Heart of hope: A guide for using peacemaking circles to develop emotional literacy, promote healing and build healthy relationships.

Source: (2010) Boston, MA: Center for Restorative Justice, Suffolk University.

This resource guide is designed for practitioners who work with youth, young adults, and their families within social services, violence/pregnancy prevention, education, and positive youth development programs. It offers a flexible set of tools that can be applied to a range of settings and for a variety of purposes, We believe that any caring and responsible individual can learn to use these practices safely, creatively, and effectively. The peacemaking circle is the core practice of this guide. In the HOH, the peacemaking circle provides the environment where participants develop emotional awareness and emotional literacy and learn to practice mindfulness. Users learn how to plan, create, and facilitate the peacemaking circle as a safe place for shared dialogue. The resource guide provides 50 step-by-step model circles. Each model circle offers activities for building and deepening relationships as well as for developing emotional awareness and emotional literacy. It also includes easy-to-use exercises in breathing, simple yoga and meditation. (excerpt)