The Power of Circles: A Guide to Building Peaceful Just and Productive Communities--One Circle at a Time

Communication is the key to all successful human interactions. In light of the expanding use of texting and other forms of electronic communication we risk losing the personal face-to-face meetings that have been the mainstay of positive relationships between individuals and groups for thousands of years. Lavery shows how the circle process is a powerful tool for overcoming this worrisome situation as it offers a way to enhance communications build and rebuild relationships and improve problem-solving capabilities within families neighborhoods schools corporations and civic organizations. Narratives by participants in the Community Circles program attest to the capacity of people and groups to work together to resolve contentious issues especially when they are provided with a safe place in which to tell their stories and be listened to by others--without judgment. The circle process has been used successfully for thousands of years in indigenous cultures. With the help of the insights in this book we now have the opportunity to use circles today to resolve many of the challenging issues that confront our society. The Power of Circles is a valuable guide for the journey ahead. Norman Lavery reveals how in families workplaces and communities whether planning for joy or struggling through difficult decisions circles can be adapted to turn contemporary conflicts into opportunities for building new relationships. Whether the issues addressed are across backyard fences or international borders building new relationships is the most important outcome of circles. Based on Laverys deep understanding of circles this book provides a remarkable practical contribution in engaging circles in all aspects of our lives. --Barry Stuart Author of Peacemaking Circles: Crime to Community and Building Consensus for a Sustainable Future Winston Churchill said Jaw jaw is always better than war-war. Paradoxically we are hyper-connected to one another through our smartphones and social media yet we grow more and more isolated from one another. Norm Lavery convincingly makes the case that even in our highly industrial and complex society through open genuine conversation we have the capacity to effectively build and maintain social justice within our families workplaces and communities. --Stan Roden Mediator-Arbitrator; Documentary Filmmaker I have been involved in restorative justice for more than twenty-five years and wish Id had this book many years ago. It not only takes the reader right inside restorative justice processes used in many countries highlighting their differences as well as their shared strengths but it also makes telling contrasts with the deficiencies so apparent in many mainstream justice systems. It is a wonderful book Ill be recommending wherever I go. --Rupert Ross Canadian Crown Attorney (retired); Restorative Justice Author Norman G. Lavery incorporated Common Quest Mediation in 1993 as a way to help people resolve their problems--without enduring costly battles. He learned about the Circle process in 1999 and formed the non-profit Community Circles program in 2002. Norms compelling goal is to guide people to interact more effectively using the Circle process. Norm has a doctorate in geology has taught skiing for forty years loves hiking and canoeing and builds one-of-a-kind wooden furniture and art pieces.