Peace Team Training: Nonviolent Skills to Protect Our Communities
In partnership with McKillop United Church, facilitated by Nonviolent Peaceforce
More and more, communities are facing hostility, harassment, and threats to their safety, and a lot of us want to show up for the people and places we love but aren't sure how. Here is where you learn how.
Over two evening sessions online and an optional full day in Calgary, you'll learn practical skills in nonviolent action, de-escalation, and community-led safety, taught by Nonviolent Peaceforce, who have spent 20+ years keeping people safe in some of the hardest places on earth, from Ukraine to South Sudan. You'll leave with real skills, the confidence to use them, and everything you need to start a peace team of your own, through your church, your organization, or your community.
Who it's for
Allies and community members who want to show up and finally know how. Faith communities ready to protect and care for their people. Organizers across movements, whether for queer and trans rights, immigrant and refugee solidarity, ceasefire and anti-war work, or any frontline community safety. Event hosts, marshals, and the people who end up responsible when a crowd gets tense. And anyone who has felt powerless watching the news and wants something real to do about it. No experience needed, just the willingness to show up.
How it works
The two online sessions are open across Canada. The in-person day is optional, builds directly on the online sessions, limited to 25 participants.
Online
Session 1, Wednesday Sept 9, 6:30 to 8:00 pm MT: An introduction to Nonviolent Peaceforce's approach to community-led safety.
Session 2, Wednesday Sept 16, 6:30 to 8:00 pm MT: The practical toolkit, including situational awareness, reading a room, and de-escalating before things escalate.
Sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants for a limited time.
In person (optional)
Saturday, Oct 3, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Calgary: A full day of hands-on practice, with scenario work, role-plays, and bystander intervention drills. You'll leave equipped to prevent and de-escalate violence and to form a peace team you can take back to your own community. Lunch and snacks included.
Can’t make it to all the virtual trainings? Recordings are available for all registrants, so you can catch up before the in-person training!
Registration
You can still buy access to the online sessions here, and the in-person hands-on training day here. If the online sessions have started, you will receive recordings from whichever sessions have already taken place.
This training and accessible pricing is made possible through support from McKillop United Church and a grant from the Brian and Belva Piercy Endowment Fund at The United Church of Canada Foundation, through the Seeds of Hope program.
Queer Theology Video Series:
Jaye Brix on Deconstructing Bad Theology
Bad theology hurts. It hurts the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, it hurts our communities of faith, and it hurts folks who feel held down under the thumb of harmful language, tradition, and belief.
This three-week series invites us into a process of deconstructing the theologies that restrict us as we seek to expand our affirming ministry and live out faithful discipleship that celebrates diversity as sacred. Jaye Brix (they/she) joined us live at our third session! Jaye is an ex-pastor who uses their experience, education, and creativity to help folks on their liberation journey, leaving behind ‘church’ that hurts.
Watch all three sessions on our Vimeo channel here.
Hosted by Affirming Connections and Pacific Mountain Region Affirming Ministry.
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Queer Interfaith Coalition
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