Becoming Peacemakers: Building Community through Conflict Resolution [public]

​Join the San Francisco Contemplarium and San Francisco's Community Boards, the longest-running nonprofit conflict resolution and restorative justice center in the US, for a fireside-style conversation on what it really means to live together in a city – especially when we’re in conflict. We’ll explore how our families and backgrounds shape our conflict styles, what Community Boards has learned from 50 years of community mediation in San Francisco, and how everyday disagreements can become chances to practice the kind of neighbors we want to be.

​After the conversation, we’ll move into a guided small-group exercise in triads. You’ll reflect on your own relationship to conflict, share stories in a supportive setting, and identify one or two concrete ways you’d like to “become” more of a peacemaker in your own life and community.

​Rachel Vyda-Venning is the Program Director of Community Boards, the longest-running nonprofit conflict resolution and restorative justice center in the US. Rachel comes to Community Boards with 20 years of experience as a business leader, consultant and advisor to Non-Profits. Rachel is a versatile executive; planning and leading the day-to-day operations and infrastructure of an organization, collaborating on strategic planning processes, honing and delivering messaging both internally and externally, and connecting the dots to make things work better. They have expertise in communications and marketing strategy, operations and business development, and cross-functional team leadership. They earned her MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

​This session is part of the Flamekeeper Workshop series, and will be moderated by Seanan Fong, Founding Director of the SF Contemplarium.

​​🕕 Agenda

• ​​2–2:10pm: Arrive & Check-in

• ​2:10pm: Fireside Chat begins

• ​​3pm: Q&A

• ​3:15: Interactive Workshop

​​📍 Finding 550 Laguna

​​We'll meet in 550 Laguna (the corner of Hayes & Laguna). Once you arrive, go down the stairs to the basement level to enter space, check in, and please take your shoes off at the door.

​​​We are grateful to partner with The Commons to host this event in their incredible space. The Commons is a modern-day town square for communal meaning-making, personal discovery, and self-expression in the heart of San Francisco. Learn more about The Commons here.

​​About the SF Contemplarium

​​​​Presented by the San Francisco Contemplarium, a neighborhood institution creating space for honoring our human journey.