To Build A Home
Community Building Workshop
The idea of a “community” is an important concept. A community can protect us from the harsh realities of the outside world. A community can keep us bound in fear, afraid that we might be kicked out. A community can be a place to reproduce what we’ve seen, or an opportunity to create a new future.
What are our personal definitions (and expectations) of a ‘community?’ How can we build communities that members want to return back to? What types of roles can we take on to build communities we want to belong to?
In this workshop we will define community for ourselves, and practice building a community with those (literally) around us.
Fighting the Good Fight
Conflict Workshop
Conflict is a natural part of relationships, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. In this workshop, we will practice what happens when we are finally in conflict and/or confrontation with others. How do you naturally engage in conflicts? How do relationship dynamics impact your strategy? What are your own limits within a confrontation? How do you find the core issues of a conflict? Together, we will discuss previous fights and explore ways to navigate interpersonal conflict. We will conclude with a conflict game, where we will practice being in conflict with others.
Rumor Has It
Gossip Workshop
One of the most common, exciting, important, and controversial styles of communication is gossip. Gossip fuels reality tv programs and tabloids. It can be used as a protective web to prevent harm from reoccurring. Or it can be used to bully, intimidate, and maintain positions of power.
In this workshop we will explore our relationship to gossip and rumors. What is an honest definition of gossip? What effect does gossip have on our communities? What is “productive” gossip and what is “harmful” gossip? And how does gossip affect the way that we interact with those around us?
Too Late to Say Sorry
Apology Workshop
We’ve all seen and experienced cringe worthy apologies. “I’m sorry but…”, “I didn’t know you were so sensitive….” , “can’t you take a joke?” A bad apology can ruin a friendship, destroy a community, or end a career.
And yet, a bad apology is really easy to make. Pride can prevent us from understanding how our actions affect others. A fear of rejection might hinder an acknowledgement that we may have hurt someone we love.
Learning how to give apologies can create environments where authentic and nuanced relationship building can happen. In this workshop, we’ll think together about what exactly makes a good apology. What do apologies teach us about what is most important to us? What types of things are you willing to apologize for?