Have you been in situations where you notice that tensions are rising, the situation is escalating? You don't want to see anyone get hurt.... or worse. and thought " What can I do now? what could I have done to prevent this from getting to this point? "

This session has answers to these questions!

There are practices and activities in violence prevention and interruption i.e. the de-escalation landscape that can help defuse aggressive behaviors, that can prevent the escalation of violence, including anti incitement strategies.

You can learn about these strategies at the Black Women for Positive Change panel discussion and workshop, Creating Safer Communities, on October 13 from 7:00 - 8:30

Panelists include experts in the field and a survivor, and you'll hear about pending Federal legislation that would provide funding to communities to train individuals in de-escalation techniques.

The panelists:

Joseph G. Bock is Director of the School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development at Kennesaw State University and is a co-convener of the Trust Network. He was previously on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame. His humanitarian work has included directing Catholic Relief Services’ programs in Pakistan and Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza Strip. As Vice President of the American Refugee Committee, he oversaw programs in Bosnia, Croatia, Guinea, Iraq, Kosovo, Liberia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Thailand, and Uganda, where he managed a budget of approximately $30 million with a global staff of roughly 1,500. His most recent humanitarian work was as a Fulbright Specialist with the Municipality of Athens, Greece, where he assisted the Mayor and his staff in their response to the influx of refugees and migrants during part of 2015 and 2016. He has worked as a consultant with the World Bank and The Asia Foundation and provided guidance to the Gates Foundation and UNICEF on their Polio Eradication Initiative. He is a member of the Pool of International Experts of the research program on Security and Rule of Law in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings of the Knowledge Platform Security & Rule of Law, based in the Hague, the Netherlands. His most recent articles have appeared in Global Governance, Journal of Information Technology & Politics, Information Technology for Development, and Political Geography. He is the author of three books, the most recent one, The Technology of Nonviolence: Social Media and Violence Prevention, was published by MIT Press in 2012.

Sharon Tracy is executive director of Quabbin Mediation (QM), a nonprofit organization she founded in 1995, providing services in schools, communities, and courts. In 2006, she and QM training director Susan Wallace created two unique and innovative programs: Veterans Mediation (veterans, Guard and Reserves, active military teach mediation to their peers) and Training Active Bystanders (TAB).

The Training Active Bystanders program today is the work of many thousands of vital allies and partners in Massachusetts and beyond to Canada and the UK. They built a practical, versatile program responsive to the needs of people of all ages in nearly every setting as trainers are from the communities in which they teach.

Sharon was raised in the US Army and is from a multi-generational military family. She graduated with a degree in journalism and legal studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She brings to TAB her experience in the Clamshell Alliance, teaching trainers to teach tens of thousands throughout New England in nonviolent direct action in half a year. She published and wrote for professional journals, newspapers and magazines on regional activism, environmental sustainability, and child development. She is expert at writing proposals for grants that provide funding to drive forward programs that support positive social change.

The underpinning of all her work is exemplified by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King in his speech of April 4, 1967: “My conviction [is] that social change comes most meaningfully from nonviolent action…. we must move past indecision to action…[responding to] the fierce urgency of now.”

Kabrina Bass is a Nonprofit Executive Director, professional mediator, facilitator, trainer, and organizational manager. Kabrina has experience in conflict management, negotiation, mediation, and facilitation. She is an exceptional trainer in conflict management, leadership development, overall communication theories and methods. Kabrina received extensive training in conflict resolution, negotiation, dispute system design, facilitation, nonviolence methods and mediation from Kennesaw State University. She earned a bachelor's and master’s degree in religion with an emphasis on Education. She’ll receive her second master’s degree in conflict management, December 2021. She received a certificate for the completion of Family and Civil Mediation from the South Carolina Bar. She also completed additional Mediation Training with Midlands Mediation Center, Mediators Beyond The Borders Inc., and Kennesaw State University. She has received additional training in Reflective Structured Dialogue and Democracy, Politics and Conflict Engagement.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore was elected to represent Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District in 2004, making her the first African American elected to Congress from the State of Wisconsin. She is a member of the esteemed House Ways and Means Committee, which is the oldest committee in the United States Congress and has jurisdiction over the Social Security system, Medicare, the Foster Care System, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Unemployment Insurance, and all taxation, tariffs, and revenue-raising measures. She serves on the Social Security, Select Revenue Measures, and Worker and Family Support Subcommittees. She serves on the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth. She is also a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She serves on the Research and Technology Subcommittee and the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee.

Plus an Every Town for Gun Safety survivor

Register today! Do not miss this unique opportunity to hear from a large array of experts in one place.