The Ripple Effect Education

A message from us to you today. 💚🩵

Increase your capacity to teach the principles of conflict transformation and peace education with our Training for Trainers program!

Training for Trainers is a way to unlock your team's potential through our interactive training and community of practice. Whether you're looking to develop a deeper sense of collaboration among your staff, learn more about social justice and anti-oppression concepts, be more prepared to teach these concepts to others, or network with other peace education professionals, this is the opportunity for you!

We would love to connect with you to discuss how we can provide this program for your staff or team. Reach out to us at [email protected] and let's chat!

TREE's Annual General Meeting is happening on November 11 at 5pm over Zoom, and we would love to have you join us.

All are welcome to attend! For information and the Zoom link, please contact Laurel Boytim at [email protected] - see you there!

Active listening goes beyond just hearing someone—it’s about being fully present. An active listener pays close attention, understands what’s being said, responds thoughtfully, and remembers the conversation long after it’s over.

Being around active listeners makes us feel truly heard, understood, and valued.

Let’s give a big shoutout to the active listeners in our lives—whether at home, work, or in our social circles. Feel free to tag an active listener who deserves a little extra recognition today, or let them know in another way how much their great listening skills mean to you!

Navigating communication during a conflict can be pretty challenging. And sometimes, what we say (and how we say it!) just adds fuel to the fire.

Have you heard of I-statements? They're a useful and powerful tool in conflict situations. Instead of assuming things about the other person or their feelings, you just express what's going on with you. No finger-pointing, no blame game. It's all about opening up a real, honest conversation.

Why not give it a shot the next time you find yourself facing conflict?

Our monthly newsletter is a great way to stay up to date on all things TREE, from workshop opportunities, to community events, and more!

Make sure to sign up if you haven't already by visiting the link in our bio, or heading to our website!

It's hard to believe that fall is well underway, but that means that we're already preparing for Series 2 of our Classroom Workshops!

That's right, educators - a 5-week series of engaging, activity-based, social-emotional learning for your students, all focused on conflict resolution, healthy relationships, communication skills, empathy, self-care, and more.

To register your class, head to our website today to find the registration form and more information!

When we express gratitude, it helps us stay grounded and to remind ourselves of the positive things in our lives, even when we face challenges or difficult times. Being intentional with our gratitude is a powerful practice that allows us to be more mindful and more appreciative of the things around us and the people in our lives.

Take the time today to think of three things you're thankful for, and maybe even make this a habit for each day going forward! 💚

Each year on October 11, National Coming Out Day promotes a safer, more inclusive world where 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals can live authentically—whatever that means for them!

Next week we have the privilege of leading a workshop with one of our workplace clients, equipping employees with tools to support and affirm their colleagues in being their true selves at work. From using correct pronouns to understanding how to respond when someone “calls you in,” we will be covering a lot of ground.

These employees are fortunate to be part of a workplace that truly values social justice education and supports everyone in showing up as their authentic selves. 🏳️‍🌈

We were honoured to receive the honourable mention award for Impact on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from the University of Waterloo's CEE (Co-operative and Experiential Education) Employer Impact Awards! There are approximately 7,000 employers that hire UW co-op students annually, so we are extremely grateful to be recognized among such a wide array of employers!

The work of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-oppression, and belonging is at the core of what we do at TREE. It means a lot to know that our efforts in this area are being acknowledged and makes us even more invigorated to continue growing in these areas in our work moving forward.

Special thanks to Rachel Jenson, Faculty Relations Manager, Arts for presenting the award to our Executive Director, Laurel Boytim!

Are you looking for an engaging, transformative workplace training for your staff or team?
Do you and your colleagues want to participate in a rewarding professional development opportunity that is interactive, reflective, and collaborative?

Then you're in the right place! Here at TREE, we're all about delivering Workplace Workshops that help employees dig deep into the principles of conflict resolution, peace building, and social justice, working to create more equitable, healthy, and peaceful communities.

Our topics range from anti-oppression and allyship, to leadership, communication, self-care, and more. To inquire about opportunities for your staff, visit our website and reach out to us today!

Happy World Teacher's Day! 🍎

We are so appreciative of the incredible educators and support staff that we get to interact with through our classroom workshops and programming in schools.

Teachers do so much, and it's important to recognize all that they pour into their work and into the lives of their students. We want to give a special shoutout to teachers today for all that they do in creating engaging, supportive environments for learners of all ages!

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Here at TREE, we love making connections and supporting our friends!

Today, we want to give a shoutout to a close friend and collaborator: Credit Union. This local financial cooperative offers banking services that combine values, faith, and finances, helping to create peaceful, just, and prosperous communities.

Kindred Credit Union isn't just a fellow core collaborator within the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement and a participant in the Grebel Peace Incubator—they're also our partner and funder of our Peace Innovators Scholarship and Mentoring Program for high school students. Yep, they're that awesome!

We want to spotlight the amazing work Kindred Credit Union is doing to change the way people save and invest. They're helping folks bank with purpose and use their money as a force for good. They’re here to help you Make Peace with Your Money®!

The Ripple Effect Education recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a day of contemplation on our responsibility as settlers, a day of solemn reflection on the violence of colonialism throughout history and in the present, and a day of acknowledgement of the atrocities of the residential school system.

As a peace education organization, we are committed to acting in a way that uplifts Indigenous experiences and that promotes Indigenous sovereignty. This includes honouring and including Indigenous wisdom traditions, teachings, and stories in our workshops and programs. We are all on the lifelong journey of decolonizing our work and our lives.

We also acknowledge that we live, work, and play on the traditional and current territories of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee Peoples, the original stewards and caretakers of these lands. The University of Waterloo and therefore the TREE office is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations, which includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River from its mouth to its source. We recognize that land acknowledgements are only a small piece of the lifelong work that is reconciliation and decolonization and that it is our responsibility to uplift and centre the experiences of the First Peoples in our work, in our programs, and throughout our lives.

Today, we encourage you to read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action, which we have linked in our bio.

"Care is the antidote to violence." - Saidiya Hartman

We recently came across this powerful quote that was shared by , along with some impactful reflections on Saidiya Hartman's words. We wanted to share them here, and hope that they impact you, too. Thanks to Non-Violent Peace Force for sharing these thoughts below:

"We must take care with each other and with ourselves to address the violent legacies we are living in. Care is how we see and attend to violence and also dream beyond it. Care is how we imagine otherwise. Care brings visibility. And care brings protection.

Together, we are building a world where conflict is handled not with violence or retribution, but radical love and community care."

It's Peace Week, and we have a lot to celebrate!

Peace Week happens annually at the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, running from the International Day of Peace (September 21) to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30.)

Yesterday, the celebrated it's 10th anniversary - a huge milestone marking a whole decade of impact, community-building, and collaboration to build more peace into the fabric of our world. Congratulations again to the CPA! We are so grateful to be a part of this awesome, vibrant community.

The International Day of Peace is also the anniversary of when TREE began facilitating programming back in 2016. We're only a couple of years away from our own 10-year anniversary, which we think is pretty cool!

Plus, as part of Peace Week 2024, we are in the midst of a Training for Trainers session that is already off to a fantastic start.

Make sure to check out the CPA website for other events happening throughout Peace Week! We'd love to hear in the comments below how you're celebrating this week, or how you are working to advance peace in your community.

Today is globally recognized as the International Day of Peace! 🕊️ It's also the anniversary of when TREE was founded and began facilitating programming, back in 2016!

We also want to take this opportunity to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement! As a Core Collaborator of the CPA, we are extremely grateful to be a part of this wonderful, collaborative, and enthusiastic community of peacebuilders! It is such a privilege to be a part of the CPA and to get to experience the connections, meaningful work, and friendships that fill the Centre with its enriching atmosphere. Congratulations on 10 incredible years - we look forward to many more!

NEW on the TREE Blog: our Summer Student, Zelal Tutak, shares about the role of empathy in our lives and how it helps us forge meaningful, genuine connections with others. Head to our website or the link in our bio to give it a read!

Training for Trainers is happening NEXT WEEK - have you signed up yet?

For more details, check out our previous posts. You can email [email protected] for pricing and to register now. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!

Have you registered for TREE's 5-week Classroom Workshop series yet?

If you're a K-8 educator, then you're in luck: there is still time to sign up for Series 1 of our Fall Workshops!

Visit the link in our bio to learn more, or head to the "Elementary Classrooms" page on our website for the registration form and more info!

Register today for our Training for Trainers session on September 21 and 22!

This is a unique opportunity to share valuable conflict resolution, peace building, and social justice education with others. Sign up individually, or as a group, by emailing Laurel Boytim at [email protected] to discuss pricing and book your spot!

Book your spot for our next Training for Trainers session today! This is an opportunity for you and your staff to learn the principles of our conflict resolution, peace building, and social justice curriculum, and then share that knowledge with others.

Plus, you'll receive an invitation to join our monthly, virtual Community of Practice to connect with other peace education professionals. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

To register for this session and discuss pricing, please contact Laurel at [email protected] - we hope to see you there!

Ever wondered what TREE Classroom Workshops look like?

Well, it's a combination of engaging activities and social-emotional learning, all based in principles of conflict resolution, peace building, and social justice. We have an awesome, friendly team of facilitators ready to deliver this co-learning opportunity for teachers and students alike!

If you're a Grade K-8 educator, you can register for our Fall Classroom Workshop Series on our website today!

The TREE Curriculum (Taylor's Version) - Part 2 ✨

We know all too well how much you enjoyed our previous post about Taylor Swift's peacebuilding quotes. One of our TREE staff even led a Taylor Swift-themed Coffee Break at the CPA last month, sharing all these hidden nuggets of wisdom! It would truly be a cruel summer if we didn't share them here, too.

So, back by popular demand (you may even say that "it's been a long time coming), here's more of the TREE Curriculum, as taught by Taylor!