The year-long Vermont Courage Cohort meets seasonally to practice the principles, tools and habits of The Center for Courage & Renewal, based on the work of activist and educator, Parker J. Palmer. Over the past year, we have extended welcome beyond the state as we shift this community of practice to convening virtually. By gathering over the arc of the year, people have a chance to cultivate connection over time and weave a container that builds brave space for inner and outer work.
“By choosing integrity, I become more whole, but wholeness does not mean perfection. It means becoming more real by acknowledging the whole of who I am.”
― Parker J. Palmer
Each fall we extend welcome to join this community of practice to align soul and role. Might that include you? Are you:
Concerned with the state of the world?
Feeling isolated in these wobbly times and looking to connect deeply to a community of trust?
Seeking ways to cultivate your courage and find tools to navigate conversations across political and personal divides?
Wanting to contribute to a community committed to holding tensions in life-giving ways?
Looking for a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect to your inner knowing?
Registration for the Vermont Courage Cohort is open and accepting applications. This virtual offering includes four three-day Circle of Trust retreats and six evening calls. Participation in the gatherings includes invitations for reflection, small group sharing, and time outside in your home place. We limit zoom fatigue and maximize reflective space and community connection.
Retreat Sessions offer the Circles of Trust© Approach:
Generous Listening to oneself & others
Practicing Open & Honest Questions
Exploring Courage Principles and Practices, Habits of the Heart and Core Values
Individual Reflection through poetry, music, creative expression and connection with the natural world as ways into discoveries to navigate these stormy times with integrity and courage.
Renewal modalities to strengthen our heart-cores
Clearness Committees based on the Quaker tradition to hear our own inner wisdom while drawing on the wisdom of other people.
Facilitator Team: Rob Meyer & Ally Oswald. Rob became a facilitator through the Center for Courage and Renewal in 2016. He was a member of the Vermont Courage and Renewal Cohort for 4 years and practices courage work in the healthcare community in Boston. Ally has been a member of the Vermont Cohort for over 10 years and has apprenticed facilitation for 2. She has been integrating Courage into the public school setting in Southern Vermont. They bring a commitment to Courage work and a deep appreciation for creating reflective space, extending welcome for depth and humor and diving deeply into learning edges to cultivate the courage needed in these times.
Dates: Please check the dates and make sure they work for your calendar. Being in this community of practice invites a spirit of reciprocity and a commitment to being a part of the circle and the arc of the year.
Circles of Trust©: November 4-6, February 3-5, May 5-7, August 4-6. Thursdays 6 pm - Saturdays 1:30 pm
Evening Calls: December 9, January 13, March 10, April 7, June 23. Thursdays 6-8 pm
Cost: The full cost of participation in this ten month program is $1,500 to be paid in full or in monthly installments of $150. Upon acceptance into the cohort, an initial minimum payment of $300 will reserve your spot for the year.
Partial scholarships are available, please email Nate indicating the amount requested.
5 Graduate Education Credit is available through Castleton University for completing this program. Please inquire with Holly