Two local women celebrate the circle in new book

The first circle experience that Winter and McCreight had was when they
were both involved in a community-based restorative justice program
that was going on in the area during the late 1990s. It was used to
come up with a consensus for punishment or consequence. It was used for
less serious crimes and the consequence subject to the approval of a
courtroom judge who would have the final say.

The restorative justice program used the circle format to connect
the perpetrator of a crime with their actions and register how the
actions affected the victim(s).

The kind of circles written about in “Celebration Circles,” however, celebrate experiences and events in people’s lives.

“Celebration Circles” discusses six circle themes: connections,
beginnings, discovery, transitions, the journey and the world. Winter
and McCreight explain that 50 different kinds of circles can result
from those six themes.

The book discusses the why of celebration circles, and then goes
into detail on how to organize the circles. The book suggests that a
circle can consist of 8-12 participants meeting in a circle for one to
two hours, and there can be two to three questions raised during rounds
of the circle.

Why use these circles?

Winter and McCreight explained what they feel are the advantages of
these circles. When a group is in a circle, McCreight said, the
participants are better able to see everyone. If sitting at a
rectangular table, it’s easy to lose eye contact with people, she
added.

Also, because of the talking piece rule, people aren’t “talking over
each other, interrupting each other, or dominating the conversation,”
McCreight said.

The circle is a “respectful place where you are not judged and you
are comfortable to express your own view,” McCreight continued. “The
other piece is that there is really no hierarchy in a circle, even if
you are a judge or a police officer. Everyone’s experience is listened
to.”

“It’s a comfortable place for sharing,” Winter agreed.

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