Peace Education and Action Center

Respecting Environment Strand

Workshop 1: Where Peace and Plants Intersect  -- 9:45am-11:15am

Presenters:  Laurel Schiller, Fran Palmeri, Mellie Fischer

Plants play an essential role in our lives, but how are they connected 
to peace? The workshop begins with biologist and co-owner of Florida 
Native Plants, Inc., Laurel Schiller delivering talk entitled, "Give Peace 
Some Plants."  Benefitting from years of serving the Sarasota area in 
municipal capacities, Laurel offers a unique perspective on how
to prioritize the plants and practices that are important in healthy
ecosystems.  Among the many locals who have been shaped by Laurel's
knowledge, Fran Palmeri has collected thousands of images by exploring
the wild areas of Florida.  She will share from her excursions with a slide
show and details on how intimacy with Nature can simultaneously
broaden and quiet the mind.  To finish the workshop, we find New College
student Mellie Fischer, fresh from her hands-on research of community
gardens and organic farming.  With an overview of how plants as food are
integral to a strong community, Mellie will share some specifics from her
comprehensive study of community gardening.
Workshop 2:   The Birds and the Bees -- 11:30am-1pm
Presenters:  David Williamson, Betsy Roberts, Sharon Fitzpatrick

In the daily lives of most Americans, there seems to be little contact with the animal
kingdom, except for those considered pets. The intersection of human life and 
animal world may be less obvious than when horses were the main transportation, 
but how we share the planet with other creatures remains integral to real 
peace. This workshop begins with David Williamson's summary on the vast 
array of birds that dwell in our area and how the non-profit "Save Our 
Seabirds" provides some relief for the misadventures between humans and 
birds. Among the other winged creatures dear to the environment, bees will 
be the focus of Betsy Roberts portion of this workshop. She will share 
how crucial bees are to the entire scheme and how beekeeping can enhance 
the lives of those who learn the art. To complete the workshop, Sharon 
Fitzpatrick will devote some time to discussion of food culture, including 
how keeping pets and other mammals affects our environmental footprint.

Workshop 3:  The Transition Movement:  From Oil Dependence to Local Resilience -- 3:30pm-5pm
Presenter:  Don Hall

In this interactive presentation by Transition Sarasota founder Don Hall, we will explore a new vision for our collective future. 
The worldwide Transition Movement is an innovative grassroots response to the greatest challenges of ourtime. 
Come learn how Transition Initiatives are revitalizing local agriculture, strengthening local economy, and rebuilding authentic 
community in the face of peak oil, climate change, and economic crisis. Ask questions, develop your own vision, and find out 
how you can become involved."

Restoring Justice
Workshop #2:  Implementation of Restorative Justice Principles:  How a Community Can Heal Itself?
9:45am -11:15am
Facilitator:  Bonnie Greenball
A confederate flag was the catalyst for a moment of violence in our local community last April.  When one young 
man allegedly shot another who was brandishing a confederate flag, a conflict that took place in a matter of minutes 
reflected a racial divide that has extended over many lifetimes.  How can we apply the principles of restorative 
justice to aid the healing process for these two young men, their families, their classmates, their teachers, and 
ultimately our community?

Note:  We will use clips from the documentary film, Greensboro: Closer to the Truth, in partnership with Active 
Voice to gain a deeper understanding of the application of restorative justice principles in local communities.  
In the film, twenty five years after a tragic massacre in Greensboro, North Carolina, victims and other interested 
parties called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and achieved a measure of healing for themselves 
and their community.

Workshop 2:  An Introduction to NVC Restorative Circles - 11:30am-1pm

Presenter: Mercedes Frace

This session, grounded in a step-by-step process using Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, is focused on the 
concept of Restorative Circle systemic approach developed by Dominic Barter. Participants will gain basic understandings 
of NVC, its ability though key principles to uncover human motives behind painful choices, and the discovery of effective 
strategies to meet pressing needs.  Reconnection and healing using this process supports those divided by conflict to reaching 
agreed action. 
Workshop #3:  Restorative Justice in the Schools -- 3:30pm-5pm
Presenter: Gordon Bazemore
With the potential of teaching conflict resolution skills, building stronger relationships and providing alternative approaches
to discipline, many schools are exploring the use of restorative practices.  Gordon Bazemore will follow his keynote address
with a more focused discussion of how schools nationwide are implementing principles of restorative justice.

Rethinking  Education
  
Workshop  #1:  Service Learning as Altruism-based Education --  9:45am-11:15am

Facilitator:  Beverly Hill

Current research is being carried out to test several hypotheses related to altruism: that compassion can be trained, that it 
has important applications in secular fields, that contemplative systems target and enhance neural networks associated 
with compassion and finally, that rigorous scientific enquiry that draws from the insights of a multitude of disciplines - 
economics, philosophy and contemplative traditions - can greatly enrich our scientific understanding of deeper qualities 
of the human mind and heart such as compassion, altruism, and kindness. Therefore, this workshop is based on the
premise that altruism may play a crucial role in educational endeavors, begging the question of, "Can service learning 
lead to effective social action?"  For example, could training compassion have ramifications for recidivism and violence 
in prisons, or social education in schools? Could it influence cooperative behavior in business settings and negotiations?  
This workshop will cover the basic principles of Service Learning and apply them through a group activity that will 
produce 5 ideas for service learning projects that participants can take with them and use in various settings.  Participants 
who have extensive, as well as no experience with service learning are welcome, as the aim of this workshop is designed 
to follow a community-based model whereby we all learn from each other and build something tangible that can be 
applied in our respective areas of work through education.

Workshop #2: Conflict Resolution, Peer Mentoring and Mediation - 11:30am-1pm

Open Ears is a peer mentoring and mediation program in its second year at Venice High School.  We have 20 students in 
grades 10-12 who have been trained in mediation, attending and listening skills, drug and alcohol prevention, bullying and 
depression.  We will share our program and experiences, run activities used in trainings and meetings and hold a mock 
mediation. 

Watching most of Conflict Resolution, one of David Lionel's World Çitizen Videobooks series, will familiarize
the workshop group with the subject of Mediation.  Attendees come to know each other through sharing in 
small circles their insights and responses.  These intimate group exchanges build fellow feeling.  Participants
have the opportunity to self-select into affinity action teams to undertake community betterment projects. 

Workshop  #3:  Changing the Culture in our Schools - 3pm-5:30pm
Presenters:  Jennifer Mainey, Skip Wilhoit
Healthy and sound school cultures correlate strongly with increased student achievement and motivation, and with teacher 
productivity and satisfaction.  Findings suggest that implementation of a clear mission statement, shared vision, and 
schoolwide goals promote increased student achievement.  The most effective change in school culture happens when
principals, teachers, and students model the values and beliefs important to the institution.  This workshop will explore what is
happening in our local schools to create and reinforce positive school culture.