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Thursday, July 21

TC CONFERENCE OPENING and EVENTS 
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

6:00 - 7:15 pm

Greeting, Mission, Announcements
   Steve Olweean, Director, Common Bond Institute

Keynotes:  FPM Adnan Badran, Former Jordanian Prime Minister
                   Father Nabil Haddad, Executive Director
                                                                         Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Center     

Charter for Compassion

7:15 - 8:00 pm
All Conference Community and Dialogue Experience

8:15 - 9:00 pm
Cultural Event

Friday, July 22

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS A

Workshops
Morning  9:30 - 11:00 am

A 1:  "School for Peace" (2 sessions)
Participants in the seminar will engage in dialogue around various conflicts and will experience how they react when their collective identity is highlighted in comparison to the individual identity. Participants will also learn the role of personal responsibility in inter-groups conflicts, such as ethnic conflicts, religious conflicts, gender differences and more. The theoretical models of encounters between groups in conflict and the model developed at the School for Peace will be presented. To experience the full group process, participants should take part in all parts.
Ahmad Hijazi
____________________________________________

A 2:  "Discovering And Practicing NonViolent Communications (NVC) On The Way To Conflict Resolution"
Active and interactive workshop, where we start by defining communication (feelings, needs, process, verbal, non-verbal), followed by NVC practice(does and don'ts, active listening, understanding the way I see facts...), NVC during conflict, the four ways of conflict resolution, understanding the conflict circle. All done in an active way, with over five "games" or exercises to be used by participants in their fields.
Tanya Awad Ghorra
____________________________________________

A 3:  "Restorative Retelling After Violent Dying"
Developed in 1999, Restorative Retelling (RR) is proven effective in minimizing trauma and grief in those who have lost a loved one due to violent death. With emphasis on skill development, this Workshop will provide participants with:
1. Understanding of key concepts of RR
2. Specific examples of each RR component
Laura Takacs

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS B

Workshops
Morning  11:15 am - 12:45 pm

B 1:  "Dialogue And Peace In Arab Culture"
We think that dialogue can be in the first level between the person values, morals and behavior, the second level between communities, groups, etc. and the third level the political dialogue. We will also explore concepts of peace and reconciliation in the Arab culture, - what we mean when we talk about peace, or about reconciliation; what our concepts, intentions, and goals are for these.
Noah Salameh
____________________________________________

B 2:   "Contributions To The Middle East Peace Process By Psychologists/Conflict Resolution Specialists"
The focus of thios presentation is directed to the question whether psychologists and conflict transformation specialists can contribute in a meaningful and significant way to the preace process in the Middle East. This inquiry originated at the 20th Middle East/ North Africa Conferebce (Psychology) in Dubai
Mark Hovee
____________________________________________

B 3:  "Spiral Dynamics"

Neri Bar On

~ Lunch ~
12:45 - 2:30 pm

PLENARY (All Conference) SESSION C
Film Followed by All-Conference Dialogue
Afternoon  2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
"Reuniting The Children Of Abraham
- A Multi Media Tool Kit 4 Peace"

The award winning documentary utilizes the creative arts of drama, music, improvisation, and interactive dialogue to build bridges of understanding between Christians, Muslims and Jews. In over a 100 presentations, RTCOA has provided the opportunity for audiences to experience how reconciliation and peace are possible.
Brenda Rosenberg
Film Followed By All-Conference Discussion
Facilitators:  Steve Olweean and Brenda Rosenberg

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS D

Afternoon  4:15 pm - 6:00 pm
Facilitated Dialogue Groups
Conference-wide break-out groups
(All participants self-select one of the concurrent dialogue groups)

Opportunity for all participants to engage in open agenda dialogues to process the conference, share learning, explore concepts and related issues, network, and brainstorm practical applications and collaboration. Dialogue groups are viewed as the engines of the conference experience where collaboration and application most emerge. The information from these groups is also included in conference proceedings and outcomes, and utilized for future cooperation and planning.

~ Dinner ~
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Evening Social-Cultural Event
8:00 - 9:30 pm

Saturday, July 23

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS E

Workshops
Morning  9:30 am - 11:00 am

E-1:  "School for Peace" (2 sessions)
Participants in the seminar will engage in dialogue around various conflicts and will experience how they react when their collective identity is highlighted in comparison to the individual identity. Participants will also learn the role of personal responsibility in inter-groups conflicts, such as ethnic conflicts, religious conflicts, gender differences and more. The theoretical models of encounters between groups in conflict and the model developed at the School for Peace will be presented. To experience the full group process, participants should take part in all parts.
Ahmad Hijazi
____________________________________________

E-2:  "YOUTH As Social Activists Transforming Spirituality Into Leadership For Love, Compassion And Change." (2 sessions)
Sharing Principles and Ethics and Skills to build a platform and architecture for youth mobilizing around the world to become active in a positive manner rather than violence and start to mobilize working with a structure that serves all people versus an anti-campaign.
Nina Meyerhof, Diane DeTerra, and Patrick McCollum
____________________________________________

E-3:  "Experience Wounded Xrossing Borders"
The members of Wounded Xrossing Borders will present personal stories of change and transformation from difficult beginnings and conditions, and share the process they have gone through and are still going through, within themselves and between themselves.
Sulaiman Khatib, Gadi Kenny, Mohammed Takrouri, Dudu Shilo with other members of Wounded Xrossing Borders.

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS F

Workshops
Morning  11:15 am - 12:45 pm

F-1:   "Media As A Tool for Conflict Transformation Case Study Of Aman Ki Asha"
In mitigating the sensitivity of the people the essence of true journalism can play its enormous potential for creating a common basis and cultivating conditions for conflict transformation through a variety of ways. A campaign for India-Pakistan peace initiated recently by the Jung Group of Pakistan together with the Times of India Group, under the title Aman ki Asha (hope for peace) is a positive development on its part.
Nusrat Khurshedi
____________________________________________

F-2:  "Reuniting The Children Of Abraham - A Multi Media Tool Kit 4 Peace"
The award winning workshop "Reuniting the Children of Abraham" utilizes the creative arts and interactive dialogue to build bridges of understanding between Christians, Muslims, and Jews through a 4 step healing process. Come and experience how reconciliation and peace are possible.
Brenda Naomi Rosenberg and Sarah Jaward
____________________________________________

F-3:  "Perspectives, Personalities And Conflict – Understanding The Stories We Tell"
In a conflict everyone has a story. Where do the stories we tell come from? How do personalities, perspectives and experience influence the stories we create? In this interactive fun session we will look at the nature of the stories we tell ourselves (and others).
Ruth Sirman

~ Lunch ~
12:45 - 2:30 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS G

Afternoon  2:30 - 4:00 pm
Facilitated Dialogue Groups
Conference-wide break-out groups
(All participants self-select one of the concurrent dialogue groups)
(* See full description in SESSION C)

 PLENARY (All Conference) SESSION H
Afternoon  4:15 - 6:00 pm
"Compassionate Listening"
"Wounded Xrossing Borders"
Short Films Followed By All-Conference Dialogue
Steve Olweean and Gadi Kenny

~ Dinner ~
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Evening Social-Cultural Event
8:00 - 9:30 pm

Sunday, July 24

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS I

Workshops
Morning  9:30 am - 11:00 am

I-1:  "Tectonic Leadership - A New Way Of Leading - A New Way Of Being"
Tectonic Leadership introduces a revolutionary approach to leadership and conflict
transformation - creating pairs of leaders from opposing sides of conflicts to take joint ownership in transforming conflicts - facing challenges together-finding solutions together.
Brenda Naomi Rosenberg and Sarah Jaward
____________________________________________

I-2:  "YOUTH As Social Activists Transforming Spirituality Into Leadership For Love, Compassion And Change"  (2 sessions)
Sharing Principles and Ethics and Skills to build a platform and architecture for youth mobilizing around the world to become active in a positive manner rather than violence and start to mobilize working with a structure that serves all people versus an anti-campaign.
Nina Meyerhof, Diane DeTerra, and Patrick McCollum
____________________________________________

I-3:  "Sulha Project and Wounded Xrossing Borders' Listening Circles"
The members of Wounded Xrossing Borders with the leader of Sulha Project will lead listening circles inspired by personal stories of the Wounded Xrossing Borders group.
The Sulha Project: Nibal Hamdan, Wounded Xrossing Borders: Sulaiman Khatib, Gadi Kenny, Mohammed Takrouri, Dudu Shilo, Nehama Dar, Jamal Meqbel, Elya Shaya, Usama Elewat, Yafa Sulimani, Esther Shalom, Frida Tarrab, Geula Mashmor, Janet Dallal, Nir Boms

ALL-CONFERENCE SESSION J

FINAL DIALOGUE GROUP
Morning  11:15 am - 12:45 pm

The full conference community gathers for processing the conference experience, assessment of future skills training needs, brainstorming practical applications, action planning, networking for cooperation beyond conference, feedback and recommendations
Facilitator: Steve Olweean

~ Lunch ~
12:45 - 2:00 pm

TC CONFERENCE CLOSING 
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Final community experience, affirmations of positive action beyond the conference, reflection, insight, transition, and farewell
Steve Olweean 

~ Farewell Dinner Party ~
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
(a final time to break bread together)

FACILITATORS and MEDIATORS

                                Rebecca Cataldi           Ahmad Hijazi
                                Tanya Ghorra             Laura Takacs
                                Ruth Sirman               Steve Olweean

Guidelines For Compassionate Dialogue

The TC Conference strives to promote an inclusive, compassionate dialogue that honors different personal experiences, perspectives, and narratives, while allowing for better expressing and listening to each other as we work together toward understanding and harmony. Our intention is to create an open venue where we can engage meaningfully and invite in a public dialogue that brings our joint wisdom to bear in exploring sometimes difficult issues that effect us all. This is based on the premise that it does not require that we be the same to be appreciate of, at peace with, and secure in our relationships with each other; only that we be familiar enough with each others story to share the humanity and trustworthiness that resides in each of us.
We ask all participants to assist us by carrying and expressing this intent throughout the conference.

NonViolent Communication Guidelines (Adapted from Marshall Rosenberg):

Unique Assumptions—NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and supported by the prevailing culture. It also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that all actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs.

While NVC is much more than a communication model, the components below provide a structural concept of the process that leads to giving and receiving from the heart.

Honestly Expressing how I am and what I would like without using blame, criticism or demands

Empathically Receiving how another is and what he/she would like without hearing blame, criticism or demands  

Whether expressing or receiving, NVC focuses our attention on four pieces of information:

1) Observations —Objectively describing what is going on without using evaluation, moralistic judgment, interpretation or diagnosis
2) Feelings —Saying how you feel (emotions and body sensations) about what you have observed without assigning blame
3) Needs —The basic human needs that are or not being met and are the source of feelings
4) Requests —Clear request for actions that can meet needs

2012 TC Conference Information:

  Underlying Concepts
Main TC Conference Page
Fees and Registration
Site and Travel
2012 Schedule and Program Overview
Previous 2011 TC  FULL  PROGRAM - 2012 to be posted
Previous 2011 Presenter Biographicals - 2012 to be posted
Previous 2011 List of Presenters and Workshops - 2012 to be posted
TC Press Room
      1 Page Color TC Conference flyer  - pdf
      1 Page TC Black & White flyer  - pdf
      Conference E-Mail Notice
TC Conference Staff Contacts
Presenter Proposal Form:  
Dialogue Facilitator Form:
Conference Description  (pdf file)

Advertize , Display, and Donate:
   Advertize in On-Site Conference Program
   Advertize in On-Site Tote Bag
   Exhibit Table Space is Available  

      Donate
         Make a Tax Deductible donation to our subsidy fund to allow
         those with limited incomes from developing societes to attend.

         The Charter For Compassion
         On-Site Video Interviews and Proceedings

Registration is Open To All