Erase The Space & Derek Burtch
derek@erasethespace.org
Erase the Space has partnered with CCCO since we started the program. Our aim is to provide opportunities for young people to engage in civic discourse across difference. We know that the tough conversations are even tougher to have when engaging with someone who has different life experience. Often, the conversations don't go the way we expect because of the way we view the situation—through our lens. That is why NVC is such a great tool for our students when learning to collaborate with someone in a different district and a different part of the metro area. We knew that in order for our students to practice empathy, teachers should be doing the same thing. We ask a lot of the teachers who participate in our program. Integrating discourse activities into their curriculum isn't always easy. Living with students in the tension of communication inherent in some of the issues brought up during Erase the Space exchanges is also very difficult. Nonviolent communication, especially the basics training, provides teachers with language and structure to what most of them do in class already—empathize with their students. Our hope is that with the framework of NVC, our teachers can feel confident guiding their students through the tension of civic discourse with to collaboration and connection.
In late February, Erase the Space gathered our teachers to learn the basics of nonviolent communication with Susanna Warren. It was a cold winter day, but how grateful we all were for it! The teachers learned from Susanna and engaged in activities surrounding the work in their classrooms. The teachers—from five different districts around central Ohio—caught on quickly and discovered uses for NVC with their students, and some discovered that they already operate from a place of empathy and were excited to have such precise and intentional language behind their teaching practice. One teacher told me, "I bought all the NVC books, and I'm presenting on the concept at our district professional development next week. I love it and am all in." We all know it works, but it's always great to hear about the positive ways it impacts our teachers. Erase the Space and CCCO will continue to partner in the effort of bringing NVC to different educational communities.
