Breakout Sessions
Subject to change
Embedded Files
Saturday May 30th
Saturday May 30th
Quotes on this page come from Lowel CI (women’s prison) Youth Offenders groups (April, 2026) ~ AVP Florida
9:00 am Pacific, 12:00 pm Eastern
9:00 am Pacific, 12:00 pm Eastern
Breakout Session 1
Breakout Session 1
I am grateful that I took AVP because I have learned a lot of things about myself. But I also have learned to work with others and not be one-sided. I am very grateful for facilitators who have come back into prison and share how they have turned their lives around. -Crazy Kiara: Lowell CI, AVP Florida
Creating an Impact Report from your workshop
Creating an Impact Report from your workshop
Facilitators: Jackie Labatt-Simon, Dawn Addy, John Shuford and Romano Iluku
Facilitators: Jackie Labatt-Simon, Dawn Addy, John Shuford and Romano Iluku
Description: Demonstrate how to use workshop evaluation data to create a report and it's effectiveness.
Description: Demonstrate how to use workshop evaluation data to create a report and it's effectiveness.
Trauma-informed Care & AVP
Trauma-informed Care & AVP
UNIQUE ZOOM LINK FOR THIS BREAKOUT SESSION
Facilitators: Joseph Anastasio and Maji Peterx
Facilitators: Joseph Anastasio and Maji Peterx
Description: This interactive session will explore the 6 core principles of Trauma-Informed care and how they align with the core elements of AVP. This breakout session will consist of a Gathering, Lecturette/Rap, Breakout Rooms, Full Group Discussion, Grounding Exercise, and a Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise.
Description: This interactive session will explore the 6 core principles of Trauma-Informed care and how they align with the core elements of AVP. This breakout session will consist of a Gathering, Lecturette/Rap, Breakout Rooms, Full Group Discussion, Grounding Exercise, and a Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise.
Trauma 12 Gentle Prompts Trauma 4-ACEs-Tree Trauma - Definition Trauma Responses Poster
Compassionate Witnessing
Compassionate Witnessing
Facilitators: Mark Thomas and Rabia Khawar
Facilitators: Mark Thomas and Rabia Khawar
Description: Compassionate Witnessing is an active listening process sometimes used in Restorative Justice meetings and other settings. Our weekly Zoom-based practice groups, started by Mark Thomas during the COVID pandemic, focus on practicing skills that foster Connection, Compassion, Curiosity, and Community. As in all AVP workshops, sharing one's experience and active listening are important in this, as well. The breakout session will introduce these skills using the agenda and format that has worked well for over 5 years now. Compassionate Witnessing [or CW] is oriented to dealing with difficult experiences, trauma, death and dying issues.
Description: Compassionate Witnessing is an active listening process sometimes used in Restorative Justice meetings and other settings. Our weekly Zoom-based practice groups, started by Mark Thomas during the COVID pandemic, focus on practicing skills that foster Connection, Compassion, Curiosity, and Community. As in all AVP workshops, sharing one's experience and active listening are important in this, as well. The breakout session will introduce these skills using the agenda and format that has worked well for over 5 years now. Compassionate Witnessing [or CW] is oriented to dealing with difficult experiences, trauma, death and dying issues.
Community Workshops / Local Councils ... Why?
Community Workshops / Local Councils ... Why?
Facilitators: Toby Laverty, Missy Lebray and Jill McClellan
Facilitators: Toby Laverty, Missy Lebray and Jill McClellan
Description: Community workshops are tough. Many are cancelled due to attendance. However, they are crucial if we are going to keep our prison programs going and ... doesn't the world need a little more non-violence and exploration of their personal relationships. I always remember that Daring Diana started in AVP because of her struggles with her kids and wanted some help. Join us to have an open discussion on what works... what doesn't.. and maybe create a support structure around this.
Description: Community workshops are tough. Many are cancelled due to attendance. However, they are crucial if we are going to keep our prison programs going and ... doesn't the world need a little more non-violence and exploration of their personal relationships. I always remember that Daring Diana started in AVP because of her struggles with her kids and wanted some help. Join us to have an open discussion on what works... what doesn't.. and maybe create a support structure around this.
BREAKOUT SESSION REVIEWS
11:45 am Pacific, 2:45 pm Eastern
11:45 am Pacific, 2:45 pm Eastern
Breakout Session 2
Breakout Session 2
Intro to the New Advanced Manual
Intro to the New Advanced Manual
Facilitators: Dawn Addy, Katherine Smith, Betty McEady, Margaret Browne, Valentine Doyle
Facilitators: Dawn Addy, Katherine Smith, Betty McEady, Margaret Browne, Valentine Doyle
Description: This session will begin with manual writers introducing the new format and rationale for proposed changes.
Description: This session will begin with manual writers introducing the new format and rationale for proposed changes.
Then we will discuss the importance of consensus in the Advanced level workshops, explore the other proposed changes to update the manual, gather feedback on facilitator needs, and which exercises are important to include or which ones are not as useful anymore.
Then we will discuss the importance of consensus in the Advanced level workshops, explore the other proposed changes to update the manual, gather feedback on facilitator needs, and which exercises are important to include or which ones are not as useful anymore.
Listening for Stories
Listening for Stories
Facilitators: Jessica Laus
Facilitators: Jessica Laus
Description: According to Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, a “practice of hope does not guarantee any victories against long odds, but it does make those victories more possible. Hope, therefore, is not only a source of comfort to the afflicted but also a strategic imperative” (Kaba & Hayes, 2024). During this breakout session, participants will learn from a practitioner who has incorporated AVP exercises into her regular skills-building opportunities with middle and high school students, as well as frontline professionals working to keep our communities safe. Participants will then be invited to participate in an art-based storytelling exercise called, "The Tree of Life." This exercise, which has been described as a "hopeful and inspiring approach to working with children, young people and adults who have experienced hard times," was developed by Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough, and as participants will see during this session, complements AVP's transformative exercises by allowing participants to listen to each others' stories in a different, and more hopeful, way (Dulwich Centre, 2014).
Description: According to Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, a “practice of hope does not guarantee any victories against long odds, but it does make those victories more possible. Hope, therefore, is not only a source of comfort to the afflicted but also a strategic imperative” (Kaba & Hayes, 2024). During this breakout session, participants will learn from a practitioner who has incorporated AVP exercises into her regular skills-building opportunities with middle and high school students, as well as frontline professionals working to keep our communities safe. Participants will then be invited to participate in an art-based storytelling exercise called, "The Tree of Life." This exercise, which has been described as a "hopeful and inspiring approach to working with children, young people and adults who have experienced hard times," was developed by Ncazelo Ncube and David Denborough, and as participants will see during this session, complements AVP's transformative exercises by allowing participants to listen to each others' stories in a different, and more hopeful, way (Dulwich Centre, 2014).
What Kind of a Leader am I?
What Kind of a Leader am I?
UNIQUE ZOOM LINK FOR THIS BREAKOUT SESSION
Facilitators: Erika Hermisillo
Facilitators: Erika Hermisillo
Description: In this exercise we will explore the different ways we can operate as a leader. Whether we are facilitating, mentoring, or coordinating a team, we have strengths to contribute. This experience will bring to our attention the assets we have and bring to AVP. We will use an asset-based lens to understand our leadership styles. We will talk with people who have a similar style and people who have a different style to better understand how we can collaborate when we are on teams. This is an exercise adapted from the Advanced Manual to encourage perspective talking, clarity, empathy, and deep dialogue.
Description: In this exercise we will explore the different ways we can operate as a leader. Whether we are facilitating, mentoring, or coordinating a team, we have strengths to contribute. This experience will bring to our attention the assets we have and bring to AVP. We will use an asset-based lens to understand our leadership styles. We will talk with people who have a similar style and people who have a different style to better understand how we can collaborate when we are on teams. This is an exercise adapted from the Advanced Manual to encourage perspective talking, clarity, empathy, and deep dialogue.
The Body as the site of Conflict and Conflict Resolution
The Body as the site of Conflict and Conflict Resolution
UNIQUE ZOOM LINK FOR THIS BREAKOUT SESSION
Facilitators: Lucy Lopez and Liz Gerken-Miller
Facilitators: Lucy Lopez and Liz Gerken-Miller
Description: Conflict does not happen only in ideas, beliefs, systems, or narratives. It happens in bodies. Tension, defensiveness, shame, fear, urgency, withdrawal, contempt, grief, and care all take bodily form before they become strategies, positions, or actions.
Description: Conflict does not happen only in ideas, beliefs, systems, or narratives. It happens in bodies. Tension, defensiveness, shame, fear, urgency, withdrawal, contempt, grief, and care all take bodily form before they become strategies, positions, or actions.
Likewise, transformation is not merely cognitive. Resolution is often first sensed bodily - a softening, a slowing, the return of breath, the release of vigilance, the ability to remain present, the recovery of curiosity, the willingness to stay in relationship.
This session invites participants to explore conflict not primarily as something we think about, but as something we live through bodily and relationally.
The session is experiential, reflective, and gently interactive rather than heavily theoretical.
I am grateful for the person I have become through the things I have learned and use from AVP. -Lowell CI, AVP Florida
Sunday May 31st
Sunday May 31st
9:30 am Pacific, 12:30 pm Eastern
9:30 am Pacific, 12:30 pm Eastern
Breakout Session 3
Breakout Session 3
AVP for non-traditional group sizes
AVP for non-traditional group sizes
Facilitators: Xawntoia Franklin
Facilitators: Xawntoia Franklin
Description: Too many people showed up to your session or too few. Learn how to pivot to accommodate unexpected group sizes while maintaining AVP integrity
Description: Too many people showed up to your session or too few. Learn how to pivot to accommodate unexpected group sizes while maintaining AVP integrity
Fundraising
Fundraising
Facilitators: Chad Dell, Edith Updike and Toby Laverty
Facilitators: Chad Dell, Edith Updike and Toby Laverty
Description: Fundraising ideas for (smaller) local groups/councils. Tools, What worked for you?
Description: Fundraising ideas for (smaller) local groups/councils. Tools, What worked for you?
AVP as Humanity's Subconscious Emotional Healing Arc
AVP as Humanity's Subconscious Emotional Healing Arc
Facilitators: David Hegstad
Facilitators: David Hegstad
Description: This session will examine the structural progression of AVP workshops from basic workshop through advanced and demonstrate that AVPs structure exists almost beat for beat in narrative healing arcs humanity tells itself. We will use the following narratives as examplars, asking participants to identify how AVP is at work.
Description: This session will examine the structural progression of AVP workshops from basic workshop through advanced and demonstrate that AVPs structure exists almost beat for beat in narrative healing arcs humanity tells itself. We will use the following narratives as examplars, asking participants to identify how AVP is at work.
Examplars: Secret Life of Walter Mitty 2013 ~ Circle of Iron 1978 ~ Doctor Who Heaven Sent - 2015
Examplars: Secret Life of Walter Mitty 2013 ~ Circle of Iron 1978 ~ Doctor Who Heaven Sent - 2015
Workshop Wonders!
Workshop Wonders!
Facilitators: Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Facilitators: Joanne Ferguson Cavanaugh
Description: Workshops can provide opportunities for deep and meaningful insights and connections. What workshop agendas have you helped design that have provided you or other participants the powerful “Ah-ha” moments that can move mountains? Bring one of these “workshop wonder” agendas to share in a breakout session. Send the pdf of the agenda to this folder: AGENDAS for easy access by participants.
Description: Workshops can provide opportunities for deep and meaningful insights and connections. What workshop agendas have you helped design that have provided you or other participants the powerful “Ah-ha” moments that can move mountains? Bring one of these “workshop wonder” agendas to share in a breakout session. Send the pdf of the agenda to this folder: AGENDAS for easy access by participants.
I have a lot of gratitude toward this program- not only because it helped me with my maturity, but also with being around proud people that I didn’t get along with, but this has helped me to be more emotionally comfortable with everyone. -Turnt Tan, Lowell CI, AVP Florida
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