Collective Voices provides a structured approach to healing and interrupting cycles of misunderstanding, conflict, isolation, and violence
by seeking to understand the underlying issues.

 

Our methods begin with building relationships and trust. Together, we uncover what lies at the root of interpersonal dynamics and communication fractures. All of our work in grounded in a restorative framework.

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Many communities and individuals are deeply affected by systemic and generational cycles of grief, conflict, violence, and harm that shock one's sense of self, identity, security, and connection with others. During sessions, trainings, and engagement with Collective Voices, each person’s narrative, story, and perspective is essential to us supporting them in finding a path forward and restoring their sense of safety, security, and justice.

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Our work focuses on reconnecting, repairing, and rebuilding. Our services last anywhere from 1 hour, to 5 days, to ongoing – it all depends on what we determine is needed.

 

Collective Voices offers direct facilitation of conflict & repair,  Grief & Loss Circles, community healing and response, individual sessions for grief support, and trainings and consulting focused around a "Restorative Implementation Framework."

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All trainings and consulting include an in-depth study of two different frameworks and the impacts of both on one’s relationships and interactions (a framework being the attitude, lens, and value system one inhabits that guides their interactions, reactions, conflict, repair, and communication.)

 

Dominant framework = Built on systems of colonization and oppression. One voice, one harm, one point of view, and a strong belief that there is a right/wrong in every situation. Explanations are seen as excuses unless they are given by those who hold the most power. Lack of accountability for how one has negatively impacted others, and instead casts blame on others "being too sensitive."

 

Restorative framework = Roots are Indigenous in orgin. Grounded in the questions "how am I impacting others?"(positively and negatively), and "how can I create conditions for healing?" This framework centers accountability, safety, and empathy. All voices and perspectives are valid and deserve to be heard. Explanations are not excuses, they are part of one's story. The overall desire and courage to seek mutual understand and practice respect - even when significant conflict and fractures in relationships exist. 

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The most widely used practice in a restorative framework are Peacemaking Circles. Restorative practices can be applied in all settings; schools, communities, families, the workplace, etc. They are not a "weak or passive stance nor do they promote avoidance of conflict and accountability. Restorative practices can and often do include agreements, obligations, and retribution. What is essential to the process  (and is the difference between a quick fix solution or sustained peace) is the dialogue that takes place to allow for all perspectives and needs to be heard.

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Peace is not the absence of conflict but is the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict and violence. In our work together, we help to break down assumptions that accompany the word "peace" and in real time, uses a model and teaches tools to allow for dialogue to take place.

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Restorative practices are aimed at promoting peace rather than deepening harm, allowing for silence, or promoting violence. Restorative practices build the capacity 
within people to identify and solve their own problems. In short, restorative services have been found to be more effective and successful for resolving conflicts and interupting violence than their counterparts.

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"If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. And consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before he/she finishes communicating. If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood."  
        ~ Dr. Stephen Covey, American educator, author, businessman, and speaker.

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