Essential Tools for Religious, Community, and Non-Profit Leaders

Due to the social distancing guidelines, this instructor-led workshop will be adapted for an online learning environment. In recognition of the circumstances of so many people in this time, a 30% discounted rate is now included in the registration options. If that discounted rate still presents a barrier, we have also expanded our scholarship opportunities.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Workshop Description

Faith, community, and nonprofit leaders alike face the challenges of working with internal and external community members in a mission-driven context. Purposeful organizations can become hobbled when differences arise around identities, values, and visions. They can erupt, causing incredible harm, or lie unaddressed in stagnation.

Internally, with an organization’s members and/or staff, EP’s approach can deepen relationships to foster understanding, care, and belonging. It builds the capacity to live out your stated values while identifying, celebrating, and engaging the differences that do exist. And it lets you create robust, aware leadership groups that work joyously and effectively together to address concerns.

Used with external stakeholders, EP’s approach can help you recognize needs, hopes, and emerging potentials, resolve conflicts and address opportunities, and invite collaboration. It can deepen community relationships to work together towards a shared future, as stewards of love in the world in ways that match the mission.

Dialogic thinking and processes can enable leaders to prevent dysfunctional conflict and build the capacity of their members to reach across differences to achieve common goals.

This virtual workshop will introduce leaders to the basics of Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD), an approach that has been field-tested over 30 years in a wide variety of organizations in 25 countries around the world.

As a result of this workshop, you will be equipped to:

• Identify dysfunctional group dynamics
• Map a situation, its history, and optimal ways forward to constructive relationships
• Design and facilitate productive conversations about divisive issues and dynamics
• Defuse “us” vs. “them” dynamics through intensive participant preparation and intentional conversational design
• Bring deep, connected awareness to your leadership
• Foster a more resilient community that engages its differences and diversity of views

Who might participate:

• Clergy and lay religious leaders
• Non-profit leaders 
• Leaders of independent schools
• Grassroots organizers
• Local civic leaders

Looking for a basic introduction to Essential Partners’ theory and framework?
Consider attending Intro to Dialogue Across Differences.

Already an experienced facilitator who’s familiar with EP’s approach?
Take a look at our Advanced Facilitation Skills workshop.

Find both Intro to Dialogue Across Differences and Advanced Facilitation Skills on the EP workshop calendar.

Accreditation and Continuing Education

Essential Partners provides a certificate upon completion of the workshop that can be used to support a request for professional development credits.

Scholarships

Essential Partners provides a limited number of partial or full scholarships for each workshop it hosts. A member of the staff will inform applicants of their decisions six weeks prior to the workshop date; applicants will confirm their acceptance by registering online. Scholarships are granted based on two criteria: financial need; and  potential for impact on a community level.

Fill out this form to apply for a scholarship.

Cancellation Policies

If you must cancel, please do so as far in advance as possible. Cancellations are subject to a $25 administration fee plus an additional $25 to process credit card refunds (if you paid by credit card). Refunds will be issued to the original payment method.

To receive any refund your cancellation must be made at least 2 weeks before the event or workshop date. Essential Partners is under no obligation to offer any refund or credit if you cancel within two weeks of an event or workshop. If you need to cancel due to a medical emergency or other emergency reason, please call (617) 923-1216 or email training@whatisessential.org as soon as possible.

In some instances, Essential Partners must cancel a workshop due to low enrollment, faculty illness, or other reason. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel a workshop, we will give you 7-10 days notice. If the workshop is canceled, Essential Partners will issue you a full refund of the registration fee, with no administration fees withheld.