A letter from the IEPC in Jamaica

Two DPC trainers took part in the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston/Jamaica. Paul Edward Muego (Philippines), who was there together with Iulia Picu (Romania), sent the following report about his experience:

"Got home Sunday evening; it was a long way (a total of more than 24 hours of flight time!). But then well and good; my wife and daughter picked me up at the airport.

the whole IEPC went well in terms of sharing and listening to the different experiences of churches and organizations in terms of peacebuilding work. These came out during the plenaries as well as the reasoning workshops. Documenting all the learning that came out in the workshops and even in the buzz groups duing plenaries is a big challenge. The IEPC could certainly have done more in this regard.

But of course in the context of the Decade to Overcome Violence, we still have a very long collective journey ahead of us. Using the TIDES as a model to look at the situation of the different churches and their myriad of initiatives, a lot of work still needs to be done. This was very evident, for example, when the IEPC statement was being discussed.

The DPC (the tools, the models) provided me with a very good framework to analyze the different initiatives as presented in the different workshops and plenaries that I participated in. For me, this shows the practical usefullness of the work that we do (the DPC)--from the micro to the macro level.

As for the DPC workshop, we didn't have the number that we expected before the IEPC started. Coming from a participant-perspective, I myself would have chosen to go to different workshops rather than stay on the same workshop stretched out in 4 days. And of course, the presence of the two "Germans" would have helped a lot in terms of promoting the workshop.

Of particular interest for me as well was the participation of a good number of people from EDAN (Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network). I attended most of their workshops. Using the FEARS, the disability sector in general are regarded as the "losers". Their struggle for inclusion within the ecumenical world, which they say formally started in Harare, still has a long way to go as well.

All in all it was a very good experience. It was great working with Iulia. We both had fun preparing for and facilitating the workshops. As well as a lot of reflections and insights shared in between sessions and plenaries.

Am very thankful, blessed, and honored to have participated in the IEPC. I say it was well all the effort and all."


Paul's pictures on Facebook

paulenmuego@yahoo.com
 

Upcoming DPC trainings in the Netherlands and in No. Ireland

In the last months of 201, two additional DPC- trainings are planned.

1.    From 22 - 26 October a Training of Facilitators is planned in the Netherlands. For more information please contact Jaap van der Sar (jvdsar@stichtingoikos.nl). 
2.    Between November 2010 and Summer 2011  TIDES will run four DPC Training of Facilitators  in No. Ireland . The first one has just confirmed dates and will take place over two weekends in Belfast:  First weekend 20 - 21st of Nov , second weekend 4 – 5th of Dec. For further information please contact  Courtnae Dunn (courtnaedunn.tides@gmail.com). 
 

Jaap van der Sar 

An Award Winning Project!

At  his National Project Safe Neighborhoods conference, the US Attorney General, Eric Holder, presented the the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhoods Most Outstanding Community Involvement Award 2010 to the Youth Intervention Network in Antioch, Ca, 
The project in Antioch was nominated for this Award by the US Attorney for the of Northern District of California, Mr. Jospeh Russionello. This award distinguishes the Youth Intervention Network as a national best practice in developing effective community collaborations addressing the problem of youth violence while successfully recruiting, training and mobilizing community volunteers. Noteworthy elements of  the Youth Intervention Network are:

1. The  High Performing Community Collaboration framework - as developed by Emerald Consulting.
2. At risk indicators identified through individual analysis of more than 8,000 youth with legal safeguards to protect privacy.
3. The involvement of a high number of volunteers who do the actual support-work for the kids and their families. At present more than 100 volunteers have invested more than 20,000 volunteer hours, and completed approximately 100 hours of training each.
4. The application of "Dialogue for Peaceful Change" (DPC) as the so called 'software' of the system to enhance effective cooperation between involved agencies as well as the quality of the interventions, made by the volunteers in different roles.

As an effect of this award, a number of new communities showed a strong wish to have this approach replicated in their communities as well. Meetings with officials from the US government are supporting the idea that more cities in the USA can apply this approach. In the meanwhile it is also important to enlarge the group of involved people in Antioch itself. When Antioch can be sustained, the enlargement is possible. We are working on that!
Iris Archuleta, Jaap van der Sar
For more information: jvdsar@stichtingoikos.nl 

DPC leaflet 2010

Dialogue for Peaceful Change flyer 2010 -

DPC successfully applied in Antioch

Youth violence, low test scores and grades, truancy, gang affiliation and disconnection from family and school are words with a meaning in many cities and places throughout the world. In Antioch, CA, police chief Jim Hyde and Iris Archuleta, Co-founder of Emerald Consulting decided not to just complain about the problem.  Instead, they started the Youth Intervention Network. With the help of many professionals and - more important - volunteers, they utilized  Emerald Consulting’s High Performing Community (HPC)- model as a positive response to the developments in their city. Through the application of DPC they were able to generate enthusiasm for a hands-on approach of the challenges.

DPC was used in at least four ways. First it appeared a very useful tool for the improvement of the cooperation between the many agencies at play. Second it is the basic approach for all volunteers in their contacts with the children as well as with their parents. Volunteers meet with parents and youth who have agreed to cooperate with the process of using mediation as a substitute for more traditional assessment tools. Volunteers get a very intense support and training before they are allowed to engage youth and families, and they continue to receive support. Third DPC created a common language and approach for many people in schools, in police-service, in social work, and in policy-making bodies. Fourth - not amazing for many who already followed a DPC-training - it had an impact on the facilitators in their personal lives. The feed back after the trainings and also after many meetings where DPC was applied, is still: ”It is life changing.“

In Antioch it also appears to be life-saving. Quite some other places want to learn from the experiences, knowing that it can't be a quick solution for an already long lasting problem. However, HPC combined with DPC appears to be a hopeful sign for a systemic change, not just regarding youth and youth violence. That would be too easy and tends to makes youth a convenient scapegoat. This approach changes the whole community and makes life better for all its stakeholders.

For more information please contact
Iris Archuleta, JD
Co-Founder, Emerald Consulting
Co-Chair, The Youth Intervention Network
iris@emeraldconsulting.com
+ 1 925-755-9291
www.emeraldconsulting.com

Faclitators, trainers and coaches for DPC

At present nearly 450 persons have been certified after their participation in the DPC-Training of Facilitators. Participants of the 33 trainings so far came from very many different countries, from all continents - where just one came from Australia. The trainings have been given in 12 different countries.

As part of the trainings, which were offered, a "foundational course" was given, where the full mediation training wasn't part of the program. Due to reasons for time or participants, the program was changed into a training where the tools were applied in the way organisations can cooperate more productively. Most of the time this dealt with mechanisms to really validate the interdependence between groups and organisations.

This was also the entry-point for the many trainings in the place where most facilitators were trained: Antioch, CA in the USA - about 115 facilitators in this town and far more to come. As a result of these adopted trainings we now have 86 people who have been taught the DPC-cooperation skills and attitudes.

In the beginning of DPC we started with very few people, who were able to train. Now we have 12 associate trainers, 12 certified trainers and 5 certified trainers who also act as a coach for the associate trainers.

Most important however is the fact that facilitators report about the way they apply their learnings through DPC in daily life. It's life-changing and encouraging.

Jaap van der Sar
DPC-project-coordinator at Oikos

First DPC-training in the Netherlands

Although the DPC-project started in the Netherlands with a conference, a DPC-training wasn't scheduled in this country yet. This has changed now. During two extended weekends a Training of Facilitators will take place. Doing it this way opportunities are provided for people with busy working-schedules to participate with only two 'official' working days involved.

The training will take place from 28 - 30 May and from 11 - 13 June 2010. Trainers are Ingeberte Uitslag and Jaap van der Sar. Support for the training will be given by Bart Brandsma, who applied DPC-thoughts in an approach towards polarisation.

The training takes place in Dominikanen Klooster te Huissen.
Participation fee is € 1.150; some funds are available for a reduction for a small number of participants

For more information and for registration, contact Oikos through tel +31 30 2361 500 or email oikos@stichtingoikos.nl