Little Book of Circle Processes: A New/Old Approach To Peacemaking
By Kay Pranis
4/5
()
About this ebook
Kay Pranis
Kay Pranis served as the restorative justice planner for the Minnesota Department of Corrections for nine years. Since 1998, Pranis has conducted circle trainings in a diverse range of communities—from schools to prisons to workplaces to churches, and from rural towns in Minnesota to Chicago's South Side to Montgomery, Alabama.
Read more from Kay Pranis
The Big Book of Restorative Justice: Four Classic Justice & Peacebuilding Books in One Volume Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Book of Restorative Justice: Four Classic Justice & Peacebuilding Books in One Volume Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Little Book of Circle Processes
Related ebooks
The Little Book of Restorative Discipline for Schools: Teaching Responsibility; Creating Caring Climates Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Transformative Community Conferencing: A Hopeful, Practical Approach to Dialogue Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Dialogue for Difficult Subjects: A Practical, Hands-On Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Circle Way: A Leader in Every Chair Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Racial Healing: Coming to the Table for Truth-Telling, Liberation, and Transformation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Restorative Justice: Revised and Updated Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices: Building a Culture of Equity, Connection, and Healing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Restorative Teaching Tools: Games, Activities, and Simulations for Understanding Restorative Justice Practices Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice: Black Lives, Healing, and US Social Transformation Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Little Book of Family Group Conferences New Zealand Style: A Hopeful Approach When Youth Cause Harm Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding: A Vision And Framework For Peace With Justice Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Little Book of Youth Engagement in Restorative Justice: Intergenerational Partnerships for Just and Equitable Schools Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges & Universities: Revised & Updated Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Summary of Rhonda V. Magee's The Inner Work of Racial Justice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWalking Together in Indigenous Research Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Victim Offender Conferencing: Bringing Victims and Offenders Together In Dialogue Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJustpeace Ethics: A Guide to Restorative Justice and Peacebuilding Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRestorative Justice: Insights and Stories from My Journey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Restorative Justice for People in Prison: Rebuilding the Web of Relationships Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art of Holding Space: A Practice of Love, Liberation, and Leadership Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Listening Leader: Creating the Conditions for Equitable School Transformation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Restorative Justice for Older Adults: Finding Solutions to the Challenges of an Aging Population Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change without Losing Your Joy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Listening to the Movement: Essays on New Growth and New Challenges in Restorative Justice Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Little Book of Restorative Justice for Sexual Abuse: Hope through Trauma Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnsouling Our Schools: A Universally Designed Framework for Mental Health, Well-Being, and Reconciliation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Relationships For You
A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All About Love: New Visions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist: The Narcissism Series, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Codependence and the Power of Detachment: How to Set Boundaries and Make Your Life Your Own Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Loving Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/58 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Why Won't You Apologize?: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Little Book of Circle Processes
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Little Book of Circle Processes - Kay Pranis
1.
Introduction
We’re all lovers and we’re all destroyers. We’re all frightened and at the same time we all want terribly to trust. This is part of our struggle. We have to help what is most beautiful to emerge in us and to divert the powers of darkness and violence. I learn to be able to say, ‘This is my fragility. I must learn about it and use it in a constructive way.’
— Jean Vanier¹
Old things made new
Our ancestors gathered around a fire in a circle. Families gather around the kitchen table in a circle. Now, we are learning to gather in a circle as a community to solve problems, support one another, and connect to one another.
A new way of bringing people together to understand one another, strengthen bonds, and solve community problems is blossoming in modern Western communities. But this new way is really very old. It draws on the ancient Native American tradition of using a talking piece, an object passed from person to person in a group and which grants the holder sole permission to speak. It combines this ancient tradition with contemporary concepts of democracy and inclusivity in a complex, multicultural society.
Peacemaking Circles are being used in a variety of contexts. In neighborhoods they provide support for those harmed by crime and help decide sentences for those who commit crime. In schools, they create a positive classroom climate and resolve behavior problems. In the workplace, they help address conflict, and in social services they develop more organic support systems for people struggling to get their lives together.
Circles are being used in:
• neighborhoods
• schools
• workplaces
• social services
• justice systems
The Circle Process is a storytelling process. Every person has a story, and every story has a lesson to offer. In the Circle, people touch one another’s lives by sharing stories that have meaning to them. As the following three vignettes suggest, stories unite people in their common humanity and help them appreciate the depth and beauty of the human experience.
• • •
A breathless first-grader runs up to the school administrator supervising the playground. Mrs. Ticiu! Mrs. Ticiu!
he exclaims. I need a talking piece!
Mrs. Ticiu reaches into her pocket, extracts a small plastic dinosaur, and offers it to the child. He grasps the dinosaur tightly in his fist and dashes off to join several other students who, moments earlier, were arguing. With the help of the talking piece, they discuss their disagreement and find a solution they all like.
• • •
Legislators, state policy analysts, state agency administrators, and youth workers sit at tables with adolescents who have gotten into trouble to discuss the state vision for delinquent youth in Minnesota. As a talking piece is passed around the table, each person gets an equal chance to hear and share perspectives. Everyone listens intently to each speaker. After thoughtful listening and discussion, each table reaches a consensus position regarding its assigned topic.
• • •
In an inner-city neighborhood, an adolescent and his mom sit in a Circle with nearly a dozen community members and justice system professionals, including a prosecutor and a public defender. The assembled group stands and joins hands to express gratitude for the opportunity to come together as a community to support this adolescent and his family. A talking piece is passed and introductions are made. Each welcomes the youth and his mother to the Circle.
As the talking pieces makes its second round, Circle participants ask the youth about his progress in school, his behavior at home, and his interests. Two members of the Circle have visited his school and offer to help him catch up with his schoolwork. The youth’s mother expresses grave concern that he is leaving the house without her permission. She talks about her fears for him when he is out on the street after dark.
As the talking piece circulates among those present, Circle participants share fears and anxieties from their own adolescence. In dialogue with the youth, they express care and concern but also clear expectations about school attendance, homework, and checking in with Mom before leaving the house.
Both the youth and his mother respond warmly to the overtures of support and concern from the Circle. Both are able to listen to one another better with the use of the talking piece, and they leave with a better understanding of each other’s concerns and frustrations.
The youth promises to comply with the agreement, and the group schedules another Circle meeting to check on his progress. The group stands and joins hands for a closing acknowledgment of the hard work done.
Peacemaking Circles like those described above are bringing people together as equals to have honest exchanges about difficult issues and painful experiences in an atmosphere of respect and concern for everyone. In increasingly varied settings, Peacemaking Circles are providing a space in which people from widely divergent perspectives can come together to speak candidly about conflict, pain, and anger and leave those conversations feeling good about themselves and about others.