Free Thought Cafe on Sunday, August 7, 12 noon

Free Thought Cafe

“Systems Thinking, Aligned Incentives, Urban Design: common sense codified?”

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Institute for Global Education, 1118 Wealthy St., Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Now is the time! End the blockade of Cuba!

Cuba scored a victory when President Obama moved to normalize relations.
Does it mean an end to more than 50 years of a U.S. blockade against our
neighbor? How will the changes impact the Cuban people? What can we do to
continue acting in solidarity with the people of Cuba and Latin America?
Speaker: Manolo De Los Santos
Manolo De Los Santos works in the Pastors for Peace program, coordinating solidarity projects in Haiti, Cuba and Central America. He helped lead many delegations & caravans to Cuba in civil disobedience of the US blockade. He currently lives in Cuba where he is studying Theology & Philosophy at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas.
Thursday, July 7, 2016 at 7pm
At the Institute for Global Education
1118 Wealthy Street SE Grand Rapids

Workshop on Non-Violent Communication (NVC) this Thursday!

Nonviolent Communication can change the world.  More importantly, it can change your life.  I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul Series
 

Peaceful relationships live in the heart….

….but they can be created by simple, radical steps.

Steps are clearly set out in “NVC”, also called Compassionate Communication, with plenty of real life examples. Pragmatic effective steps reduce stresses in any relationship and enliven passion and compassion that you probably didn’t think possible.

Interested? Come hear about NVC on Thursday, June 23rd at IGE – 7-8pm. Bring your friends and real life examples for a lively discussion!

You will be glad you checked NVC out!

www.igegr.org

What is NVC?
a pragmatic process for identifying, communicating and meeting the often unseen but essential motivating needs of your self and of others;  An NVC practice gradually lessens thoughts and actions based on ineffective systems of guilt, judgment, and manipulation (thru positive or negative reactions), while replacing them with thoughts and actions that address the driving issues in each person with creativity and kindness.
How does NVC work?  You go beyond counterproductive cultural habits to connect genuinely with Observations, Feelings, Needs and Requests in yourself and others at the present moment.  Most of NVC is common sense but developing these compassionate ways can make life surprisingly wonderful.   
O – peel off evaluation, comparison, criticism, and judgment to identify objective observations;
F –  develop a vocabulary and awareness of feelings in yourself and others
N – identify one or more basic needs attached to each authentic feeling
R – identify positive actions that you or others can take to meet your needs — requests
E – practice empty-space listening/empathy to hear accurately, paraphrase, reflect;  When appropriate, engage in active “question” empathy to release the ofnr of others;
A – Also apply the above skills to address issues to convey appreciation, dissolve depression, diffuse violence, and work effectively with children and other people at home, work or anywhere;

Non Violent Communication Presentation–Thursday, June 23

June 23 @ 7:00 pm9:00 pm

What is NVC?
a pragmatic process for identifying, communicating and meeting the often unseen but essential motivating needs of your self and of others;  An NVC practice gradually lessens thoughts and actions based on ineffective systems of guilt, judgment, and manipulation (thru positive or negative reactions), while replacing them with thoughts and actions that address the driving issues in each person with creativity and kindness.
How does NVC work?  You go beyond counterproductive cultural habits to connect genuinely with Observations, Feelings, Needs and Requests in yourself and others at the present moment.  Most of NVC is common sense but developing these compassionate ways can make life surprisingly wonderful.   
O – peel off evaluation, comparison, criticism, and judgment to identify objective observations;
F –  develop a vocabulary and awareness of feelings in yourself and others
N – identify one or more basic needs attached to each authentic feeling
R – identify positive actions that you or others can take to meet your needs — requests
E – practice empty-space listening/empathy to hear accurately, paraphrase, reflect;  When appropriate, engage in active “question” empathy to release the ofnr of others;
A – Also apply the above skills to address issues to convey appreciation, dissolve depression, diffuse violence, and work effectively with children and other people at home, work or anywhere;