events

First Generation NVCers’ In-Person Retreat:

An Even Deeper Dive into Knowing and Living the Roots of NVC as Received Directly from Marshall Rosenberg

March 9-14, 2025

We have heard a desire from NVC practitioners and those steeped in NVC to understand what was stirred in Marshall in the creation and sharing of NVC teachings with the world and to connect with those who know the history and have lived NVC for over 30 years. This retreat is an opportunity to delve into areas of NVC that may not have received as much attention as others in recent years, and to do so as we received it from Marshall.

Update: Our on-location spots have all been filled. We still have commuter options (and a waiting list for commuters who wish to switch to on-site participation if a spot opens up).  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is the retreat for?

The retreat is intended to be an advanced-level exploration of NVC and is open to Certified Trainers and Candidates registered with CNVC. Others steeped in NVC may be considered on a case-by-case basis; please connect with Sylvia Haskvitz, in this case (email is in the registration form). If you will be commuting (information below), here is a commuter registration form more catered to you. 

Will all the First Generation NVCers be there?
Sylvia Haskvitz, Holley Humphrey, Allan Rohlfs, Leon Levin, Alex Censor, and Christa Morf are hosting this event.

When is the retreat?

March 9-14, 2025. It begins at 4 pm on March 9 and we finish up with breakfast on March 14. This is when the rooms and large meeting room are available.

Where is the retreat planned to be taking place?

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

What topics will you cover and how will the sessions be organized? 

The retreat will be set up much like an IIT, but will be offered at an advanced level, and the First Gens will shape sessions around topics that they and registrants find juicy.  Here are some of the topics that current registrants have expressed interest in: 

• 1. Engaging with domination systems

• 2. Strategies for introducing NVC to those new to it

• 3. How Marshall incorporated the body (somatics) in NVC

• 4. Conflict mediation as taught by Marshall

• 5. Lived experiences with Marshall

• 6.  The underlying meaning of his aphorisms and sayings

• 7. Shifting ourselves from a pattern of power under to power with

• 8. Marshall’s views on social change

• 9. Marshall’s legacy and what to pass on to future generations

• 10.  Supporting candidate NVC consciousness

• 11. NVC Spirituality 

What will a day-in-a-life-of the retreat look like? 

The retreat will be organized similar to an IIT (albeit shorter and at an advanced level), with opening and closing gathering sessions and workshops. These workshops will be based on the interests of the participants and the First Generation NVCers. First Generation NVCer Christa Morf plans to be present to support people one-on-one during the retreat. Please stay tuned for updates. 

What is your requested range for participating in the retreat?

The First Generation NVCers are essentially volunteering their time for planning and training with a desire to make this retreat as affordable as possible to attend.

Our requested range for participation, which covers your accommodation for a shared room at Mary & Joseph Retreat Center and 15 group meals, is $2400 to $1900 USD. Paying at the higher end of the range supports those with less access to financial resources. The requested range is inclusive (there are no plans for a money dance). See information, below, on our commuting range.  

Where can I register to reside on-site?  

----  As of December 11, the on-site accommodations have been booked. Please see our commuter option (you can let us know that you would prefer to be on-site and, if a spot opens up for you, it might be possible to switch to on-site accommodations) ----

If you are already registered to reside on site, your downpayment of $500 to First Generation NVCers holds your spot. Please pay the remaining amount of the range you registered with by January 7th. 

Visit our registration form to register to stay on site and to see the payment options (payments can be made by bank transfer, cheque, and PayPal.  We cannot accept Zelle at this time). 

As there is more than one group using the facility, the sooner we confirm our registration numbers by making our deposits, the more rooms we can confirm are available to us. Please register at your earliest convenience if you intend to join us.

Will I be sharing a room?

We have spaces for double-occupancy rooms with 2 twin beds. These rooms have a private bathroom. Our spaces are filling up fast and we are nearing capacity on-site. 

Can I have my own room?

The limited number of single rooms available to us are full. If you wish to have your own room, you can book yourself a room in one of the nearby hotels at your own cost. One nearby hotel is the Ramada Inn, which is 5 miles from the center, and there are AirBNBs in the area. We have some room information here (and a deal on rooms you can book).

Can we fit more people on-site?

If you wish to share a room with two friends or are open to sharing with a third person generally, the retreat center can add a third bed using a roll-away bed. If this is a popular option, we could ask how many beds there are. This would not reduce what we are charged per person for the rooms.

Can I commute? Yes, and Commuter spots are still available!

Being on site offers a rich opportunity for community and connection, so we hope you will join us on-site, if possible. We also have a commuting option. Our requested range of contribution is $1600 to $1900. This includes any meals you wish to join us for. This money goes towards the retreat center to cover their day use and per person meeting room fees and helps contribute to trainer travel and accommodation (they are donating much of their time), technology costs, and other retreat-related expenses. 

This registration form is more tailored to supporting you and us if you are commuting: commuter registration form. Please use it instead of the general registration form for clarity and efficiency. We have some room information here (and a deal on rooms you can book).

I need to cancel. Can you send me back my deposit?

Once your deposit has been made, the retreat center does not refund it, which makes it difficult for us to refund it. If your plans have changed, we invite you to find a Certified Trainer or registered CNVC Candidate to take your place and receive their deposit directly.

Food accommodations

Up to 2 weeks in advance, we can provide our group's dietary needs to the retreat center. The whole group will receive the same buffet meal options and other groups' needs are considered by the retreat center in what is offered. This means that if most participants are vegan, more vegan options will be available, and fewer meat options, or vice versa. Please add your preferences to the registration form so that we can pass these on to the center for their consideration in planning.

In principle, the center can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten free meals for groups. If you have more specific dietary restrictions, you can bring your own food, use space in their fridge, and access a microwave on site. The center regrets that they cannot otherwise accommodate special diet requests.

How can I get there? What is the nearest airport?

The retreat center overlooks Los Angeles from its location on top of the Palos Verdes Peninsula at 5300 Crest Road in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The nearest airport is LAX. You can also go to the Regional Airport of Long Beach; it is about the same distance to the retreat center as LAX.

Travel to the facility is not included in the costs and we are not arranging travel. However, if you want to coordinate travel with other participants, we are happy to set up a Google spreadsheet to help you connect with them or others you have not met yet to make your plans together.

How can I drive there?

Driving from LAX airport takes about 45-minute drive (depending on traffic conditions). **Please note there is a Crest Road within 3 blocks of the Pacific Coast Highway and the Crenshaw intersection, this is not the correct Crest Road. The center is quite a distance uphill on the top of the Palos Verdes Hill.

Driving directions:

https://maryjoseph.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/directions.pdf 

From the east or south:

Go north on the 405 or west on the 91 to the 110 south. Exit the 110 on PCH West. Continue on PCH to Crenshaw Boulevard. Make a left turn (south) on to Crenshaw and proceed uphill approx. 2 miles to Crest Rd.

From the north of LAX:

Go south on the 405 freeway to Crenshaw Boulevard and go right (south) on crenshaw.  When you reach Crest Road at the top of Palos Verdes Hill, the new St. John Fisher Church can be seen on the far left corner. Turn left here then right into the third driveway and enter our gate. Parking is to the left and the office is to the right. Welcome to our sacred ground!

Can I get there with public transportation?

Public transportation is not recommended as there are no efficient connections.

You can take uber (https://www.uber.com/global/en/r/routes/lax-to-rancho-palos-verdes-ca/) or Lyft to get there and they have also had people come with the South Bay Yellow Cab (1800-924-8294). Uber recommends arranging your ride 90 days in advance and offered an estimated cost of $55 USD. Early booking may be recommended for any of these options.

What is the typical weather there in March?

Temperatures typically range from a high of 68 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius to a low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius. The skies tend to be clear (60% clear: generally clear 45% of the time and mostly clear or partly cloudy for 15% of this time). There is generally a 35%-40% chance of precipitation. The center is near the ocean and the weather is variable with cool evenings and mornings.

What can I explore at or around the Mary & Joseph Retreat Center?

Mary and Joseph Retreat Center is located on 8 acres of beautiful California gardens. It has a walking labyrinth. Nearby are the rocky cliffs of the pacific, the point Vicente lighthouse and interpretative center, a prime location for whale watching, and several hiking trails open to the public. There is also a botanical garden nearly (5 minutes by vehicle). Los Angeles is 18 km away. To learn more about the facility, go to https://maryjoseph.org/.

Is there a church or sacred space for reflection at the retreat center?

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center has a peaceful chapel at the top of the courtyard. There are churches in the neighborhood such as a Catholic Church and a Methodist Church.

Quick Links:

Registration Form / https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdILz8Umaa2X2MBehCTvhSiG9z5eOEqMFj-ueaOy9XfgmSmVA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Commuter Registration Form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScORRdllNTHWdz1R8bEhwdZO-wroVls_ebh3HA85A3cp1XhcQ/viewform?usp=sf_link)

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center website is https://maryjoseph.org/

Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Facility Map can be found at

https://maryjoseph.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/000-Master-layout-2021-website.pdf

First Gen-athon - Jan. 11, 2025 - Thank You!

Your donations are going towards videography and scholarships for the In-Person Retreat

Thank you to all who participated and donated. Recordings are available and donations can still be made.

The Weingarten Fund matched your donations, contributing $5000 USD!  Thank you!

This one-day marathon NVC exploration was a unique opportunity to take part in a facilitated session with First Generation NVCers individually: our participating trainers each facilitated a one-hour NVC session. You can still offer a donation and access the recordings. Please use this donation form. 

Topics: 

Opening Gathering

Holley Humphrey – We will divide our time: First you will be invited to share any issues you have in working with kids as a parent, teacher or ?. Secondly, Holley will demonstrate activities and imaginary scenarios that you can use to introduce elementary school kids to NVC in a fun way.

Leon Levin – Dealing with Strong Emotions: An emotional experience is unique from a sensory experience. The emotional experience (subjective) is a personal experience whereas the sensory experience (objective) can be verified by others given the same situation. I hope to explore the nature of emotions, discuss the flight or fight response and how we view anger and love, for example. It could be exciting!

Sylvia Haskvitz – Back to NVC basics; a refresher or new learning.  We will have the opportunity to connect with the values of living NVC and review the process with live examples. I have participated in over 150 NVC Intros offered by Marshall Rosenberg and each time I found I deepened my understanding, and I found new insights each time — I am hopeful you will find value and have insights whether you are new to NVC or an avid practitioner.

Christa Morf – If we see ourselves in the place of “I have to”, how can we move to the place of “I choose to”? Choice is always possible. There is no “have to.”

Alex Censor – Making effective requests, saying No in NVC, or hearing a No in NVC. We’ll pick the topic based on the energy in the room or engage in a dance: what do we do when we don’t agree on the direction?

Allan Rohlfs – Experience vs thinking in NVC. Marshall's use of nonviolence referred to the experience of people when speaking OFNR and empathizing. He also called this connecting to life, in stark contrast to how we think about life.  What's the difference?

Closing Gathering

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First Generation NVCers Invite You to Gather 

Visit here for updates on future online events! 

Videos

For those of you who have not yet seen our videos, they can be accessed here: https://sites.google.com/view/firstgennvcers/videos/our-videos