and exploration through role plays, written materials, experiential learning, group learning, and individual work. Both auditory and visual media will be used in scheduled sessions to support different learning styles and to include content related to race, class and ethnicity to broaden critical awareness and opportunities to experience our shared humanity. We will work to tend to our needs and to stretch our capacity to consider the needs of others across visible and invisible differences with more ease and access to our inner resources. A minimum of two guest presenters will co-lead two of the classes with Nancy, contributing to content in the areas of cultural awareness, Diversity 101 concepts and terminology, as well as sharing other practices and modalities that have proven to be effective in diversity work and that can work in alignment with NVC. Nancy Kahn, self described as a woman of color and mixed heritage, identifying as a Black, Russian Jewish, Cherokee Indian, adult adoptee and a human being, is a collaborative trainer with Bay Area Nonviolent Communication (BayNVC), a social worker, and the founder and executive director of a youth-led organization in San Francisco's Mission District. Her passion is bringing the tools of compassionate communication to diverse settings that include communities of color, youth, and other under-represented groups. Nancy facilitates organizational trainings, teaches weekly classes and offers private coaching and mediation to co-workers, individuals, couples and families. Nancy is currently focusing her efforts on the integration of Nonviolent Communication and proven diversity work practices to support understanding, healing, and communication across visible and invisible differences. She has been a co-leader in the NVC Diversity Retreat for the past three years. Video interview of Nancy Kahn.

Dates of this new San Francisco class series: March 25, 2010 (first class) April 8, 15, 22, 29 May 6, 13, 20, 27 June 3rd (Class skips April 1) In addition, on Saturday, April 17th, we will meet from 10 am to 5 pm for an all day retreat. LOCATION: The class will be held in San Francisco at a private home. The name of the neighborhood is Corona Heights, but most people identify the area as between the Castro and the Haight. The location is accessible by Muni (Castro Station) and then a 7-minute walk (uphill, however). Also, bus 37 stops a block away from this location. There is street parking available, usually with plenty of room for many cars (rare in this city!) Space is limited to the first 28 people who register. We expect to fill to capacity. You will be provided with a bound workbook to support your in-class learning, practice outside of class, and continued learning. A percentage of the revenue will be contributed to relief efforts in Haiti. We ask people to contribute with the awareness that some participants are being provided with scholarships as a strategy to support them in receiving this work despite financial barriers. Contributions above the suggested class sliding scale will support people passionate about participating in the class and support the contributions of guest trainers. People who can pay at the higher end of the scale will also receive a personal one-on-one coaching session outside of class with Nancy Kahn. Prerequisites: We ask that participants have a basic understanding of NVC, either by participating in a Foundations 1 Series through BayNVC, OR by reading the first 5 chapters of the book Nonviolent Communication: a Language of Life, by Marshall Rosenberg and then either attending a BayNVC Introductory Event or participating in at least one empathy practice group session.

Time: 6:45pm - 9:15pm
Description: Interested in communication tools that promote connection in times of conflict? Want to increase your capacity for clear expression and empathic listening? Longing for more inner peace and less struggle? Join this 8-week series to explore the basics of nonviolent communication, also known as compassionate communication, and to have an opportunity to learn and practice it with a trained practitioner. Two books are strongly recommended: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg and the Nonviolent Communication Companion Workbook by Lucy Leu - both available at a reduced cost at the first class. ($15 each) Class format varies, and includes instruction, individual work, small group and large group practice. Most of the learning is experiential and draws on examples from participants lives. What Past Participants have said about this series: "The NVC Foundations I class has been an opportunity to make NVC come alive, and I have been able to deepen my practice and learn the initial steps for learning this new language. I have applied this knowledge in the groups I lead, my clients, my children and my family; and have seen relationships enriched because of it." "The class has been a critical support and inspiration to apply NVC in my life. The thoughts and experiences shared by the group members have helped me to deepen my learning and practice. Great sense of community." "The practice sessions will give you a strong grounding in the basics of NVC. Don't skimp on the homework. Don't miss a single exercise. Every exercise has the ability to take you deeper into the practice and understanding of NVC. The work transforms at a very core level." "The basics group has given me a transformative perspective on the possibility of shifting my allegiance from the violent, punishing model I tried to grow up in, to a world view I can breathe and be supported within as a real, honest expression of life force." Meganwind Eoyang came to the study of nonviolent communication from a very different world. She grew up fighting in gang wars on the south side of Chicago. Her longing for sweet, deep connection with fellow humans arose after first finding safety and meaning in nature. She was excited to discover that nonviolent communication offers clear steps for practicing the compassion, self love, and love for others which her Chinese, European and North American spiritual traditions invite us to live. She has been a staff trainer with Bay Area Nonviolent Communication since 2004. Video interview of Meganwind speaking about empathy. Video interview of Meganwind speaking about examples of empathy with inmates at San Quentin and in her mediations with couples. While there are no prerequisites to attend this class, we also welcome those with some prior knowledge of NVC who wish to experience a more structured learning of the fundamentals of NVC.