This event was the latest quarterly convening of this dynamic network and featured an interactive presentation on wellness from Dr. Ann Seide, MD, an internal medicine physician who emphasizes integrative care, followed by small group councils, a Grand Spiral Council to weave the gathering and a healthy and delicious Mediterranean lunch!

After the presentation, which included opportunities to practice some of the breathing techniques Dr. Seide presented, the group was split up and invited to gather in smaller council circles led by veteran trainers from Center for Council. Each intimate gathering presented an opportunity to reflect on our individual experiences of health and our relationship to healthy habits throughout our lives. Deceptively simple, the council prompts offered an opportunity for participants to share real stories of the struggles, frustrations, triumphs and joys that seemed to echo through the community. The stories often started out as one person’s experience, but soon reverberated with many others resonating and nodding in recognition. While most participants began the groups as strangers, community emerged in remarkable and beautiful ways.

After the small council circles, participants regrouped and created a Grand Spiral Council that gave all who felt called the opportunity to weave into the center to share some of what was coming up. The small center circle offered a precious space, surrounded and supported by the care and regard of the full group. The gathering gave all participants an authentic experience of the power of Beloved Community and how practices like council can provide a path forward.

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​Feedback from participants included comments like:

This event was a unique opportunity for organizations, community leaders, and healthcare providers, as well as recently released individuals, to come together in community to explore how we can resource ourselves and each other to enhance health outcomes and foster wellbeing, as well as decrease unhealthy behavior and recidivism. After the presentation, the small councils and Grand Spiral, participants were treated to a delicious and healthy meal – an example of the anti-inflammatory Mediterranean diet– that’s as tasty as it is good for us! Most lingered throughout lunch to share stories, informally network and connect with fellow attendees, speakers and community leaders.

Watch a brief video about the event:

TheLos Angeles Reentry Collaborative is a multi-sector network of organizations and community leaders working together to decrease recidivism and improve health outcomes amongst the reentry population while supporting and resourcing healthcare providers who serve this community. Burnout is rampant amongst reentry service providers and the stressors of the job tend to extend beyond normal business hours.

​Events like this one occur quarterly and offer an opportunity for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and resource-sharing, fostering a holistic approach to reentry support.

​For more information and to view the schedule of upcoming events click here.

Rob sought out Center for Council’s Executive Director, Jared Seide, to explore how creating council-based programs can actually provide the resources and the spaces where compassion can flourish. Rob asked our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Ann Seide to join the conversation to bring a scientific lens to this inquiry around the factors that prime compassion and how council increases the experience of social connection, wellbeing and the emergence of compassion itself.
 
Rob’s podcast episodes explore a series of important questions that begin with a clarion call for radical imagination and big ideas (along with a journey of the imagination to a brighter future). For the episode on compassion, Rob reached out to Center for Council as a result of the organization’s groundbreaking work creating structures of belonging and reframing the power of compassion in environments where emphasis and practical training in this quality have often been often overlooked -- like prisons, education and law enforcement.

In Rob’s view, “We live in a world that can appear pretty bereft of compassion, with leaders trying to outpace each other to be as heartless, unkind and ruthless as possible. People increasingly retreat into silos of fear and resent those outside their silos. Compassion is often portrayed as some kind of a weakness, as a frailty, as something that means we can be taken advantage of. But for many cultures, compassion is seen as something deeply powerful and active and dynamic."
 
This perspective led Rob to ask some pointed questions that call for innovative ideas and a shift in paradigm: “In a future that is healing itself, that is breaking down those silos and healing traumas past and present, what is the role of compassion? And how best to create spaces where it can flourish, spaces where compassion is most needed, and where its awesome power is unlocked?"

​Have a listen to Rob’s penetrating, dynamic – and sometime whimsical – conversation with Jared and Ann:

Center for Council / Beyond Us & Them hosted this second installment of our annual event with the intention of resourcing hearts, minds and bodies. After a successful event last year, this year’s Family Day provided even more opportunities for fun, good cheer and appreciation.

The sun shone brightly as scores of participants arrived at the beautiful LA River Center, serenaded by the dulcet tones of our friend Ronnie McQueen (of the original Steel Pulse) and his band, INTENT. A tasty breakfast was provided by our friends at Homegirl Café, followed by a delicious lunch.

With the intention of fostering social connection and engagement, participants were invited to engage in 14 dynamic activities designed and offered by reentry service providers and tailored to all ages in attendance. Breakout sessions included:

PS Arts offered an art workshop in creating colorful Moss Landscapes and Wreaths -- and Creative Acts provided a taste of their amazing Virtual Reality experience designed to prepare incarcerated individuals for the complexities of modern life after prison.

Council circles were also offered to all by veteran council trainers Irasha Talifero and Taylor Morgan, exploring storytelling, bearing witness, connecting to our authentic selves and allowing ourselves to receive the regard of others.

After these group activities, a Resource Fair featuring 26 reentry providers empowered attendees with information about the many local resources available to them.

​Then it was time for Santa, who arrived with a bounty of holiday cheer. To extend the appreciation and generosity in real ways, this event facilitated the gifting to our community of 225 toys, 75 gift cards, eight tablets and a mobile phone.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California and is host to the largest number of individuals returning from state prison. There are so many barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals must navigate upon release, including finding housing and employment, the stigma of being an “ex-offender” and the repair and renewal of supportive and healthy relationships with families and friends.

Formerly incarcerated individuals returning home after serving a sentence in state prison -- and their families -- face enormous obstacles in the challenging journey of reentry and must overcome a number of complex challenges as they work to reintegrate into society. We are so very proud and appreciative of our rich reentry service provider community! Our Council Reentry Program sits among a wide variety of providers and is anchored by the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative, another project of Center for Council/Beyond Us & Them.

We are thrilled to serve as hosts of Family Day, a beautiful celebration of freedom, community and a toast to fresh starts. This heartwarming, festive occasion created lasting memories and opened up the doors for networking opportunities and relationship building.

Here's a brief snippet of sights and sounds from the day:

Read more comments from participants below:

 We hope to see you at next year’s event!

Located in San Bernardino and Sacramento, which boast the second and third highest Black student populations in California, Fortune focuses on closing the African American achievement gap. While their emphasis is on academic excellence, Fortune leadership had come to feel that essential elements of the educational journey were not as strongly present on their ten school sites as they could be and that school culture had been declining, particularly in the challenging post-pandemic recovery period. Fortune’s brain trust knew that something was needed -- and reached out to Center for Council to engage its insight and expertise.

As is the case in many schools returning to a post-Covid environment, our trainers realized that teachers' emotional resilience and capacity was stretched thin. Administration understood that scholars and families were concerned about “voice and choice,” as well as high suspension rates. There was a real interest in shifting culture and prioritizing relationships between school leadership and teachers, as well as with scholars and their families. As the workshop sessions unfolded, faculty were able to see that, as they learned more about colleagues in council, a strong container started to form. As teams were given the opportunity to get to know one another and share stories, they began to build bonds in ways that were new and welcome. Some reported hearing their colleagues’ first names for the first time. As the two-day trainings unfolded, collegial relationships were strengthened and the growing team spirit was palpable. Teachers expressed feeling more supported by their peers and more engaged in their environment than they had been before the training. The benefits of the practice of council for staff were apparent -- and its value as resource for engaging scholars became clear, as well.
 
Despite coming in the final hours before a much-needed holiday break, the response to the council training workshops from administrators, teachers and trainers across the sites that participated was very positive: “Everyone shared great gratitude for the time, each other and the practice,” described a trainer. “They lit up on Day 1, when they learned one another's first names for the first time. The teachers were so open with their sharing and let themselves be vulnerable. The seemed to LOVE it!”

One of our trainers observed: “Participants left feeling very enthused about Council and more connected to each other. Faculty was able to see that, as they learned more about colleagues, the container started to form.“ Another trainer noted that, “The group participated with joy, open hearts and kindness. Their questions were reflective of deep listening and desire to learn this practice and build community.”
 
Many on our trainer team have decades of experience bringing council to schools. One of our veteran trainers was struck by how intensely this training workshop resonated. “It went very deep. Many tears and tissues, and laughter as well. At the end, we witnessed by speaking into the center in no particular order... and the witnessing went on for a long time. There was a collective sigh at the end, a sense that something really powerful had shifted. The people who'd been reticent during Day One showed their attentiveness and support to the process and the rest of the circle. I've experienced a lot of these, and this one was really a WOW. By the closing council, some people shared that they hadn't even been sure they would stay at [that school site], and now felt connected and inspired again.”

​The most poignant feedback came from the teachers themselves

• "I feel closer to my team members and grateful that we got to get to know one another better. I feel supported by this team.”

• “This training was fun and I feel like I can really do this with my students now."

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• "I feel I have more ways to communicate with scholars apart from academic teaching."

• "I feel so connected to everybody. This is the best place I've ever worked."

• “I hope we will hold council with our teams regularly to support each other.”

• "I feel like I know everyone so much better. I look forward to coming back to work!"
  

Despite working together in intense conditions for some time, many staff had never had the opportunity to really connect with one another to hear stories of their shared challenges, inspirations and aspirations. At each site, our trainers coached teams to self-facilitate their first of many Council Huddles in smaller groups, as the below video captured:

We are excited to deepen and expand our partnership with the Fortune community and eager to help nourish the seeds that have been planted in these initial workshops. ​Center for Council's programs for educators have had a profound and transformative impact on a wide variety of school sites. Teachers and other staff develop a greater sense of connection, community stakeholders engage more deeply and youth feel seen and valued, leading to a more meaningful educational experience that promotes equity and opportunity. Council not only increases campus well-being, but also provides a dynamic platform for the development of creative school curricula, instructional strategies, support services and restorative justice practices.

We are looking forward to growing our collaboration with the Fortune team!
 
If you are interested in exploring bringing council to your school or institution, please reach out to us to discuss setting up a training program by filling out this form.

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The POWER program’s council huddles continually receive enthusiastic feedback and are what separates POWER from other wellness programs. Council huddles give officers an opportunity to come together to practice council; sharing stories and offering one another non-judgmental regard. Some comments from the recent San Diego cohort:​

The POWER workshop that our team delivered recently in San Diego was a bit different from others, as our trainers collected biometric readings from officers both before and after the training program for a research protocol developed by our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Ann Seide. While the data is still being analyzed, the results, so far, are quite striking.

The year was 2015 and Mitch had found himself at something of a crossroads. Despite the discomfort, he recognized something compelling about this unlikely group of men, talking softly and opening up about things not usually discussed in public, even less so in prison. He made a choice to be curious and he kept coming back to the group, week after week. He soon found the practice of council to be surprisingly freeing -- and even inspiring. The depth and poignance of the stories shared were striking and Mitch found that one person opening up about something challenging led others to do the same. "It kind of put me in a place where I could be vulnerable in a place you're not supposed to be," he observed in a 2016 video, captured by a crew from Center for Council. Mitch became hooked. "There’s no group on the yard that makes me feel the comfort that council does," he reflected. "It actually builds my confidence and gets me comfortable with who I really am." 

Mitch's amazing transformation was confirmed by a grant of parole in 2019 and the launch of an inspiring new chapter in his life. Seven years after that first video interview, Center for Council's Brie Thiele paid a visit to Mitch to check in on his extraordinary story of redemption and triumph. Mitch and his wife Marybeth had welcomed their son, Gage, four months earlier and Brie reports that the couple has taken to parenthood very naturally. Their cozy home is decorated with family pictures, and their friendly dog, Freedom, stands guard over his terrain. The future is bright for this new, budding family and they were kind enough to chat about their journey.

​Have a look at Brie's video of her visit to the Highley household below:

Mitch credits council with helping him develop a better understanding of his emotions and motivating him to rediscover his true self. Despite his life sentence, Mitch committed himself fully to his self-improvement and education in prison and he achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with an emphasis on Criminology while inside, as well as certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor. And Marybeth was by Mitch's side every step of the way. He fondly refers to her as “the real gangster,” holding down the fort as he moved through an uncertain and scary time, confined to a maximum security prison in the middle of the California desert. During this time of incarceration, Mitch never imagined that, several years later, he’d be Center for Council’s Program Manager, an integral part of our prison programming.

These days, Mitch is responsible for managing all of Center for Council's programming in prisons. On any given week, he can be found traipsing around the state with Center for Council's Executive Director, Jared Seide, as they check in on prison programs launched in 29 facilities and serving thousands of incarcerated individuals. 

​The Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience program that Mitch manages is a three-month intervention in which participating incarcerated individuals are trained to facilitate council sessions for their peers, empowering them to become positive agents of change, on the yard and in their lives. The program contributes to a shift of culture within jails and prisons and equips participants with tools for successful reentry and reintegration into their communities upon release. After the successful 2013 launch of the program at Salinas Valley State Prison, the program has now grown to 29 California prisons and received 2020’s “Innovation in Corrections" award from the American Correctional Association.
 
CICR’s pedagogy is based on restorative justice principles, focusing on taking responsibility for past behavior and the harm caused to victims, and to others who have been impacted (friends, family, community), as well as to the trauma passed down through generations. Center for Council also provides services to those moving through the journey of rehabilitation and reintegration, launching the Council Reentry Program (CRP), managed by James DeBacco, who was actually first introduced to council as a member of the same Ironwood Prison group as Mitch! CRP works to address the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals returning home with a customized approach that offers warm hand-off support services initiated during incarceration and continues throughout the release and reintegration process with case management, ongoing council sessions for participants and their families, and advanced training in council facilitation for those who have found healing in this practice and want to carry it to their communities.

As an outgrowth of its work with individuals moving through incarceration and reentry, Center for Council created Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go, a powerful illustrated novella intended to offer a resource for individuals facing challenges on the path to freedom. It weaves the words, stories and insights of system-impacted individuals and those who support them.

Center for Council is committed to providing as many copies as possible to individuals who are incarcerated and who are somewhere in the process of coming home, as well as to all those who work with and care for them on this journey.

​Your support of our programming helps us expand our capacity to provide this resource to as many individuals as we can. Copies are offered to our supporters, as a gift of appreciation, when you become a donor.

The Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative (LARC) is a network of organizations partnering to promote successful reentry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism in the Greater Los Angeles area. Launched as an initiative of Center for Council and Beyond Us & Them, LARC supports a wide network of reentry service providers in Los Angeles, as one of 37 Accountable Communities for Health (ACH) funded by a statewide public-private partnership.

With a shared commitment to transformative change, attendees explored avenues to amplify their ability to make a positive impact.

​This event was an example of how LARC will resource the sector moving forward by creating social connection, building trust and offering opportunities to teambuild across the sector. ​​With quarterly meetings planned over the next two and a half years, this convergence of minds, hearts and missions is poised to stimulate cross-disciplinary insights, foster dynamic partnerships, and fuel the momentum towards a more equitable and effective reentry process.

​All those who are passionate about these intersections are cordially invited to contribute their vision and expertise, united by a common goal: to reshape reentry dynamics and empower individuals for a brighter future.

The main lobby at Homeboy HQ was abuzz with enthusiasm as community leaders and members gathered for thoughtfully crafted workshops and clinics. Some attendees arrived with apprehension, while others came with a sense of curiosity. However, all left with a deeper understanding of ways to appreciate and cultivate their own wellbeing and strength.
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After opening comments from the staff, welcoming all to Homeboy Industries, Jared Seide, Executive Director of Center for Council, set the tone for the day by addressing the historical foundations of the concept of 'power.' He emphasized the importance of reimagining strength beyond prevailing themes of physical violence, aggression and domination and spoke about the qualities of courage and perseverance. 

Reflecting on her journey, Murray shared, "Strength training provided me with a positive focus and something to anticipate in my life. I believe it's crucial for individuals to have such an anchor. Everyone faces challenging times, but discovering something in your life to anticipate and deeply care about is what transformed ‘strongwoman training’ into that for me." After her remarks, along with her coach and partner, Alec Pagan, Erin led a strength conditioning clinic that welcomed both men and women eager to explore what it takes to achieve the title of the World's Strongest Woman.

​Joseph Herd, a participant in the strength clinic and a member of Homeboy Industries, expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to participate in the session, noting that the experience goes beyond improving physical strength. He shared, "It's about self-confidence, boosting your self-esteem, and feeling better about yourself. Peace, meditation and all about strengthening your inner – believing that you can do something." Herd also fearlessly took on the "circus dumbbelll 'on rep' challenge (a viral hit on Instagram), against America's Strongest Woman and was left truly impressed by the level of strength and technique required to execute a single repetition. He exclaimed, "She's amazing! I was surprised that she was able to outdo all the fellas here because we actually work out here pretty much every day. She is actually not only the strongest woman; she's also the strongest person at Homeboy now.”    

​“Strength and Wellness Day” offered a chance to rethink our understanding of strength through a holistic lens. It provided participants with a unique opportunity for profound self-discovery and fostered connection between diverse individuals who have traversed similar yet distinct life journeys.

Jared Seide was invited to chat with Jodi Grinwald on her podcast, “Today is the Day Changemakers.” On this podcast, Grinwald shares real stories from real people around the world who are making a difference in their respective communities. Grinwald looks to highlight those who are disrupting the status quo and generating change. In this episode “Beyond Us and Them,” Grinwald and Seide discuss the difference between empathy and compassion, finding balance around empathy and altruism, and Seide’s path to council and how it relates to storytelling and listening.  

Seide’s own experience as part of the entertainment industry heavily influenced his journey to council and how he perceives the world. He found the shared human stories are the most meaningful in that they make us feel “not alone” and “connected to something bigger.” This led him to council.

In their discussion, Seide also talks about the specific difference between council and counsel where counsel and counseling is most often the process of getting advice or guidance from another person. Meanwhile, council stems from the Latin word “concilium” which means a group of people or a meeting which is effectively what it means today. He noted how council can be (and is) applied in a wide variety of settings, such as with health care providers, law enforcement officers, educators, and even within corporations. 

Seide and Grinwald discussed vulnerability and how many high performing groups actually encourage and protect vulnerability and create spaces where it is celebrated. Seide notes that “vulnerability leads to trust” and not the other way around which is how many often assume it works. In council, one does not need to share their “deepest darkest secrets;” it can be something as simple as “a thing that used to scare you or a time you lost something.” Sharing stories where you showcase your authentic self helps create a positive, creative, and productive culture and environment. 

They went on to talk about judgement and how the assumption that judgment is the norm perpetuates this idea of us and them. Judgment leads to us seeing a threat in many cases where we could instead take a breath and bring ourselves to a place of understanding and learning instead. As we look towards the future, Seide sees the ability to go beyond us and them by truly taking the time to understand and converse with those we disagree with as a key step in creating healthier and more connected communities. 

They dove into the book, Where Compassion Begins. The latter half of the book consists of assignments that help you develop more mindfulness and provides guidance on how to set up opportunities for council on your own. Learning by doing is key! Sitting down and actually taking part in council is one of the main ways of learning how to effectively participate in council. 

As a final question, Grinwald asked if Seide had any advice for young changemakers; Seide noted the value of “not knowing” and being able to arrive in a situation without biases so you can be “truly present” in any given situation. Change begins within yourself and setting aside our preconceived notions is an irreplaceable part of problem solving. Lastly, he noted that compassion begins with oneself.

For more information on council and how to effectively begin this practice, we offer opportunities to participate through our Social Connection Councils which happen every few weeks. For those interested, you can also find links and more information about Where Compassion Begins here on our website.

Listen to the podcast on
Apple
Spotify
Youtube
or wherever you tune in.​

“Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, we have an opportunity, and an obligation, to make the same investments in addressing social connection that we have made in addressing tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis.” - Dr. Vivek Murthy, 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States
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June 12th-18th is Global Loneliness Awareness Week (GLAW), an annual campaign to bring international awareness to the crisis of social isolation and loneliness. Since the Marmalade Trust (a leading loneliness Charity in the United Kingdom) started GLAW in 2017, it has gained momentum both in the UK and internationally. Unsurprisingly, loneliness is something that most of us will experience at some point of our lives. Despite this, the consequences of prolonged or consistent feelings of loneliness or isolation are unfortunately often overlooked. 

Loneliness takes many different forms and can be caused by a number of different factors or catalysts. For example, specific life events, workplace situations, and a sense of disconnect from people in your life can all contribute to a feeling of loneliness. Beyond this, more often than not, you won’t know if someone else is lonely unless they express that. In 2018, BBC’s Loneliness Experiment revealed that the stereotype of older individuals being the loneliest was simply false; instead, 16 to 24-year-olds reported the highest levels of loneliness. With that said, every age range exhibited a significant proportion of individuals who regularly experienced loneliness. 

Today, loneliness in the United States has been classified a public health crisis both due to its widespread nature and the litany of adverse consequences stemming from it. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the current surgeon general, noted that recent studies reveal that one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness in his recent advisory. Beyond that, loneliness and social isolation can significantly affect your health as it can contribute to cognitive decline, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and many more health challenges. Fortunately, loneliness is very fixable and anyone can take immediate steps to feel better. Telling others how you feel, thinking about your own emotional and social needs, and making plans to start building those social connections are all great steps in combating loneliness.  You can read the national advisory here.

In his advisory, Dr. Murthy listed several strategies including participating in social and community groups, minimizing distractions during conversations, and actively engaging with people of different backgrounds and experiences. Here at the Center for Council, we offer Social Connection Councils (SCCs)  where you get the opportunity to learn the basics of council, listen to each other without judgment, and speak from the heart. Previous participants report feeling more connected, grounded, and calm; moreover, they note how authentic and mindful the discussions were. These are just one of many different opportunities for all of us to work on combating this now widespread epidemic of loneliness. 
With loneliness becoming more and more relevant, it is now more important than others that we prioritize human connections. Be it through SCCs or other methods, there are many different ways that we can all prioritize our own and our community’s well being by committing to reconnecting with others. Fortunately, making connections with others is perhaps the most human skill. 

You can read the national advisory here.
And register for a SCC here.

Eve Marko, a Founding Teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order and head teacher at the Green River Zen Center in Massachusetts, recently highlighted our book, Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go. In her post, titled "Arctic Weather and Prison," Marko reflected on the experiences of people who have been incarcerated and the challenges they face upon reentering society. 

“I couldn’t put the book down. I’d never served time in prison, but the book spoke to me very personally. It talked to how we grow up, who and what influences us, and what decisions we make in our life that have long ramifications not just for us but for everyone around us,” Marko wrote. 

Marko praised Leaving Prison Behind as a powerful and insightful novella that sheds light on the struggles of those who have been through the criminal justice system. The book offers a unique perspective on the issue of mass incarceration, as it is created from the words and stories of system-impacted individuals, and those who support them. She wrote that,

“I find something in common with Ray. I wasn’t in prison per se, wasn’t hurt, called a number, dehumanized and humiliated, but I think I know about bars that have kept me in place. And I, too, wish to go home.”

As conversations around criminal justice reform continue to gain momentum, books like Leaving Prison Behind play a vital role in increasing understanding and empathy for those who have been impacted by the system. You can read the rest of the post here. And learn more about Leaving Prison Behind and order a copy for you, or for someone who is incarcerated here.

The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMWHA) grant is a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies nationwide that are looking to support the mental health and well-being of their officers. The grant can be used to fund a wide range of initiatives, including programs to promote resilience, training on stress management, and the provision of mental health services. The POWER Training Program is one example of a program designed to address all of these priorities. Here are some other good ways for law enforcement agencies to utilize LEMWHA grant funds:
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Peer support programs
Peer support programs provide officers with access to emotional support and assistance from their colleagues. These programs can be particularly helpful for officers who may be hesitant to seek help from traditional mental health services. The LEMWHA grant can be used to fund the development and implementation of peer support programs, including training for peer support teams.

Mental health training
Mental health training is an essential component of supporting the well-being of law enforcement officers. The LEMWHA grant can be used to fund training programs on stress management, resilience, and mental health awareness. These programs can help officers better understand the impact of their work on their mental health and equip them with the tools to manage stress and build resilience.

Crisis intervention teams
Crisis intervention teams are designed to provide officers with immediate access to mental health services when they need it. These teams can help prevent the escalation of mental health crises and provide officers with the support they need to recover. The LEMWHA grant can be used to fund the development and implementation of crisis intervention teams.

Mental health services
The LEMWHA grant can also be used to fund mental health services for law enforcement officers. This can include counseling, therapy, and other forms of treatment. Providing officers with access to mental health services can help to address mental health issues before they become more severe and impact an officer’s ability to perform their job.

Research and data collection
Research on the mental health needs of law enforcement officers is essential for developing effective mental health and wellness programs. The LEMWHA grant can be used to fund research on the mental health needs of law enforcement officers and the effectiveness of different support programs. Data collection can also help agencies to identify trends and better understand the mental health needs of their officers.

Peace Officer Wellness, Empathy & Resilience (POWER) Training Program 
The POWER Training Program is a nationally certified training protocol that has a powerful positive impact on officer wellness, as well as morale and engagement. In addition to improving health outcomes, POWER is designed to enhance communication skills and relationality, which are fundamental elements of procedural justice and are critical to improving interactions with communities served. The POWER Program has been designed and constructed by Center for Council to incorporate the newest innovations in mindfulness science, communication skills and effective neurobiological interventions. It has been recognized and certified by C-POST in California, and by IADLEST, nationally. No other organization offers or has access to the POWER curriculum. Find out more about POWER at c4c.link/power-training.

The LEMWHA grant is a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies looking to support the mental health and well-being of their officers. By funding initiatives such as peer support programs, mental health training, crisis intervention teams, mental health services, research and data collection, and the POWER program, law enforcement agencies can better support their officers and promote resilience in the face of the challenges of their job. It is essential that law enforcement agencies take advantage of this important grant to promote the well-being of their officers.

Since ancient times, people have used storytelling as a practice to connect, heal, and foster understanding. Sharing one's story can have a dramatic effect on both the speaker and the listener, as well as promote healing by increasing self-awareness and empathetic capacity.

Council is about telling our story and Hearing other people's story. Storytelling enables us to process experiences and emotions in a secure and encouraging setting. This can make the practice of council healing and restorative. When we share the story of our experience, we have the chance to drop in, explore and make sense of it in a way that may not have been feasible in the past. This often leads to a deeper understanding of oneself and one’s experiences, resulting in increased self-awareness and self-acceptance.

Storytelling can be a potent tool for establishing connections amongst people. We give others a deeper and more genuine understanding of who we are when we share our stories authentically. The act of offering regard and open-hearted listening to another’s story encourages this sharing and enables us to bear witness to the experience of others on a deeper level than analytical or judgmental listening, which is often our default outside of council. In these ways, the practice of council increases understanding and connection amongst people, as well as a sense of community and belonging.

Storytelling has the potential to be a strong force for change. By telling our stories and hearing others, we can bring attention to pressing problems, which can motivate others to take action. An example of this is the #MeToo campaign, which raised awareness of the pervasive issue of sexual assault and harassment, was initiated by a single person sharing her experience on social media and a lot of people listening in. This one action sparked a worldwide movement of people telling their own stories and attempting to make the world a safer and more just place.

Unlike debate or persuasion, sharing our narrative offers an opportunity to connect, heal, and instigate change. We may better understand ourselves, develop closer bonds with others, and contribute to the creation of a better world by telling our stories.

Our stories have the potential to be a potent means of healing and personal development.

Join our next Social Connection Circle here: https://www.centerforcouncil.org/social-connection-councils.html
Or come to a Council Training Workshop: https://www.centerforcouncil.org/in-person-council-workshops.html

​While resources and offerings were plentiful, the spirit of appreciation and celebration was most apparent in the experiences of the individual participants and was evident in the warm chatter, friendly smiles, excited children, emotional reconnections with old friends and the care and kindliness that was on display everywhere. 

If you missed this year’s event, mark your calendar -- plans are already underway for December 2023!

​This workshop was offered as part of Center for Council’s Council Reentry Program (CRP), which provides resources and support to formerly incarcerated individuals who are returning home and are committed to successful reentry. CRP offers warm hand-off support services initiated during incarceration, and continues throughout the release and reintegration process with case management, ongoing council sessions for participants and their families, and advanced training in council facilitation, as well as periodic workshops and sessions on important issues facing those on the journey of reentry, including the prevention of domestic violence.
 
This workshop was co-created with Center for Council’s longtime partner, Peace Over Violence. Partnership between the two organizations has been built over the last decade, as C4C gas helped integrate council practice into the organizational fabric of Peace Over Violence and as POV’s work has been embraced and supported by Center for Council. The workshop included an opportunity to drop into deep sharing in council, led by C4C’s Executive Director, Jared Seide, and an in-depth presentation and discussion of the nature, origins and prevention of domestic violence, led by POV’s Director of Counseling Services and Trauma Recovery, Wendy Blanco, LCSW.

​The workshop was offered at Midnight Mission, a residential facility for unhoused individuals, many of whom are formerly incarcerated. Participants in the workshop were offered an opportunity to reflect on the forms domestic violence can take and explored how harm can be experienced physically, emotionally, even financially.
 
One participant observed that domestic violence can show up in intimate relationships, as well as other family dynamics and, if unexamined, can negatively impact the way our various relationships develop moving forward in our lives. Information, reflection and community can offer ways to work with these life challenging experiences and help avoid future harm. As another participant observed, past mistakes don’t have to just be “baggage,” but can be transformed into experiences that can be integrated as learning and growth.

The Council Reentry Program is offered to individuals returning to the LA area and is designed to provide assistance navigating the trepidation, uncertainty and anxiety of reentry, tailoring linkages and referrals to key service providers to help make the transition from incarceration as smooth as possible. Council Circles specifically offered for formerly incarcerated individuals are held throughout the month and offer participants a nonjudgmental space to connect with a positive community. Additionally, participants in CRP are offered free council training workshops and professional development sessions, with the opportunity to engage in internship, mentoring and feedback—as well as certification as a council facilitator and trainer. For more information, click here.

Center for Council looks forward to continued partnership with Peace Over Violence, which is a sexual and domestic violence, intimate partner stalking, child abuse and youth violence prevention center headquartered in Los Angeles. POV is committed to social service, social change and social justice, offering innovative and comprehensive programs include Emergency, Intervention, Prevention, Education and Advocacy services offered in Los Angeles and the 22 cities within the West San Gabriel Valley. For more on POV's work, their website can be found here.