Peer Support Workshops are a great way to launch peer support for climate activsts in you community or organization. Typically about 25 people with a common interest or background come together at or after dinner on Friday night in a residential retreat center or campsite and stay together until lunch on Sunday. The weekend includes a presentation of the core assumptions of peer support along with its basic practices (one-on-one Listening Turns and small Support Groups) with opportunities to share information about climate activism in the area or organization in Topic Group Discussions and then form into Action Groups for ongoing work.<\/p>\n
The Executive Director of NIPS, Dr. Jim Driscoll, is eager to lead such workshops for your community or organization if you or the attendees can cover the expenses. He has led over fifty such workshops. The schedule for the first peer support workshop specifically for climate activists, held in Tucson, AZ, USA, is given below.<\/p>\n
Climate Action Workshop Schedule, August 12-14, 2011<\/p>\n
Friday<\/p>\n
Noon\u00a0\u00a0 Greet attenders, assign rooms, lay out materials from different groups, complete pre-surveyss<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Supper\u2014socialize<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Welcome\/Goals\u2014if enough people were listened to, if enough activists were well supported and more effectively organized\u2014New approach to social change, teach basic skills-uninterrupted listening tuns, how use for different key functions in activiss, create a community using these skills cutting across other organizations, but also on at least one major project for NIPS: \u2018LISTENING FOR THE SAKE OF THE PLANET\u201d<\/p>\n
Reverse Global Warming<\/p>\n
NEW ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL, THEDA SCOKPOL, MICHELS\u2014HOW WE ORGANIZE PREVENTS US FROM HAVING AN IMPACT, 50 YEARS IN U.S.<\/p>\n
NEW MODEL: LOCAL\u00a0 NOT DC-BASED, GRASSROOTS, NOT CENTRALIZED, VOLUNTEER-BASED, NOT PAID STAFF, EVERY PERSON A POTENTIAL LEADER, THEREFORE\u2014EQUALITY AND EMOTIONA VALUED NOT SUPPRESSED.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
THREE KEY FUNCTIONS OF ORGANIZATION\u2014SUPPORT, INFO, ACTION<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Introductions\u2014long, name,\u00a0 why do you care about this issue, what have you been doing about climate change to date, including organizational connections, what do you want to get out of the weekend<\/p>\n
Personal background\u2014Harvard jock, Vietnam Marine vet, lots of degrees, MIT Prof. 30 years of full-time social activism, done it all\u2014biggest demonstrations ever (FREEZE, elected lots of people to Congress (HARKIN, KOPETSKI, KEY FOR GRIJALVA, biggest civil disobedience actions STOPPED NUCLEAR TESTING, passed AZ Clean Elections Law, co-founded and funded six national organizations from my bedroom, all with national or international impact\u2014think peer support skills are most important social change tool\u2014already set up one national organization for returning vets VETS4VETS.<\/p>\n
Guidelines\u2014Be on time, keep confidential in support groups\/listening turns, no new romantic relationships, no alcohol or drugs<\/p>\n
What is a support group, model for what we are doing, uninterrupted listening\u2014what is on your mind that might distract you this weekend WHY DO PEOPLE COME TOGETHER\u2014FIRST REASON, TO BE LISTENED TO, LIKED, SUPPORTED, BUT HABITS GET IN THE WAY<\/p>\n
8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Support groups\u2014timers, no interruptions, feelings okay, no advice<\/p>\n
9:30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Debrief<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Saturday<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Breakfast, Support Group Leaders Meeting<\/p>\n
9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lecture\u2014Assumptions\u2014people good, loving, cooperative, decisive, powerful, process tons of info; so why global warming, war, meanines, because they got hurt, stop processing info, patterns, feel or behave as when got hurt, but healing natural, cry, laugh, shake, just need to be listened to, but have to take turns,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PERSONAL AND OPPRESSION\u2014SEXISM, RACISM, ADULTISM, HOMOPHOBIA, CLASSISM\u2014protects status quo, big business, CEOs, before this, feudalism, slavery\u2014victims think helpless, perpetrsators think only way to avoid scary situations, loss,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
KEY TO GLOBAL WARMING\u2014only patterns, people would not put up with it, not easily deceived, no powerless, hOpeless, skeptical, addicted to comfort, terrified, business would not just be greedy, seek profit, heat planet, like Al Gore and green entrepreneurs<\/p>\n
Activists\u2014urgency (fear), hopelessness (sad), , angry\/hate polluters, isolated, addicted, no $, powerless<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is the biggest peer support challenge of all time. We are all peers on this planet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If we can get enough of us listened to so we stop believing the nonsense on Fox news or the more nuanced excuses from Obama and so called moderate politicians\u2014it\u2019s complicated, have to go slow, etc. BUILD OUR BASE<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If can get activists to listen to each other\u2014LESS BURNOUT, PERSONALITY FEUDS, MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION, RECRUIT MANY MORE, LEAD THEM EFFECTIVELY<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
DEMONSTRATIONS\u20142 WOMAN AND MAN\u2014PATSY, WILL<\/p>\n
11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Support Groups–PASTY<\/p>\n
12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lunch\u2014other groups as offered<\/p>\n
1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Recreation\u2014pool, Picture Rocks, I meditate<\/p>\n
2:30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Session-long with Workshop Buddy<\/p>\n
4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Listening for the Sake of the Planet (LSP)\u2014POWERFUL TOOL, NOT UTILIZED, NIPS PRIORITY, GOAL\u2014GET MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LISTENED TO W\/O INTERRUPTONS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO FEEL FEELINGS ON LSP QUESTIONS, START WITH \u201cLISTENING DAYS\u201d 9 19-23, TRAIN MILLIONS\u2014RECRUIT MILLIONS OF ACTVISTS, POST QUESTIONS-GOAL, NOT TO CHANGE MIND IMMEDIATELY, GIVE THEM CHANCE TO THINK, OK IF DON\u2019T CHANGE, MOVE ON TO OTHERS.<\/p>\n
DEMONSTRATION\u2014WHAT WOULD GET IN YOUR WAY OF ASKING YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS. WHO WOULD BE HARDEST, WHAT GET IN WAY OF ASKING HIM\/HER<\/p>\n
PAIRUP\u2014ASK THE QUESTIONS, WHAT WOULD GET IN THE WAY OF ASKING MOST DIFFICULT PERSON<\/p>\n
LSP<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5 Topic Groups\u2014SECOND REASON PEOPLE GET TOGETHER\u2014SHARE INFORMATION, EXPERIENCE, SOLVE PROBLEMS<\/p>\n
Mostly we mimic corporations in what we do, one person in charge, sets agenda, does most of the talking, people\u00a0 out, withhold their thinking;<\/p>\n
Prefigurative organizing\u2014work together the way we want the world to be, every one a leader, everyone thinking counts; practically, if don\u2019t treat this way, won\u2019t get those millions involved.<\/p>\n
Topic Group rules<\/p>\n
Fishbowl\u2014what would make LSP work<\/p>\n
Nominate topics\u2014what would increase size and impact of Moving Planet, e.g. organizing for bike ride, Tucson City Sustainability Committee, NEXT STEPS FOR LSP, NIPS, MOVING PLANET, LISTENING TURNS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Run groups<\/p>\n
Reports back<\/p>\n
Debrief<\/p>\n
6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Supper, groups as offered\u2014PICTURE TAKING<\/p>\n
7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Class and action groups\u2014Third big reasons people come together\u2014Make decisions, take action. Again, usually, one or a couple of peole dominate, the boss,\u00a0 usually one who has money or access to money, older, better educated, often men, taller, louder, ones who understand Roberts Rules of Order (making motions, point of order, etc.<\/p>\n
Consensus\u2014lot of progressive groups use instead, taken from Quakers, used a lot in civil disobedience affinity groups\u2014problems\u2014long, tyranny of the callouses,<\/p>\n
Peer support has new way<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Action Group,–FOUR QUESTIONS\u2014TWO ALREADY COVERED IN TOPIC GROUPS, IF NOT THEN DO ALL FOUR, Advantages\u2014individual creativity and action, sum of individual greater than group that has lots of low committed comrpomisers; quick, allows collective action when subgroups agree, doesn\u2019t need whole group.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FISHBOWL: What are you going to do to make LSOP work? What might get in the way\u2014LISTENING TURN<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
GO BACK TO SAME TOPIC GROUPS AS THIS AFTERNOON, ALLOW TO SWITCH GROUPS BECAUSE ALL HAD INFO IN REPORTS possible groups might include: raising climate change in the city election, lobbying Congress, connecting climate change groups, next step for TIPS Cool Planet<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
REPORTS BACK<\/p>\n
DEBRIEF<\/p>\n
WHAT WOULD LSP ORGANIZATION LOOK LIKE (HANDOUT)<\/p>\n
LOTS OF LISTENING, LOTS OF ACTTIVISTS, SUPPORT GROUPS, TOPIC GROUP CONFERENCES, ACTION GROUPS MEETING RARELY AND TAKING LOTS OF ACTION, LSP GROUPS IN ALL THE ENVIRO GROUPS AND\u00a0 OTHERS (CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, LOOSE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COORPERATION, LOTS OF ALTERNATIVE INSTITUTIONS BEING BUILT8:30 SINGING, 350 SONG<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sunday<\/p>\n
8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Support group leaders meet, other groups as offered, e.g. Action Groups from night before<\/p>\n
9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 REVIEW THREE NEEDS: SUPPORT, INFO, ACTION=LISTENING TURNS, SUPPORT GROUPS, TOPIC GROUPS, ACTION GROUPS,<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
THIS MORNING, GOAL SETTING–WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS AND WHATWILL IT TAKE OF US AS INDIVIDUALS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
BIG AGENDA\u2014SAVE PLANET, RECRUIT MILLIONS, NOT BURN OUT IN THE PROCESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
LISTENING TURNS, SUPPORT GROUPS\u2014BURN OUT WITHOUT IT, MAKE STUPID DECISIONS OUT OF OLD, UNAWARE HABITS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WHAT ELSE\u2014LESSONS FROM PEER SUPPORT WORLD<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PERSONAL WELL-BEING: DIET, EXERCISE, MEDITATION\/PRAYER, JOURNALING, PLAY, SUSTAINABILTIY–$10K PER PERSON! DO WE NEED TO GET THERE, WHO GOES FIRST, I.E. THE RICH, WHAT POLICIES MAKE SENSE FOR THE POOREST?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
INTERPERSONAL WELL-BEING\u2014PERSONAL INVENTORY, WHO HAVE I HARMED, WHICH RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT \u201cCOMPLETE\u201d; MAKE AMENDS LIST, MAKE AMENDS;<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NEED FOR A SPONSOR\/REFERENCE PERSON, SOMEONE WHO GOES BEYOND PERMISSIVE LISTENING<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PRESENT TIME\u2014ATTENTION AWAY FROM DISTRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ACTION GROUPS\u2014THREE PERSON\u2014WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR PLANET AND FOR YOURSELF IN THE NEXT PERIOD; WHO ARE YOU GOING TO SHARE THIS LIST WITH AS YOUR \u201cREFERENCE PERSON\u201d WHO CAN CHECK UP ON YOUR PROGRESS IN A MONTH\u2014GIVE COPY TO NIPS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
10:30\u00a0\u00a0 Support goups<\/p>\n
11:30\u00a0\u00a0 Farewells<\/p>\n
12 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lunch, groups as offered<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Personal Goal<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Name:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Phone:<\/p>\n
Email:<\/p>\n
Reference Person:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NIPS Peer Support (Listening Turns with Peer Partner, Support Groups, etc.):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Personal (diet, meditation, play, etc.):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Activist (Moving Planet, Listening Days on 9\/16-23, Tar Sands, etc.):<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Schedule<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NIPS New Model for Organization<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Support Group Script<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NIPS Assumptions (excerpt from website)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Listening Days (9 16-9 23)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Draft of Listening Questions<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What should a longer term project \u201cListening for the Sake of the Planet\u201d look like?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some tactics for social change<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Midwest Academy Strategy Chart<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Topic Group Script<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Action Group Script<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Personal Goals Chart<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Music and lyrics to \u201cThree Five 0\u201d by Fred Small<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jim Driscoll <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Peer Support Workshops are a great way to launch peer support for climate activsts in you community or organization. Typically about 25 people with a common interest or background come together at or after dinner on Friday night in a residential retreat center or campsite and stay together until lunch on Sunday. The weekend includes … <\/p>\n
\nNational Institute for Peer Support (NIPS)
\n4151 E. Boulder Springs Way
\nTucson, AZ 85712
\nPhone: 520-250-0509
\nEmail: JimDriscoll@NIPSPeerSupport.org
\nWebsite: www.NIPSPeerSupport.org<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n