Youth Programs

be the change

• The family-friend exhibits of be the change, located in the lower level of the Peace Learning Center, transform facts and figures about our world's most pressing problems into playful, hands-on activities that help participants make connections between their everyday actions and the impact they have on our planet, animals, and other humans. Self-guided tours or guided tours are available.

Climate Camp

• Climate Camp is a collaborative effort of Earth Charter Indiana, HEART, and Peace Learning Center focused on youth-led solutions to combat our planet's climate predicament. We focus on creative and joyful strategies to help youth understand and address climate change. Past members have gone on to lead very successful campaigns and continue to lead the way.

Everyday Circles Cards

• A teacher tool that helps incorporate restorative practices, anti-bias education, social and emotional learning, as well as meaningful content on pressing world issues.

Field Trips

• School year field trips are group sessions that focus on team building and leadership that are outdoors, interactive, creative, and provide experiential learning opportunities for full and half days at Peace Learning Center's Eagle Creek Park location.

Implicit Bias for Teens

• This 1.5-hour workshop will build on teens' understanding of stereotypes to build awareness of implicit bias, its impact, and how it can be disrupted.

Multi-Family Workshops

• Schools and community centers looking for a way to engage families and parents may invite our Director of Family learning to complete a series of 11 workshops on conflict, communication, and a variety of other issues facing families today.

Peacebuilders Camp

• For schools and youth-serving organizations seeking experiential learning opportunities for staff, students, and children of all ages, our programs offer impactful and long-lasting social-emotional learning experiences that have been proven to improve academic performance. Peace Learning Center offers group sessions that focus on team-building and leadership that are outdoors, interactive, and creative, and provide experiential learning opportunities for full and half days both at Peace Learning Center's Eagle Creek Park location and on-site for schools and youth-serving organizations.

Peers Making Peace

• This youth-serving program is centered on evidence-based prevention and resiliency strategies. School and afterschool staff will be trained on how to appropriately implement a peer mediation program in their own setting. PMP can help students build social competence, equip them with personal problem-solving skills, foster a sense of autonomy, and provide many opportunities for meaningful participation. It is best suited in grades 7-12.

Social Justice Leadership Workshops

• These 1.5-hour workshops bring the Social Justice Leadership Camp experience into your classroom or out-of-school program. Over the course of 9 to 13 sessions, participants will be introduced to the same concepts as those explored during our summer offering. You can also choose from the list of offerings to complement your ongoing curriculum, in a one-time to 13-time experience. These can be done in-class or as a field trip to PLC.

Social Justice Leadership Camp

• Peace Learning Center is looking for open-minded, dedicated, and adventurous teens to participate in a two-week-long summer day camp. This camp will cultivate your leadership skills, introduce you to amazing people, and support you in developing your power for social justice.

Educator & Youth Worker Programs

Analyzing Power

• This 6.5-hour workshop identifies and defines power and oppression and analyzes how it is used in a variety of contexts. Participants will learn about the 4 I's of Oppression and how power impacts different groups. The workshop asks participants to apply their power analysis to the institutions they connect with and their roles, identifying opportunities to work for Equity. This workshop acts as a foundational workshop for equity work. It can be completed in two 3-hour sessions or one full day.

Culturally Responsive Practices Workshops

Participants are not required to complete all workshops in the series. However, CRP 101 must be completed before attending any other CRP workshop. These workshops are intended for educators and school or district administrators.

• CRP 101 - A 1 to 2-hour introductory workshop that helps educators understand both cultural relevance and cultural responsiveness, explore their own identities, and learn about basic CR practices.

• Creating a Culturally Relevant Classroom Community - This 2 to 3-hour workshop will build off of elements of earlier CRP learning opportunities, allowing more time for guided application of your CRP Principles in the creation or modification of an academic unit of study.

• How to Incorporate CRP into Your Curriculum - This 2 to 3-hour workshop will build off of elements of earlier CRP learning opportunities, allowing more time for guided application of CRP Principles in the creation or modification of an academic unit of study.

• School-wide Implementation of Culturally Responsive Practices - In 2 to 3 hours, participants will learn the importance of systemic change and the various forms it can take. The workshop will culminate in the sharing of actionable ways that administrators and school leaders can facilitate cultural change.

Equity Circles for Educators

• Educators who engage with this 2-hour workshop will build their competency and confidence in leading proactive, content-based circles in their classrooms. Participants should have attended prior training in restorative practices and antiracism.

Equity for Educators

• This 6.5-hour workshop connects the field of education specifically to the concepts and practices of Equity as defined by the Equity Literacy Institute. It will use an intersectional lens to help participants learn how to identify and define power, oppression, and the roles of institutions in this system. Participants will learn about the 4 I's of Oppression, how they appear in our instructions and ideologies, and how they are perpetuated in the field of education. It can be completed in two 3-hour sessions or one full day.

Everyday Circles Cards

• A teacher tool that helps incorporate restorative practices, anti-bias education, social and emotional learning, as well as meaningful content on pressing world issues.

Field Trips

• School year field trips are group sessions that focus on team building and leadership that are outdoors, interactive, and creative, and provide experiential learning opportunities for full and half days at Peace Learning Center's Eagle Creek Park location.

Peace Learning Circles Implementation

Each module of this 24-hour course must be completed in sequential order. A variety of course structures are available, and the time between modules can be modified to fit the needs of the participating organization.

Please note that 16 hours will be spent in a synchronous class setting and 8 course hours will be dedicated to outside application and reflection.

Module 1: Building Strong Foundations

• Participants will be introduced to the research used to build the Peace Learning Circles framework.
• Participants will be guided through several inquiry activities to help assess their understanding of SEL and any assumptions they may be bringing into the course.
• Participants will be introduced to foundational elements like the Peace Learning Circles agreements, the stages of group development, and the practices that support that stage of development.
• Participants will explore the concept of Multiple Intelligences and complete a self-inventory of their learning preferences.

Module 2: Promoting Inclusion

• Participants will debrief on any application of concepts or reflections that they completed since the last course meeting.
• Participants will explore the role that personal and community identity plays in creating an inclusive learning environment.
• Participants will do a deep dive into the stage of inclusion, and explore specific strategies and practices that support community-building.
• Participants will explore how culturally responsive practices can help build stronger relationships with youth.
• Participants will be given explicit instruction on how to create Circles (small group communities within the larger learning community).

Module 3: Strengthening Influence

• Participants will again debrief on their experiences with applying what they have learned in their own context.
• Participants will explore the stage of influence, and how it can play a role in empowering youth voice and resolving conflict in the learning community.
• Participants will have the opportunity to practice conflict resolution strategies in small groups.
• Participants will gain an understanding of how the principles of influence can align with academic and after school standards.
• Participants will be coached on how to navigate critical conversations around inequity, racism, and bias that may arise as youth move into the group stage of influence.

Module 4: Sustaining Community

• Participants will debrief their experiences applying influence strategies in their context, and reflect on their current comfort level with implementing Peace Learning Circles without the direct support of facilitators.
• Participants will synthesize learning from earlier modules to understand how the community can be sustained long-term.
• Participants will learn how sustaining community and meaningful relationships will facilitate deeper learning.
• Participants will be given structured time to build their own learning experiences and seek feedback from peers and facilitators.
• Participants will be equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to bring about. more widespread change in their organization to sustain Peace Learning Circles long-term.

All Modules

• Participants will be given opportunities for small group discussion and to apply what they have learned.
• Course activities will model and/or incorporate various practices and strategies from the framework, like energizers and inclusion-building activities.
• Each module will address how to implement Peace Learning Circles in an equitable and developmentally appropriate manner.
• Courses will also focus on how to directly align Peace Learning Circles with academic, after school, and/or state SEL competencies.*
• All participants will receive a digital course workbook, a physical implementation book, and online access to supplemental materials.

*Open or community courses will base this portion of the course on CASEL competencies, while academic standards will be spoken about more generally.

Restorative Practices

• Restorative Practices 101 - A 1-hour workshop that answers the questions "What are Restorative Practices?" and "Why do people choose to use them?"

• Level 1 Restorative Practices - This full-day workshop, which can be offered in two parts, focuses on the social-emotional basics and mindset needed to engage in restorative work. It will also inform participants on proactive strategies, relationship building, and community building. Participants will learn how to hold restorative chats, an informal way to problem solve.

• Level 2 Restorative Practices - This full-day workshop, which can be offered in two parts, builds upon learning from Level 1 to inform participants about the use of Responsive Circles and Formal Restorative Conferencing.

• Restorative Practices Implementation - This 3-hour workshop focuses on implementing restorative practices in a school context for practitioners who want to spend time tackling the work it takes to institutionalize these practices.

• Self-Paced Individual or Group Learning - Restorative Module 1 & Restorative Module 2 are each 2-hour videos that cover restorative practice basics. Each module has an accompanying reflection journal.

• Refresher Workshop - A 2-hour training for groups who have been fully trained, but need some review and practice in knowing which restorative strategy to choose for various situations.

SEL - Academic Integration

• Educators will gain knowledge about the importance of infusing academic units of study with opportunities to practice SEL competencies. A structured time to begin modifying an existing unit of study or to create a new unit of study can be offered if time allows.

SEL for Educators

• This 7-part workshop series offers a customizable learning experience for educators and school staff. Each of the workshops will explore one to two dimensions of a person's well-being. The workshop series may be completed sequentially and in its entirety, or participants may elect to attend workshops that feature topics most relevant to their personal goals. Each workshop will offer opportunities for Investigation, Reflection, Identification, and Application.

Train the Trainer

• This 4.5-day workshop series guides participants through sessions dedicated to the basics of Restorative Justice, implementation, and Restorative Conferencing. Time will also be spent learning about implicit bias and its role in Restorative Practices. Finally, participants will be given specific guidance on implementing Restorative Practices in their context and provided with the resources necessary to train others.

  Peace Learning Circles Train the Trainer

  More information about this course is forthcoming. Current or recently lapsed trainers from the Tribes Learning Communities program will receive email correspondence from our staff with guidelines on how to proceed.

Programs for Parents & Families

be the change

• The family-friendly exhibits of be the change, located in the lower level of Peace Learning Center, transform facts and figures about our world's most pressing problems into playful, hands-on activities that help participants make connections between their everyday actions and the impact they have on our planet, animals, and other humans. Self-guided tours or guided tours are available.

Conflict Styles & Resolution

• Conflict resolution encourages productive means of resolving conflicts and disagreements. This 2-hour workshop allows participants to explore the causes of conflict, and how people communicate during conflict, and then equips them with specific strategies for resolution.

Family Workshops

• We're in this Love Together - Participants will discuss and highlight the positive qualities of their family. This sets the tone for subsequent sessions. Families will understand that they are working to make what is good better.
• I Am, and You Are - Participants will describe who they think each other is. Listing likes, dislikes, stressors, favorite foods, activities, etc.
• Can we Talk? - Participants will describe what they feel are the causes of conflicts or problems within a family. No family will be singled out; rather, participants will describe a "generic" family. This will allow participants to think about their own family dynamics without revealing personal information.
• What is Conflict? - Participants will learn and identify the varied types of conflict and the reasons for it. This will be the precursor to learning conflict resolution and reconciliation skills.
• How do we Solve Conflict? Part 1 - Participants will learn techniques for solving conflict through discussion and role-playing. This will allow family members to reflect on family conflicts without revealing personal information.
• How do we Solve Conflict? Part 2 - Continuation of How do we Solve Conflict? Participants will go deeper into learning conflict resolution, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
• What is this I'm Feeling? - Participants will explore emotions and their effect on the physical body and the mind. They will learn how to move from "I'm OK;" or "I'm alright;" to expressing emotions that more fully reflect how they truly feel. They will learn how important it is to express themselves authentically and respectfully.
• Just what is Peace? - Participants will learn and go beyond the idea that Peace is only the absence of violence. They will learn four important principals of Peace:

1. Community

2. Cooperation

3. Non-Violence

4. Witness

• Do You Hear Me - Are You Listening? Part 1 - Participants will learn various types of communication. They will learn nuances of listening; observing; passive communication, aggressive communication; as well as non-verbal communication.
• Do You Hear Me - Are You Listening? Part 2 - Continuation of Do You Hear Me - Are You Listening? Part 1. Participants will go deeper into the need for clear and concise communication amongst themselves. Lack of respectful and clear communication is usually the bedrock of family conflicts.
• Developing a Family Peace Plan - Using art materials, participants will draw up a declaration that outlines how they envision their peaceful family. They will also create a family crest that expresses the best of themselves as a loving and cooperative unit.

Other Topics Covered:

• Financial Literacy
• How to Eat Healthy on an EBT Budget
• Peaceful Parenting
• Education goals - How to get there
• Pros & Cons of Social Media
• Locating local resources
• Understanding Implicit Bias in Families

• This 7-part workshop series offers a customizable learning experience for adults. Each of the workshops will explore one to two dimensions of a person's well-being. The workshop series may be completed sequentially and in its entirety, or participants may elect to attend workshops that feature topics most relevant to their personal goals. Each workshop will offer opportunities for Investigation, Reflection, Identification, and Application.

Community Programs

Analyzing Power

• This 6.5-hour workshop identifies and defines power and oppression and analyzes how it is used in a variety of contexts. Participants will learn about the 4 I's of Oppression and how power impacts different groups. The workshop asks participants to apply their power analysis to the institutions they connect with and their roles, identifying opportunities to work for Equity. This workshop acts as a foundational workshop for equity work. It can be completed in two 3-hour sessions or one full day.

Conflict Styles & Resolution

• Conflict resolution encourages productive means of resolving conflicts and disagreements. This 2-hour workshop allows participants to explore the causes of conflict, and how people communicate during conflict, and then equips them with specific strategies for resolution.

Creating Spaces for Critical Conversations

• This 2-hour workshop brings together foundations of SEL with an equity focus to inform participants on how to have challenging values-based conversations about issues of identity and bias. Participants will learn what helps and what hinders healthy dialogue, and they will be given time to practice skills for interrupting bias/prejudice/bigotry. 

Equity Dialogue Circles

• This roughly 2-hour experience makes space for peers, neighbors, or colleagues to discuss a variety of topics with an equity focus. Dialogue circles meld practices from proactive circles and Civic Reflection. Our staff will work with group organizers to identify relevant topics and sources.

Implicit Bias

• Intro to Implicit Bias - This introductory workshop is 1.5 hours and focuses on building a basic awareness and general understanding of its impact. Participants will also be guided through self-reflection around how bias may show up in their lives.
• Implicit Bias for Adults - This 4.5-hour workshop will guide participants from a basic awareness of implicit bias to a contextualized understanding of the concept during the first part of the workshop. From there, participants will be able to dive deeper by exploring tools for measuring their own implicit bias. They will also be provided with the knowledge and strategies necessary to disrupt implicit bias in their own lives.

Interrupting Microaggressions

• This 2-hour workshop will define the term "micro aggressions" and lead participants through a discussion that unpacks the term, its history, and its present impact. Participants will also be informed on ways to disrupt micro-aggressions in their lives.

Restorative Practices

• This 7-part workshop series offers a customizable learning experience for adults. Each of the workshops will explore one to two dimensions of a person's well-being. The workshop series may be completed sequentially and in its entirety, or participants may elect to attend workshops that feature topics most relevant to their personal goals. Each workshop will offer opportunities for Investigation, Reflection, Identification, and Application.
  
  

Train the Trainer (Restorative Practices)

• This 4.5-day workshop series guides participants through sessions dedicated to the basics of Restorative Justice, implementation, and Restorative Conferencing. Time will also be spent learning about implicit bias and its role in Restorative Practices. Finally, participants will be given specific guidance on implementing Restorative Practices in their context and provided with the resources necessary to train others.

Business & Non-Profit Programs

Analyzing Power

• This 6.5-hour workshop identifies and defines power and oppression and analyzes how it is used in a variety of contexts. Participants will learn about the 4 I's of Oppression and how power impacts different groups. The workshop asks participants to apply their power analysis to the institutions they connect with and their roles, identifying opportunities to work for Equity. This workshop acts as a foundational workshop for equity work. It can be completed in two 3-hour sessions or one full day.

Conflict Styles & Resolution

• Conflict resolution encourages productive means of resolving conflicts and disagreements. This 2-hour workshop allows participants to explore the causes of conflict, and how people communicate during conflict, and then equips them with specific strategies for resolution.

Creating Spaces for Critical Conversations

• This 2-hour workshop brings together foundations of SEL with an equity focus to inform participants on how to have challenging values-based conversations about issues of identity and bias. Participants will learn what helps and what hinders healthy dialogue, and they will be given time to practice skills for interrupting bias/prejudice/bigotry. 

Equity Dialogue Circles

• This roughly 2-hour experience makes space for peers, neighbors, or colleagues to discuss a variety of topics with an equity focus. Dialogue circles meld practices from proactive circles and Civic Reflection. Our staff will work with group organizers to identify relevant topics and sources.

Field Trips

• Please fill out an interest form to learn more about our field trips and summer offerings. 

General Implicit Bias

• Intro to Implicit Bias - This introductory workshop is 1.5 hours and focuses on building a basic awareness and general understanding of its impact. Participants will also be guided through self-reflection around how bias may show up in their lives.
• Implicit Bias for Adults - This 4.5-hour workshop will guide participants from a basic awareness of implicit bias to a contextualized understanding of the concept during the first part of the workshop. From there, participants will be able to dive deeper by exploring tools for measuring their own implicit bias. They will also be provided with the knowledge and strategies necessary to disrupt implicit bias in their own lives.

Implicit Bias for Health Care Workers

• This 4.5-hour workshop contains many of the same essential components as our general implicit bias workshop. However, it contextualizes participants' understanding through a health care lens and provides strategies specific to the field.

Interrupting Microaggressions

• This 2-hour workshop will define the term "microaggressions" and lead participants through a discussion that unpacks the term, its history, and its present impact. Participants will also be informed on ways to disrupt microaggressions in their lives.

Restorative Practices

• Restorative Practices 101 - A 1-hour workshop that answers the questions "What are Restorative Practices?" and "Why do people choose to use them?"

• Level 1 Restorative Practices - This full-day workshop, which can be offered in two parts, focuses on the social-emotional basics and mindset needed to engage in restorative work. It will also inform participants on proactive strategies, relationship building, and community building. Participants will learn how to hold restorative chats, an informal way to problem solve.

• Level 2 Restorative Practices - This full-day workshop, which can be offered in two parts, builds upon learning from Level 1 to inform participants about the use of Responsive Circles and Formal Restorative Conferencing.

• Self-Paced Individual or Group Learning - Restorative Module 1 & Restorative Module 2 are each 2-hour videos that cover restorative practice basics. Each module has an accompanying reflection journal.
• Refresher Workshop - A 2-hour training for groups who have been fully trained, but need some review and practice in knowing which restorative strategy to choose for various situations.

SEL for Adults

• This 7-part workshop series offers a customizable learning experience for adults. Each of the workshops will explore one to two dimensions of a person's well-being. The workshop series may be completed sequentially and in its entirety, or participants may elect to attend workshops that feature topics most relevant to their personal goals. Each workshop will offer opportunities for Investigation, Reflection, Identification, and Application.

Train the Trainer

• Train the Trainer - This 4.5-day workshop series guides participants through sessions dedicated to the basics of Restorative Justice, implementation, and Restorative Conferencing. Time will also be spent learning about implicit bias and its role in Restorative Practices. Finally, participants will be given specific guidance on implementing Restorative Practices in their context and provided with the resources necessary to train others.
• Peace Learning Circles Train the Trainer - More information about this course is forthcoming. Current or recently lapsed trainers from the Tribes Learning Communities program will receive email correspondence from our staff with guidelines on how to proceed.