Connecting Across Differences Using nonviolent communication to bridge social divides
Join Roxanne Manning, PhD as she offers her wisdom on Nonviolent Communication (NVC) — its origins, basic principles and practical application in day-to-day life. Drawing upon her personal experience as an NVC instructor, mother, psychologist and social justice champion, Roxanne provides insights on how to communicate more peacefully and connect across divides... using empathy and addressing unmet needs. She'll provide hope, inspiration and effective resources for people wanting to contribute to more peaceful and compassionate dialogues, at home, in neighborhoods and on national and international levels.
In this important session, you'll discover:
- How universal human needs can help us understand behaviors different from our own
- Some barriers that impact collaboration in groups & organizations
- Strategies that help us to create deeper connections in our communities
Roxanne Manning, Ph.D.
Roxy Manning, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. She has served as the Executive Director of BayNVC and lead trainer for BayNVC’s NVC Leadership Program and is co-founder and trainer for the Nonviolent Leadership for Social Justice Retreat. Roxy has been using NVC in her psychotherapy practice since 2003, and has been formally teaching NVC since 2005. Roxy currently works part time as a psychologist with the City and County of San Francisco’s Disability Evaluation and Consultation Unit.
In addition to supporting clinicians and others seeking to improve their ability to serve individuals from diverse backgrounds, Roxy has worked directly with programs and people working towards individual and social change nationally and internationally.
Within the United States, Roxy’s work includes:
- Coaching mental health staff at a large government agency through severe conflict that had previously resulted in legal action
- Training direct service staff at Nashville’s Public Health Department in ways to increase engagement with the families they serve
- Leading workshops on race and facilitating cross-racial dialogues at the Gandhi Institute that resulted in an ongoing initiative to address racial tension within the Institute’s home city of Rochester, NY
Internationally, Roxy’s social change efforts includes:
- Supporting former rebel soldiers working for grass-roots peace organizations in Sri Lanka in finding new ways to nurture peace in their communities
- Coaching artists seeking to contribute to greater acceptance of homosexuality in Japan
- Holding dialogues with those interested in examining growing racial tension within The Netherlands
- Supporting the acquisition and deepening of Nonviolent Communication with both direct service providers (including principals, teachers and therapists) and members of the public in Poland
Roxy has combined her life experience as an Afro-Caribbean immigrant with her extensive academic and professional training into a passion for supporting both larger social change and individual healing and growth.
