Collaboration, Community, and Conflict: A BIPOC-only cohort (Session 4 of 6)

In this 6-week, BIPOC-only workshop, we will explore and cultivate nonviolent communication skills that can support our working together productively, authentically, and with care.

When we pour ourselves into the things we care about, we want to know it matters. We want to know that our collective efforts to bring about needed changes and work toward Just Transition will be fruitful. How disheartening, exhausting, and frustrating it is to see our hard work fall short as conflict slows down, stalls out, or, worse yet, totally disrupts our collaborations.

The legacies of a domination paradigm (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, competition to name a few) have left us without the skills we need in order to collaborate effectively and to find generativity in conflict which, on some scale, is inevitable.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers us a toolkit to deepen our own embodied self-connection and build our capacity to relate to ourselves and one another with empathy so that we can show up more fully and authentically to our work in the world. As we begin to unpack the way that domination culture has shaped our very language, we can learn new/old ways of communicating that bring us more deeply into alignment with our values, our purpose, and into connection with one another.

During this 6-week, online workshop designed and facilitated by BIPOC for a BIPOC cohort, we will explore practical strategies for undoing domination in ourselves, our communication, our relationships, and our collaborations. This course will provide an overview of nonviolent communication and support with:

  • Understanding empathy: What is it and why does it matter?
  • Using a self-empathy model as a tool for addressing systemic barriers to identifying and meeting our needs
  • Listening with empathy and compassion
  • Preparing ourselves for difficult conversations
  • Attending to grief and mourning
  • Fostering connection while maintaining personal authenticity

This workshop is not meant to be a forum for working through active conflicts with one another, but rather a place to be supported in cultivating the skills that will help us to engage more effectively with conflict in the various domains of our lives.

Collaboration, Community, and Conflict: A BIPOC-only cohort (Session 6 of 6)

In this 6-week, BIPOC-only workshop, we will explore and cultivate nonviolent communication skills that can support our working together productively, authentically, and with care.

When we pour ourselves into the things we care about, we want to know it matters. We want to know that our collective efforts to bring about needed changes and work toward Just Transition will be fruitful. How disheartening, exhausting, and frustrating it is to see our hard work fall short as conflict slows down, stalls out, or, worse yet, totally disrupts our collaborations.

The legacies of a domination paradigm (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, competition to name a few) have left us without the skills we need in order to collaborate effectively and to find generativity in conflict which, on some scale, is inevitable.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers us a toolkit to deepen our own embodied self-connection and build our capacity to relate to ourselves and one another with empathy so that we can show up more fully and authentically to our work in the world. As we begin to unpack the way that domination culture has shaped our very language, we can learn new/old ways of communicating that bring us more deeply into alignment with our values, our purpose, and into connection with one another.

During this 6-week, online workshop designed and facilitated by BIPOC for a BIPOC cohort, we will explore practical strategies for undoing domination in ourselves, our communication, our relationships, and our collaborations. This course will provide an overview of nonviolent communication and support with:

  • Understanding empathy: What is it and why does it matter?
  • Using a self-empathy model as a tool for addressing systemic barriers to identifying and meeting our needs
  • Listening with empathy and compassion
  • Preparing ourselves for difficult conversations
  • Attending to grief and mourning
  • Fostering connection while maintaining personal authenticity

This workshop is not meant to be a forum for working through active conflicts with one another, but rather a place to be supported in cultivating the skills that will help us to engage more effectively with conflict in the various domains of our lives.

Collaboration, Community, and Conflict: A BIPOC-only cohort (Session 5 of 6)

In this 6-week, BIPOC-only workshop, we will explore and cultivate nonviolent communication skills that can support our working together productively, authentically, and with care.

When we pour ourselves into the things we care about, we want to know it matters. We want to know that our collective efforts to bring about needed changes and work toward Just Transition will be fruitful. How disheartening, exhausting, and frustrating it is to see our hard work fall short as conflict slows down, stalls out, or, worse yet, totally disrupts our collaborations.

The legacies of a domination paradigm (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, competition to name a few) have left us without the skills we need in order to collaborate effectively and to find generativity in conflict which, on some scale, is inevitable.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers us a toolkit to deepen our own embodied self-connection and build our capacity to relate to ourselves and one another with empathy so that we can show up more fully and authentically to our work in the world. As we begin to unpack the way that domination culture has shaped our very language, we can learn new/old ways of communicating that bring us more deeply into alignment with our values, our purpose, and into connection with one another.

During this 6-week, online workshop designed and facilitated by BIPOC for a BIPOC cohort, we will explore practical strategies for undoing domination in ourselves, our communication, our relationships, and our collaborations. This course will provide an overview of nonviolent communication and support with:

  • Understanding empathy: What is it and why does it matter?
  • Using a self-empathy model as a tool for addressing systemic barriers to identifying and meeting our needs
  • Listening with empathy and compassion
  • Preparing ourselves for difficult conversations
  • Attending to grief and mourning
  • Fostering connection while maintaining personal authenticity

This workshop is not meant to be a forum for working through active conflicts with one another, but rather a place to be supported in cultivating the skills that will help us to engage more effectively with conflict in the various domains of our lives.

Collaboration, Community, and Conflict: A BIPOC-only cohort (Session 1 of 6)

In this 6-week, BIPOC-only workshop, we will explore and cultivate nonviolent communication skills that can support our working together productively, authentically, and with care.

When we pour ourselves into the things we care about, we want to know it matters. We want to know that our collective efforts to bring about needed changes and work toward Just Transition will be fruitful. How disheartening, exhausting, and frustrating it is to see our hard work fall short as conflict slows down, stalls out, or, worse yet, totally disrupts our collaborations.

The legacies of a domination paradigm (capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, competition to name a few) have left us without the skills we need in order to collaborate effectively and to find generativity in conflict which, on some scale, is inevitable.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers us a toolkit to deepen our own embodied self-connection and build our capacity to relate to ourselves and one another with empathy so that we can show up more fully and authentically to our work in the world. As we begin to unpack the way that domination culture has shaped our very language, we can learn new/old ways of communicating that bring us more deeply into alignment with our values, our purpose, and into connection with one another.

During this 6-week, online workshop designed and facilitated by BIPOC for a BIPOC cohort, we will explore practical strategies for undoing domination in ourselves, our communication, our relationships, and our collaborations. This course will provide an overview of nonviolent communication and support with:

  • Understanding empathy: What is it and why does it matter?
  • Using a self-empathy model as a tool for addressing systemic barriers to identifying and meeting our needs
  • Listening with empathy and compassion
  • Preparing ourselves for difficult conversations
  • Attending to grief and mourning
  • Fostering connection while maintaining personal authenticity

This workshop is not meant to be a forum for working through active conflicts with one another, but rather a place to be supported in cultivating the skills that will help us to engage more effectively with conflict in the various domains of our lives.

Just Transition in Action

Along with ON PAR (Arlington Partners Against Racism) and Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley, we invite you to Poughkeepsie to join with others working toward environmental and social justice for a day of experiential learning about Just Transition and ways we can move toward a regenerative economy.

Perhaps you’ve heard about Just Transition but wonder: What does that really mean? What would it look like on the ground, in our region? How do we do it? This workshop facilitates a community of co-learners to explore what Just Transition means in our heads and our hearts, and to generate energy and ideas for how we can take action to help move much-needed changes forward. As those who work on social justice and those who work on climate/environmental justice learn and share a meal together, we come into closer relationships and communication with one another, expanding who we know and exploring shared values in a learning community. The opportunity to share our perspectives and support each other to deepen our understanding in connecting ways makes this the kind of learning experience that stays with you. Here’s a comment on the workshop from a past participant:

A workshop to wake up to the depth and breadth of the shifts happening, and what to look out for. – Sarah V.

Through interactive exercises, reflection, discussion, hands-on creativity, movement-based activities, inspiring examples, and compelling media, you will experience: 

  • How resources and work are combined to realize contrasting purposes in extractive and regenerative economies
  • Stories of existing alternatives and possible futures that can liberate our imaginations
  • Insight into ways we can move from where we are to the future we are committed to 
  • A sense of how we can involve ourselves in working toward change 
  • Space to clarify your role and commit to one or more next steps in contributing to Just Transition
  • Accountability to yourself and your action intentions beyond the time we spend together in the workshop

Resisting Erasure & Sound Healing

Join us for the closing of the exhibit on view at the GWI Greenhouse (65 St. James Street, Kingston).

At 4pm Ben Brown will lead a meditative sound bath of dreaming the future through an Afrocentric sound scape. Attendees are encouraged to assume positions of comfort while attending.

For more information visit Resisting Erasure.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. 

And we want to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for their support! Upstate Films, Bailey Pottery, Blue-Byrd’s and the Hinds family.

COVID POLICY

  • We are monitoring COVID carefully to make sure our guidelines are keeping everyone safe.
  • We will not be checking vaccination status. 
  • While indoors, we ask that you wear a mask. We want to protect those in the community who might be at-risk or immune-compromised.

Resisting Erasure

Exhibit on view at the GWI Greenhouse (65 St. James Street, Kingston) during weekday business hours and 1:00 – 5:00 pm on second Saturdays (June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8).

For more information visit Resisting Erasure.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. 

And we want to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for their support! Upstate Films, Bailey Pottery, Blue-Byrd’s and the Hinds family.

COVID POLICY

  • We are monitoring COVID carefully to make sure our guidelines are keeping everyone safe.
  • We will not be checking vaccination status. 
  • While indoors, we ask that you wear a mask. We want to protect those in the community who might be at-risk or immune-compromised.

Resisting Erasure

Exhibit on view at the GWI Greenhouse (65 St. James Street, Kingston) during weekday business hours and 1:00 – 5:00 pm on second Saturdays (June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8).

For more information visit Resisting Erasure.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. 

And we want to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for their support! Upstate Films, Bailey Pottery, Blue-Byrd’s and the Hinds family.

COVID POLICY

  • We are monitoring COVID carefully to make sure our guidelines are keeping everyone safe.
  • We will not be checking vaccination status. 
  • While indoors, we ask that you wear a mask. We want to protect those in the community who might be at-risk or immune-compromised.

Resisting Erasure

Exhibit on view at the GWI Greenhouse (65 St. James Street, Kingston) during weekday business hours and 1:00 – 5:00 pm on second Saturdays (June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8).

For more information visit Resisting Erasure.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. 

And we want to acknowledge and thank the following sponsors for their support! Upstate Films, Bailey Pottery, Blue-Byrd’s and the Hinds family.

COVID POLICY

  • We are monitoring COVID carefully to make sure our guidelines are keeping everyone safe.
  • We will not be checking vaccination status. 
  • While indoors, we ask that you wear a mask. We want to protect those in the community who might be at-risk or immune-compromised.

Reality / Possibility: Exploring Cognitive Dissonance and Collective Resonance

We invite you to join us IN PERSON to deepen with Just Transition, exploring how dissonance affects us and resonance opens up possibilities.

This workshop is an opportunity for reflective engagement with the ideas of Just Transition.  We are invited to bravely face the discomfort of cognitive dissonance as we recognize misalignment between our actions and our ideals. This honest look increases our awareness of the impacts of living under systems of extraction. We will examine what cognitive dissonance means, how it shows up in our lives, and how it stands in the way of the regenerative world we desire. From a grounded place, the workshop invites us to tap into our own sources of creativity and access more energy to envision shared pathways toward collective action. 

This was an incredibly generative and meaningful workshop. From setting the tone and intentions of our time together, through the embodiment practices, to the opportunities to share in large and small groups, the facilitators held and inspired space for self-connection, community connection and radical imagination. Thank you so much. This workshop felt like a gift. ~Julie S.

During this workshop, you will be invited to explore: 

  • Mindfulness and embodied presence
  • The meaning and symptoms of cognitive dissonance through the Just Transition framework 
  • Noticing and sharing examples of how cognitive dissonance manifests in your life
  • Solo imaginings of possibility, change, alignment, regeneration, resonance
    • Note: Bring any tools that support your creativity! Examples include, but aren’t limited to: pen and paper, musical instruments, pastels, crayons, markers, pipe cleaners, clay, etc.
  • Collective inspiration and ideas for ways forward

The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives. ~Audre Lorde 

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. ~Arundhati Roy

Just Transition Primer

Let’s come together IN PERSON to align understanding and action in support of effective, collective responses to the moment we are living in.

Our entrenched political divides are laced with conflict and create a sense of insecurity. No longer in the eye of the pandemic storm, we continue to navigate the uncertainty of a landscape in which soaring housing prices have displaced community members and extreme weather conditions are becoming the norm. How do we make sense of these realities? Where can we glimpse the kind of possibility worth coming together to work for? This workshop provides an opportunity to connect, explore a shared vision of Just Transition, and consider the question: What will it take to build systems centered on care for each other and our shared home? What would it mean for many of us in the Mahicantuck (Hudson) Valley to be focused on social and ecological well-being? 

Join us for our first in-person workshop since 2020!  In community, you will deepen your understanding of the Just Transition framework, principles and practices. Through video, reflection, story sharing, and small group discussion, you will:

  • See people from across the country describing aspects of Just Transition
  • Hear how other participants respond to the framework
  • Connect your own experience to extractive and regenerative economic paradigms
  • Gain a sense of the framework, principles and practices, and where they come from
  • Discuss ways you are drawn toward weaving one or more Just Transition principles and practices into your Good Work

Following this workshop, you are invited to stay from 3-5 pm for a reception to connect with others in the GWI Network, including the opportunity to participate in a “Respond + Create” art-making workshop led by Shirley Parker-Benjamin and Onaje Benjamin, the artists featured in the Resisting Erasure exhibition at the GWI Greenhouse.

GWI Reception & “Respond + Create” Workshop

You are invited to a gathering of folks connected to GWI at the Greenhouse! Whether you are new to GWI, have participated in our online workshops, or have been a part of our community for a long while now, this is an opportunity to meet, greet, and catch up with new and old friends over beverages and noshes.

Many of us feel drawn to focus on the social and ecological well-being of our region, and we believe that informally learning about each other’s Good Work is a big part of moving in that direction! Finding ways of connecting and supporting one another strengthens and grows the impact of our efforts.

We’re delighted to be joined by Shirley Parker-Benjamin and Onaje Benjamin, whose artwork is currently on display at the GWI Greenhouse. At 4 pm, they will guide us through “Respond + Create” – an opportunity to explore our inner artist and express our creativity in a hands-on way! Working with 5 people at a time, Shirley will offer a prompt related to her work, a working surface and tangible materials, and invite us to assemble them into a temporary collage that we can photograph to create an ever expanding gallery of recombinations and interpretations. Onaje will share perspectives that inform his approach to photography and invite us to head outdoors to document one or more scenes from the neighborhood. 

Whether you end up photographing the neighborhood, your collage, or both, you can submit a digital image of what you create for viewing on a display screen if you wish, so we can experience the interplay of our creative expressions. 

Learn more about the Resisting Erasure exhibit that shines a light on Shirley and Onaje’s art.