On Talk of the Bay, Monday, November 28 at 5 pm, Christine Barrington interviews leaders from the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County about the power of empathy.
Othering has always been an issue in human civilization, and the world is full of people who reflexively think that different is synonymous with wrong. Luckily, the world is also full of people who seek to reach out with curisoity and build bridges of understanding over chasms of fear and distrust. My guests for this show are part of this global web of understanding, and they are leading efforts here in Santa Cruz to create new outcomes for challenging social problems through the cultivation of empathy with programs offered in partnership with the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County. An event they offered this Summer at the MAH called Let’s Talk About It offered innovative ways to “find common threads through conversation.” It was deeply impactful for those who experienced it, and through the ripple effect new programs are being birthed in its wake.
The Venerable Tenzin Chogkyi: is a certified teacher of Compassion Cultivation Training and the Cultivating Emotional Balance program and teaches workshops and programs that bridge the worlds of Buddhist thought, contemplative practice, mental and emotional cultivation, and the latest research in the field of positive psychology. Tenzin is passionate about social justice and has taught in prisons in the US and Internationally. She is featured on a monthly radio show called “Reflections on Buddhism” on KSQD and serves as a Training and Curriculum Specialist at the Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County
Alaya Vautier earned a graduate degree in International Policy Studies with a specialization in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation and has years of experience applying her training in a variety of challenging community settings. She serves as the Conflict Resolution Center’’s Restorative Justice Programs Director and designs and leads trainings on communication, conflict resolution, and restorative justice. Additionally, she also facilitates mediations and dialogues with youth in the juvenile justice system.
Andy Rae is an intern at the Conflict Resolution Center and was also one of the dialogue partners at the LTAI event, representing their non-binary identity.
Tyler Drogin was inspired by attending the LTAI event to become an intern at the Conflict Resolution Center and is organizing a new project, called The Listening Zones, which we will be hearing more about on the show.
If you would like to volunteer for the next Let’s Talk About It event, please contact Tenzin: tenzin@crcsantacruz.org or Alaya: alaya@crcsantacruz.org
For information about the upcoming mediation trainings to be held in early 20223: https://www.crcsantacruz.org/training.html
