Restorative Empathy Circle (REC) with XR Santa Cruz
Overview
There was a conflict in the Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz chapter. Edwin was requested to facilitate a restorative empathy circle to create a space where the participants would empathically talk about the conflict and move toward mutual understanding and resolution. Below is part of the Restorative Empathy Circle process that helps address conflict.
Pre Circles
The first step is for the facilitator to listen to each participant in the conflict for up to 60 minutes. This gives each person a chance to feel that they have been heard and understood by someone. This helps
model the empathic listening process
reduce some of the pain or charge of the conflict
build trust
give participants a way to describe the landscape of the conflict and perhaps see it more clearly
participants get an understanding of the process, what to expect and can decide if they wish to continue to the next step.
Setting the Intention
To begin the process the facilitator sets their intention of creating a restorative culture of empathy. A Restorative Empathy Circle has the intention of creating a regenerative culture of empathy. Which means to nurture mutual listening, understanding, care, trust, support and a constructive relationship going forward. For each person to be able to fully express themselves and feel heard and understood to their satisfaction. We use mutual empathic listening as the foundational way of nurturing this.
Follow Up
As REC facilitator, I am also a participant in the process like everyone else. I do advocate for a culture of empathy and make suggestions for incorporating the Empathy Circle process in the group going forward. Ideally, a group would have already been doing the empathy circle practice before the conflict happens. If the XR Chapter, or any organization, had incorporated Empathy Circles beforehand, everyone would have more skill and trust in the process. In that way, when the conflict arises, they would have the tools and skills at hand to address it. Also, much of the conflict might have been headed off before it happened.
Pre Circle Recordings
1. Tonje
Is from the Regen Work Group and helped coordinate the REC.
2. Sky
3. Herne
4. Megan
5. Angelee
6. Antoinette
7 Ami - elected to not have her pre-circle shared publically
8. Andrew
no pre circle
Restorative Empathy Circles
Participants elected to not have the REC recorded. The Circle was 3 hours and participants used the Empathy Circle process with 5 minute speaking turns.
Feedback
Hi Edwin,
Thank you for reaching out and for hosting the circle. I found it very useful, eye-opening and heart-opening. I appreciate you and look forward to connecting again through XR!!
Morningstar* Megan
Extinction Rebellion Santa Cruz, CA
Hi Edwin,
I found the Empathy Circle helpful and although I wasn't there at the end as I has a work commitment, it feels as though almost all of the tensions have gone and we are getting on with the business of being XRSC during the coronavirus in positive ways. So my sense is that it definitely helped.
May all beings be safe and well.
Antoinette