Occupy Voice
This event is not organized by GaNVC. This listing does not imply endorsement or agreement.
OccupyVoice is a group of skilled Nonviolent Communication trainers who offer a daily call where occupiers can share the issues they face and receive feedback, empathy, and training in anger/conflict management, deescalation/nonviolent communication strategies, and peaceful conflict resolution.
Since the first week in November, several NVC practitioners have been hosting a daily conference call from 4:00—6:00 pm EST. On the call, we offer NVC-based support to those involved in, or affected by, the Occupy movement.
We are reaching out for more volunteers because we do not yet have enough NVC volunteers to keep the line staffed every day of the week. We want to be able to offer daily NVC experiences that support and contribute to the well-being of those impacted by the Occupy movement.
Facilitating
Facilitating a call, or coming on the call as an empathic supporter, is very rewarding. We hear this from almost everyone who joins us on the calls. The content of the calls varies from empathic support of callers in distress to celebrations, strategy sessions, and NVC training. We coach callers in ways to use language that connects rather than alienates, and empowers rather than disempowers. We also share with them NVC premises such as making clear, positively-oriented requests, protective rather than punitive use of force, and the distinction between requests and demands.
Empathy
We demonstrate empathy and encourage callers to practice empathy. We often do this through role-plays that originate from actual situations they are facing at the Occupy encampments or in their working groups.
These experiences are quite moving. We end up laughing or moved to tears, or both, as we hear the revelations of the callers who are realizing that there is another way to communicate; a compassionate way to communicate.
Callers
We have had callers on the line from all over the US, as well as Canada and Australia.
Getting Involved
Are you interested in being involved? If enough people volunteer just two hours of time in each of the next few months, we would feel confident that we can keep the call going and reach out to more people.
The world is rapidly changing and it is looking like the Occupy movement is a growing part of that change. We hope you will use your NVC skills to join in a connecting conversation.
- If you would like to schedule some times to volunteer as either a facilitator, empathic listener or both over the next few months, please contact Ronnie Hausheer at tanguera at msn.com.
- If you would like to volunteer to help with administrative tasks, please contact Suzanne Jones at suzannej at ymail.com.
More information about OccupyVoice.