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Core Training

We are committed to meeting people where they are. Our core training are available online and in-person in the following formats:

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  • Basic training

  • Advanced training

  • Training for trainers (for all core trainings)

  • Custom training sessions for groups and organizations*

  • Practice sessions

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*Custom Training Sessions for Groups & Organizations: sample list of organizations

We strive to meet the unique needs of smaller or larger groups and organizations. Our team has extensive experience conceptualizing, designing, and facilitating custom trainings for groups and organizations in the U.S and around the world (ex. Sudan, Afghanistan, India), including but not limited to faith-based organizations, schools and universities, advocacy groups, social service organizations, governments, juvenile detention facilities, retail stores, and other workplaces. Email Francis at info@dcpeaceteam.org if you would like to set up a training for your group or organization.​

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ELECTION SCENARIO Safety Trainings
As we enter a Presidential election year, we are offering specialized training sessions for de-escalation and safety in election conflicts or situations. These modules can focus on polling stations, canvassing, election events (ex. speaker, town hall, debate), election demonstrations, etc. See here for some of the options.

Training for Trainers

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) 

NVC

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a form of compassionate communication that can help de-escalate and transform interpersonal, inter-group, workplace, and organizational conflicts. It is used worldwide by individuals, activists, educators, conflict specialists, diplomats, social workers, managers, and others. Practicing NVC can enable us to understand ourselves, our feelings, and our needs more deeply—and open our hearts to better connect and collaborate with others. It creates a path for
healing and reconciliation in many settings, including but not limited to intimate relationships, work settings, and academic settings. During our sessions, participants explore empathy as a tool for transforming conflicts.

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Who Should Take this Training?

Anyone interested in strengthening their relationships and learning how to better
communicate and connect with others. 

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Intro Training Objectives:

  1. Practice Self-Empathy and Other-Empathy

  2. Learn the five key movements of NVC

  3. Practice and acquire the skills of NVC for interpersonal conflicts

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Advanced Sessions: Sample Topics

  1. NVC: Power and Racism

  2. NVC in the Work Environment

  3. NVC and Faux Feelings, Needs

  4. NVC and Supporting Loved Ones

  5. NVC and Restorative Justice

  6. NVC and Social Change​

Active Bystander Intervention, De-Escalation, and Nonviolent Self-Defense

ABI & De-escalation

This training focuses on effective skills for assessing, de-escalating, and diffusing a harmful or inappropriate behavior (bullying, harassment, physical violence). It provides participants with the tools they need to quickly recognize when they are bystanders, evaluate the consequences for everyone involved, and take action. We believe that active bystandership does not mean confronting the aggressor with violence. Hence our ABI or ABI & De-escalation training sessions promote nonviolent, safe alternative approaches for defusing harmful situations and engaging with the aggressor and those subject to harmful acts. Our Nonviolent Self-Defense module focuses on situations when we are being harassed and using physical movements to protect all parties. All sessions are interactive and designed to fit the needs of participants.

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Who Should Take this Training?

Anyone interested in building skills that will enable them to either step in effectively when witnessing a harmful situation, or to de-escalate a situation when one is being harassed.

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Intro Training Objectives:

  1. Learn from experiences of situations being a bystander or being harassed

  2. Discover a variety of effective tactics 

  3. Acquire skills by role-playing how to engage as a bystander or when being directly harassed

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Basic Sessions:

Introduction to Active Bystander Intervention
Introduction to Active Bystander Intervention and De-Escalation

Introduction to Nonviolent Self-Defense

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Advanced Sessions: 

  1. ABI/DE in Election Voting or School Board Situations

  2. ABI/DE Cyberbullying Situations

  3. ABI/DE and Weapons Situations

  4. ABI/DE and Active Shooter Situations

  5. ABI/DE and Mental Health Situations

  6. ABI/DE and Racism or Gender Dynamics​

  7. ABI/DE and Domestic Violence Situations

Unarmed Civilian Protection
and Accompaniment (UCP)   

UCP

Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) is an effective, nonviolent strategy for protecting civilians directly and reducing violence in conflict situations. This training equips participants with the skills they need to be part of a UCP unit deployed to places of hostility or an ongoing neighborhood safety team. Participants are trained to use nonviolent and compassionate methods to protect other civilians from violence, deter parties from carrying out threats of violence, and support local efforts to build peace. This training is mostly experiential and meets participants where they are. Skills learned can be used in many situations and settings, including but not limited to political demonstrations, accompaniment of those in danger, neighborhood conflicts, and international conflicts.

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Who Should Take this Training?

Individuals and groups of people interested in strengthening their capabilities to prevent violence and protect others.

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Intro Training Objectives:

  1. Share experiences of unarmed protection and accompaniment

  2. Become aware of the orientation, strategies, and impact of unarmed civilian protection

  3. Acquire skills by role-playing and learning strategies and tactics commonly used by peace teams in local community conflicts

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Advanced Sessions:

  1. UCP and Event Strategy

  2. UCP in Armed situations

  3. UCP and Early Warning Early Response​

Restorative Justice (RJ) and Trauma   Awareness

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice, or “RJ,” is a trauma-informed philosophy and set of practices that engage the community in building relationships and repairing harm through inclusive dialogue, deep understanding, and shared power. Our training sessions enable participants to learn more about RJ principles and provide them with the skills they need to facilitate effective RJ dialogues and integrate RJ practices into their daily interactions. We offer circles series and basic/advanced trainings in specific skills, such as circle processes. We have facilitated circles on various topics for a variety of groups and organizations.

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Trainings
Introduction to Restorative Justice Circles
Introduction to Trauma Awareness
Training for Trainers/Circle Facilitators
 

Sample Topics

  1. Anti-Racism and Privilege

  2. Domestic Violence

  3. Schools and RJ

  4. Victim-Offender Dialogues

  5. Planning/Implementing Circles

  6. Mental Health

  7. Restorative Parenting or RJ + Family Dynamics

  8. Community Healing

  9. Finding Forgiveness

  10. Empathy, Gratitude

  11. Grief

  12. Self-Care or Personal Challenges

  13. Relationship/Friendship/Kinship Challenges

  14. Community/Workplace Challenges

  15. Spiritual/Religious/Meaning/Purpose Challenges

  16. Aging

Anti-Racism & Equity   

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Our Anti-Racsim and Equity training sessions provide meaningful learning and reflection opportunities for participants of all backgrounds and racial identities, including reflections on privilege and allyship. Past participants include community members, government agencies, faith-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations serving marginalized communities. Topics include the following:

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  • Social construction of race or racial formation

  • Systems of racial inequity

  • White privilege & fragility

  • Microaggression

  • Allyship 

  • Healing and unlearning

  • Intersectionality 

  • Institutionalized racism 

  • Implicit bias

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Your investment enables us to help build more peaceful societies.

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