A sunlit forest clearing surrounded by tall trees, with warm light opening through the center.
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Holding the Room Without Owning the Outcome

One of the hardest and most liberating truths of facilitation, mediation, coaching, consulting, and leadership is that brave space cannot be held by the facilitator alone. Our role is to create the conditions where bravery becomes more possible.…
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Reframing Conflict

Does the thought of conflict have you running for the hills? Navigating conflict is a sticky wicket on teams and it is a vital and necessary skill for any leader...any team member, really. The ability to disagree is critically important to…

Perceptions on Polarization

The following is a reflection on Susan Bandes’ article, “Victims, ‘Closure’, and the Sociology of Emotion.”  The majority of us are conflict averse, meaning that we do not like to deal with the issues and emotions around tense…
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Recognizing and Understanding Your Triggers

To those who’ve been active in resisting the tumultuous transition of one White House administration to another, the word “trigger” might make sense. For others, it might seem irrelevant. Throughout the election and inauguration season,…
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What is Trauma and Why Does it Matter?

When you see “trauma” what comes to mind? Maybe you can still feel pain from your own past traumas. Perhaps you paint a picture of what you know it to be or what you think it might be. For some, we might think of personal, individual experiences,…
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Tools for Trauma

Capacitar, an international network working in more than 35 countries, specializes in teaching and sharing wellness practices to empower the citizens of the world. Inspired by their work, mission and dedication to wholeness, we are sharing some…
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Leading by Example: Talking about Race in the Workplace

As race relations in America gain nightly news attention, so has it inspired people to start talking, acting, and marching. The Black Lives Matter initiative is more than just a hashtag, and says less about race and more about inclusion, equality,…
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Micro-aggressions: Cause and Effect

As a part of our work in and commitment to diversity and inclusion, MECC offers various trainings from D&I Introduction workshops to bias trainings. These sessions offer opportunities to discuss how to create a workplace (and world) that…
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Portrait of a Peacemaker: David Steindl-Rast

Austrian born, David Steindl-Rast emigrated to America in the 1950’s with his family. Shortly after arriving, Brother David joined the Mount Saviour Monastery, part of the Benedictine community. He balances hermitic life with life on the…
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An Antidote to Resisting Change: Connection

At MECC our daily work involves change. We witness many reactions to it, some embrace it and are drawn to it because of the uncertainty, the potential. There are other reactions that push it away and fear what it might bring. Almost certainly,…
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A Circle at Work: MAIA Retreat

Over the course of many lifetimes, several cultures have used circles as a vehicle for human connection and spiritual healing. The concept behind circle work is very simple: it fosters sharing the complexities of emotion and vulnerability…
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Portrait of a Peacemaker– Brene Brown

  “Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous.  Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change” In 2010 Brene Brown touched the TedTalk world with one word: vulnerability. To take Brown’s…