Regenerative communication is a holistic human-centric approach to communication. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore our collective sources of energy through resilient practices that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. Regenerative communication restores our connection to humanity and nature, by taking responsibility for our roles in co-creating a regenerative society.
Restorative practice is a social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities. The purpose is to build healthy communities, increase social capital, decrease crime and antisocial behavior, repair harm and restore relationships. It ties together research in a variety of social science fields, including education, psychology, social work, criminology, sociology, organizational development and leadership. learning and decision making. For example, restorative circles and restorative conferences allow victims, offenders and all those affected to come together to explore just how everyone has been affected by an offense and, when possible, to decide how to repair the harm and meet their own needs. Example guide.
A restorative circle is a technique that builds and restores relationships through equal opportunity sharing and listening. These talking circles proactively build the skills individuals need when conflicts arise because they give every individual the opportunity to speak and be heard. Restorative circles are especially beneficial for youth learning how to negotiate conflict, as they help them practice respectful listening and healthy self-expression.
A restorative conference is a structured meeting between offenders, victims and both parties’ family and friends, in which they deal with the consequences of the crime or wrongdoing and decide how best to repair the harm. Neither a counseling nor a mediation process, conferencing is a victim-sensitive, straightforward problem-solving method that demonstrates how citizens can resolve their own problems when provided with a constructive forum to do so. Conferences provide victims and others with an opportunity to confront the offender, express their feelings, ask questions and have a say in the outcome. Offenders hear firsthand how their behavior has affected people. Offenders may choose to participate in a conference and begin to repair the harm they have caused by apologizing, making amends and agreeing to financial restitution or personal or community service work. Example guidelines.
Nonviolent communication (NVC) is an approach to communication based on principles of nonviolence. It is not a technique to end disagreements, but rather a method designed to increase empathy and improve the quality of life of those who utilize the method and the people around them. Nonviolent communication evolved from concepts used in person-centered therapy, and was developed by clinical psychologist Marshall Rosenberg beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. There is a large ecosystem of workshops and clinical and self-help materials about NVC. Rosenberg's book Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, popular as a self-help book and psychotherapy textbook, is considered the authoritative text about the concept.
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of group (e.g., intentions; reasons for holding certain beliefs) and by engaging in collective negotiation. Dimensions of resolution typically parallel the dimensions of conflict in the way the conflict is processed. Cognitive resolution is the way disputants understand and view the conflict, with beliefs, perspectives, understandings and attitudes. Emotional resolution is in the way disputants feel about a conflict, the emotional energy. Behavioral resolution is reflective of how the disputants act, their behavior. Ultimately a wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including negotiation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, diplomacy, and creative peace building.
As community leaders, this process is how we take responsibility for our role in actualizing each other in developing a regenerative culture. Participants are trained in regenerative communication through a program known as the Dialogue Road Map, facilitated by Maria Arpa. Maria was recently the executive director of the Center for Nonviolent Communication. The video is from a recent conversation where she talks about the origin of her work, and what it takes to implement in a community:
This program supports local communities looking to train a group of certified mediation counselors and regenerative communications stewards. These graduates will be a foundation from which we develop a caring-based regenerative culture, including a conflict resolution program.
This Dialogue Road Map training is intended to reach people in regenerative communities who want to design a nonviolent/healing/restorative response to conflict and who have the authority or influence to pave the way for change. It is intended to benefit the community as a community practice, not to benefit individual practitioners utilizing it for private practice.
Applications: