Circle Skills for Difficult Conversations in Our Communities

This course aims to enhance participants' skills, confidence and illustrative stories to use restorative circles within their communities to have difficult conversations, particularly moving through the sharp edges of faith-based witness and activism. In the process we will be taking small steps toward co-creating a Quaker version of circles (drawing from threshing meetings; meeting for clearing etc).

What models of restorative practice are there? What are the stages in a restorative circle? What questions can we use? How can we keep our restorative practice embedded in our faith?

Using an experiential, participatory process, Leon Dundas (expert in restorative processes) and Ella Asheri will co-lead this learning journey.

This course is for complete beginners in restorative circles or people already well on the way who want to deepen their knowledge, practise together and strengthen connection with other Quakers seeking to use restorative circles in their community. It is particularly aimed at Friends working on issues around reparations, racial justice, gender diversity, and earth justice, but everyone is welcome who wishes to engage deeply with dialogue.