My desire is to play my part in the inevitable transformation that our world needs to become more peaceful. For now, that means acting as nonviolently as I can within my own communities, while also supporting people and organizations that are actively working to change systems and structures toward serving all life on earth. I believe that personal transformation and social change are inseparably intertwined.
My intention is to create supportive spaces where people can connect deeply with themselves—recognizing this inner connection as essential for engaging authentically with the trauma, division, and other barriers that prevent us from creating a more peaceful world. I am passionate about helping people develop awareness of systemic societal dynamics, understanding how power operates in relationships and communities. Recognizing patterns of oppression and privilege allows us to apply Nonviolent Communication (NVC) principles in ways that truly serve justice and healing, moving beyond individual comfort toward collective liberation.
Supporting educators and parents in connecting empathically with children holds special meaning for me, as it is like planting seeds for a more compassionate future.
My interest in studying the nervous system and our trauma responses shapes how I approach and share NVC. Understanding how our bodies respond to stress and trauma opens more compassionate pathways for healing and connection. This somatic awareness enriches NVC practice, acknowledging that transformation happens in our entire embodied experience.
My understanding of NVC has been shaped by learning with and from many inspiring teachers and practitioners. Vivet Alevi provided my foundational introduction in 2007 and later supported me as my assessor. I feel lucky to have learned from Marshall Rosenberg, Isolde Teschner, Kit Miller, Dominic Barter, and Miki Kashtan.
I am also deeply inspired by the works of Joanna Macy and Andrea Gibson, whose perspectives on deep ecology and poetic truth-telling enrich my understanding of what it means to live nonviolently in these times.