Pledge of Nonviolence
Across the country, it seems that divisiveness and political turmoil have risen to a fever pitch. Family, friends, and neighbors are often at odds over issues that can cause anger and hurt. With the election behind us, it will take understanding, patience, and determination to heal the country as we move forward. We thank you for joining us in taking a pledge to develop and sustain a personal sense of peace and nonviolence in all aspects of our lives and bring us together.

Each Monday, from November 9 through December 21, we will be sending you a list of resources and suggestions on how to lead a more peaceful, just, and sustainable life. It’s a way of working toward eliminating violence, one step at a time, starting with ourselves.

Peace and all good!
We attempt or avoid difficult conversations every day-whether dealing with an underperforming employee, disagreeing with a spouse, or negotiating with a client. From the Harvard Negotiation Project, the book Difficult Conversations provides a step-by-step approach to having those tough conversations with less stress and more success. MORE
The record-breaking voter turnout for this year’s Presidential election proves that people are passionately concerned about the political direction of our country. But as much as we love our families, sometimes we can be on polar opposite sides of heated discussions. For those who are engaging in difficult conversations with family members, here are some ways to keep the dialogue as meaningful as possible. MORE
How often do we hurt ourselves when we express anger unskillfully? When someone expresses explosive emotions violently, both parties get hurt. Nonviolent Communication can help you with expressing anger in ways that connect us to others and identify solutions that are satisfying to everyone. You can discover the needs behind your anger and find more life-enriching ways of contributing to your community. Workshop conducted by Pace e Bene with a cost of $25. Limited scholarships are available. MORE
Increasingly in America today, we don't just disagree. We dislike, distrust, even despise those who see the world differently. We’re withdrawing from conversations—eroding relationships and understanding.  Listen First Project mends our frayed social fabric by building relationships and bridging divides.  It intends to challenge the universally felt crisis of distance, division, and dehumanization across differences with conversations that prioritize understanding. MORE
Living Room Conversations offers a simple, sociable, and structured way to practice communicating across differences while building understanding and relationships. Typically, 4-7 people meet in person or by video call for about 90 minutes to listen to and be heard by others on one of our nearly 100 topics. Rather than debating or convincing others, participants take turns talking to share and learn. MORE
"Getting to Yes" is the name of a best-selling book by Bruce Patton, Roger Fisher, and William Ury. It outlines a method of reaching agreement in negotiations without either party feeling as if they have "lost."  In 2016, the Franciscan Peace Center invited Joshua N. Weiss, Ph.D.; Co-founder of the Global Negotiation Initiative at Harvard University and a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Negotiation Project to conduct a community-wide workshop on how to become a "Getting to Yes" community. MORE
Mennonite Central Committee Canada believes that healthy dialogue is a path to promote nonviolence. Although it can be challenging to try to understand those we disagree with, it is both possible and worth our time. When we commit to listening to others, we allow the teachings of Jesus to transform our opinions and can then hear the invitation to love and reconcile across difference and disagreements (Ephesians 2:14) MORE