2012 Peace Leadership Summer Workshop
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation hosted a seven-day summer workshop on peace leadership at the beautiful La Casa de Maria Retreat Center in Santa Barbara, California, from July 22-29, 2012. The NAPF Peace Leadership Summer Workshop is a seven-day intensive course on peace leadership and the skills for waging peace. Led by NAPF Peace Leadership Director Capt. Paul K. Chappell, participants were empowered with the understanding and tools that can help them make a positive difference in their lives, communities, and the world. Click here for a detailed schedule of the workshop training. The training included:
Participant Map
Testimonials“‘Peace’ is such an important concept but such a vague word - but the Peace Leadership Workshop changed all that with concrete and plentiful insights, historical information, pertinent examples, eye-opening facts and riveting video clips. In short, this is a workshop that loaded all of us up with a full toolbox to replace the rusty nail and solitary hammer we had possessed up until then. I am no longer at a loss to know how to initiate or participate in persuasive dialogue when the issues of war, violence or patriotism arise. Now, I know what to say, how to say it and how to respond to common misperceptions like, ‘We've always had wars.’ or ‘War is inevitable.’ Perhaps even more importantly, I know what not to say when engaging others on the subject of peace, war, weapons and violence. To participate in something so rich in information, so well-researched, so service-oriented and so life-changing defies trying to describe it suitably with words! I left the Peace Leadership Workshop with a head full of new knowledge, new friendships with other committed peace activists of all ages, a long list of recommended books and videos, and an invitation from the amazing NAPF staff to stay in touch and to use them freely and often as a resource as we each pursue our own path on the great road to global peace. It just doesn't get any better than this!” “As a high school English teacher who wants to bring peace to the educational process, I could not have found a better workshop. Not only did we learn a great deal about the meaning of peace, the many ways and strategies to create peace, and the authentic arguments for peace, but also, we grew together as human beings in one ‘short’ week. A profound experience. The NAPF Peace Leadership Workshop has become the standard by which I will measure all other workshops. Thank you!” “This has been an amazing week. Paul is so well spoken, organized and able to convey his points so that what he is saying has an incredible impact. The myths of war were clearly delineated. I feel we have reason on our side when waging peace. We’re not just New Age ungrounded idealists. This is a life and death campaign - I was so taken aback at the statement that there is a 10% chance my grandchildren may not live their full lifespan because of war and environmental degradation. And in the face of all this, Paul and David Krieger and NAPF never lose hope or heart, even in their great sense of urgency. I hope to convey this to my community. On a personal level, there was a sense of trust and safety, which came about from Paul’s willingness to talk about his traumatic past. As we heal ourselves, so we will heal the world.” “Whether you're a new activist or a veteran of the peace movement, freshen your skills tool box and learn to be a peace leader. Paul Chappell, West Point graduate and former army officer, will share his leadership skills, and help you understand why the women's movement and the civil rights movement were successful and how those successes can help you pierce the veil of myths that surround the justifications for war, our need for nuclear weapons, our inability to tackle climate change and more. You will learn not just skills to be a peace leader but you will gain life skills as well. I highly recommend this leadership training.” “This opportunity was truly amazing and inspirational. I grew intellectually, personally and spiritually. It helped me to clarify my purpose towards a new and better path. I am forever grateful. The quality of Paul's teaching is unparallelled. Paul embodies the qualities of a true leader and warrior of peace: Kind, compassionate, accepting, empathetic, leading by example, truthful, and diligent worker. He has an exceptional vision and confidently articulates his ideas in a simple and compelling fashion. I am now empowered towards action; I am prepared to write, speak to individuals and groups, and join the larger peace-seeking community. I have made long-lasting relationships with two dozen individuals across the United States, in my specific field of education as well as related fields in the overall march towards peace. In one short week, they have grown to be my family, my friends, my inspiration. I highly recommend this training to any individual who has interest in today's world or tomorrow. Thank you, NAPF, for making it possible to have this life-changing opportunity.” “Peace work starts from the inside out and peace skills are life skills...These are the two things I knew for sure coming in. What I came away with is a deeper sense and a stronger foundation around these two concepts. I have known of Paul K. Chappell's work for some time now and have read all of his books. It is hard to put in to words my level of appreciation and gratitude for being able to attend this workshop. My understanding of the importance of external strategy and internal healing is also more firmly rooted. Even the information I thought I knew before has taken on new meaning. I can't thank the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation enough for bringing together such an amazing group of people for such a profoundly important workshop. Not only do I feel enriched and inspired by the content of this workshop, but I am equally blessed by the connections made with others who are also genuinely committed to waging peace and creating a better world.” “The Peace Leadership Workshop was outstanding in all respects and I’d recommend it to both seasoned activists and beginners alike. I had little to no background in antinuclear or antiwar activism, only a strong interest. But after this amazing and enlightening week I can say I feel much better educated on the essentials of nonviolence and quite motivated to apply the lessons to further work in my community or even nationally. I have much more confidence now in my ability to speak, write, and persuade on matters of peace and war. Paul Chappell is an excellent teacher who will amaze you with his dedication to the cause of nonviolence.” “This workshop brought me to a new place of inner peace and gave me excellent tools for peacebuilding that will help me in all my relationships. Paul’s leadership style exemplifies his teachings. Since I learn best by example, this enabled me to see what Paul was presenting. The stories, videos, and role-playing were especially beneficial for me in understanding all that peace-building involves. All in all, this was a life-changing experience for me. I know that I will continue to meet challenges in my work for peace, and this leadership training has inspired me to keep going, to persevere with courage no matter how often I am tempted to give up. Paul has the ability to take complex ideas and make them simple. Thank you to all at NAPF for making this training possible.” “I came with an open heart and open mind. I came with an understanding that I was ready to listen and learn to what a once pro-war ex-military Captain had to say about Waging Peace. I had no idea that my open heart and open mind would be so full of love, compassion and empathy for every single person on the planet when I left. I learned so much and feel more empowered than I ever imagined -- expectations or not. All I want to do, and share, is all about being truthful, honest, respectful, educated, empowered, disciplined, empathetic and loving. Some of these things I already have inside of me, but they are intensified from the compelling experience and compassion that Paul evokes. I also learned very well from Paul Chappell that 'Waging Peace' is like playing in a beautiful orchestra. We are the instruments that make peace beautiful. As long as we are in harmony with being Peace Leaders spreading love - not hate; sharing wisdom - not hoarding it; being a listener - not always talking; being truthful - not telling lies; being respectful - not disrespectful; being disciplined in our goals and on our mission to spread peace like a beautiful song, we will Wage Peace and start a Peaceful Revolution. I can not thank Paul and the NAPF staff enough for the happiness and peace in my heart.” “The NAPF Peace Leadership Workshop changed my life. I came not knowing exactly what to expect in terms of teaching style and structure. A lot of the time classes are taught which purport to teach certain things. A lot of the time they fail to do that for me, and I think for many others, because they fail to engage people in the learning process. Not only was I (as well as I think everyone else in the workshop) engaged, but in the course of just one week we became like family. We not only talked about our shared humanity, but we experienced it with each other and actually lived it. The workshop was powerful for many reasons but I think for me, this was really the living, beating heart of it. Paul was an absolutely brilliant workshop leader and facilitator. This is not a superficial learning class. It’s learning that has inspired me immensely and has implications for all realms of my life. The Workshop was really an incredible experience and I wish that everyone and anyone concerned about the state of our world today could have the same experience we had.” “The Peace Leadership Workshop was a transformative experience for me. It deepened my empathy, helped me identify how I want to contribute to peace and social justice, and empowered me with excellent tools and perspectives. The organizer, Paul Chappell, is an absolute joy to listen to. He manages to continually present compelling and inspiring material, and exemplifies the principles he is teaching. Additionally, by its nature, the workshop draws people of remarkable diversity and caliber, and spending a week with them is an uplifting and illuminating experience. I left the workshop feeling deeply connected to humanity and eager to play my part in the unfolding drama of history. Honestly, if I could, I would go to this workshop every year!” “The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s Peace Leadership Summer Workshop was a truly inspiring and rewarding educational experience. I feel empowered with the knowledge and skills to wage peace in every aspect of my life. These are the tools needed to build a better world for us all. I wish everyone who is interested in peace and social justice issues could attend this workshop!” “The Peace Leadership Summer Workshop was truly an eye opening experience. I have always been a student of the Peace Movement, but was never quite sure how to put peace work into action. This workshop gave me a practical perspective on how to wage peace in my own life. I know what I learned will transcend through all aspects of my life. Not only was I able to gain viable skills to advance the peace movement in my own community and beyond, but I was able to connect to like minded people and share their experiences. I have met true friends here. I leave the workshop rejuvenated and excited to wage peace in my own life. I plan on spreading this message with youth and college students in my own community. Peace must happen for humanity to survive, and now, I feel I have the capacity to make change in our world. I recommend this workshop for anyone who wants to see, and be a part of, concrete, positive change in this world.” “I came to the Peace Leadership Workshop confident that I would receive effective instruction in the emotional, mental, and practical tools required to “Wage Peace”…and I was not disappointed. Paul Chappell taught as much through his own embodiment of the principles as he did through his written and spoken words. His own innate intelligence, humility and patience were matched by his respectfulness, understanding, and appreciation of each attendee. The empathetic and unconditionally loving environment Paul created allowed all of us, from very diverse backgrounds, to feel comfortable sharing from our own life experiences, and ultimately, from our own open and sometimes wounded hearts. I know I was not alone in leaving the workshop with more self-awareness and self-confidence in my own ability to exercise Peace Leadership Skills as Life Skills. Furthermore, I feel particularly grateful and honored to have been a part of this First Annual NAPF Peace Leadership Workshop, as I feel it is a seminal event in drawing together a “small committed group of people” who are going to help “change the world”. May there be many, many more of these workshops to come as this is exactly what the world needs now, more than ever.”
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