The peacemakers Circle
PAST SESSIONS
The Peacemakers Circle is a Tounché initiative creating a sacred space for learning from Peacebuilding experts & activists some of the necessary and most effective tools to become active agents of Peace in our families and communities.
POOVEN MOODLEY
RECONNECTING TO OUR ANCESTRAL WISDOM AND THE NATURAL LAW AS A PATHWAY TO PEACE
Pooven Moodley is an international human rights and environmental lawyer from South Africa and a social justice activist. During the past 5 years he was the Executive Director of Natural Justice, a human rights and environmental justice non-profit law firm, representing indigenous and local communities across Africa in their struggles to stop the violation of rights and the destruction of their territories of life.
PIERRE PRADERVAND
THE GENTLE ART OF BLESSING
Can you imagine what it would feel like to never feel any resentment for any wrong done to you? To respond with full awareness to all situations rather than react from your gut? What freedom that would entail! Well, this is just one of the gifts the practice of blessing from the heart, sending out focused love energy, will do for you.
Pierre Pradervand studied at the universities of Geneva, Bern and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor before receiving a Doctorate in sociology from La Sorbonne University in Paris. A true world citizen, Pierre has labored most of his life for social justice, living, working, studying in or visiting 40 countries on every continent. From his Geneva home Pierre is now active as a writer, speaker and life coach, helping people to live simpler, yet richer, more contented lives. He provides personal development tools that empower attendees to strengthen their internal anchors and advance on their spiritual path. Pierre is also an independent celebrant for weddings, burials and other events. He is the author of more than 20 books.
LEAD WITH LOVE PRAYER CIRCLE IN LOVING MEMORY OF MICHAEL LATT
(07.02.1990 - 28.11.2023)
On Monday (November 27th, 2023), our beloved brother Michael Latt was shot and killed at his home in Los Angeles a month after he led us into a beautiful prayer during the TOUNCHE GLOBAL PEACE PRAYER MARATHON held on Saturday 28 October. He was only 33.
Michael was one of the most peaceful, kind and loving humans. He selflessly dedicated his life to social justice, spreading positivity and creating opportunities for BIPOC and women. He designed and led social justice campaigns for Common, Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, and studios like Warner Bros., Netflix and more.
During this Sunday’s circle, we’ll be remembering and honoring the legacy of Michael and all those who have lost their lives while advocating for a more just and peaceful world.
“I’ve learned that there is immeasurable power, inspiration and strength in love as well as a limitless potential within myself to tap into this power to use it for good and bring happiness to others...Nothing brings me more joy than other people’s happiness and nothing makes me more passionate than fighting for justice, equality and love.”
WITH GUEST EXPERT, END OF LIFE DOULA, ENERGY HEALER & AUTHOR OF “SACRED DEATH”, CATHERINE SHOVLIN
WATCH AGAIN MICHAEL’S BEAUTIFUL SHARING ON LOVINGKINDNESS LAST MONTH…
JESSE WIENS CHU
Trainer in Mindfulness & Nonviolent Communication for everyday life
PUTTING EMPATHY INTO ACTION
Empathy as integral part of Peace
What is Empathy (and what isn’t)? - Interactive demo of choices of how to respond to someone in pain, Components of empathy
Empathy Circles: Demo, Activity in large group or small groups, depending on group size, Harvest (debrief)
Empathy on Social Media: Healthy boundaries on social media, Practicing empathy on social media
ERICA FORD
Anti-Violence Activist, CEO and Founder, LIFE Camp, Inc.
““Everyday people are walking around infected with the disease of violence. And the trauma - the catalyst for this disease - often goes unaddressed. It’s time to MAKE PEACE A LIFESTYLE.””
Erica Ford is one of the leading activists of our generation. An internationally-recognized and widely-respected peacemaker, Erica Ford has been at the forefront of reducing youth and community violence in New York City — and beyond — for over 30 years.
Through LIFE Camp, Inc.’s groundbreaking programs, Erica has empowered thousands of individuals and families to break the cycle of violence and promote peace. Erica’s concept for increasing safety has been adopted and implemented by New York City resulting in a 10% reduction in violence citywide.
April 8th was declared Erica Ford Day in New York City by former Mayor Bill de Blasio
DR. REBEKAH GRANGER-ELLIS
Neuroscience of Leadership & Systems Evolution - Johns Hopkins University, UNICEF, World Bank - Foundations for Social Cohesion and Cultural Dialogue
“How to Change Our Minds? To influence our mental models, we need to seek out new meanings and new ‘data’. If we expose ourselves to people who think and act differently than us, even if it’s uncomfortable (as all learning is—it will be). These new experiences that we cultivate form new signals in our brains, which become the foundation that our brain then uses for predicting and behaving in our future experiences. You can’t change your past mental models—you can change your present models, which will be your past models that your future self will use.”
ABOUT THE SESSION
We live in times of high levels of terror, aggression, stress, and trauma, and yet as humans, we have a remarkable ability to adapt and actively cope and persist resiliently in the face of high stress states. But what we are all experiencing these days, is that this is extremely difficult as we are co-regulating with the trauma and stress of others. Particularly as we are working to lead fundamental shifts to address today's most pressing global challenges—building resilient systems and societies.
Why do we feel hopelessness, shame, guilt, frustration, anger, and injustice brewing inside of us? How do we deal with it?
In order for our brains to engage ‘executive functioning’ processing capabilities, we need to begin with what the brain and body is currently experiencing, what we are experiencing now as healers, coaches, peacemakers and changemakers— and how do we help our brains to address the brain-body feelings from our world? How do we help our brains get out of the hyper-coherence loops (anxiety, grief, anger, shame, sadness, hopelessness) and into a place where our brains feel empowered to problem solve, take action, and find peace in our purpose and 'mattering' in the world.
Dr. Granger-Ellis will incorporate a bit about research in traits of resilience from genocide, violence, and trauma, and the core human capabilities that enable 'adaptive intelligence' (resilience), and how we can develop them in ourselves and others.