Courses
The Peace Catalyst team is a diverse network of peacebuilders who bring a wide range of skill sets and expertise to our work. Because peacebuilding can take many different forms and look different from community to community, each team member brings something unique to the table. We want YOU to benefit from our team’s expertise, and that’s why we’ve put together a collection of courses that are available upon request from specific team members.
CONNECTING IN CONFLICT:
Building Peace in our Relationships
This course is perfect for community members looking for foundational skills and concepts that they can use to address personal and interpersonal conflicts, as well as leaders and peacebuilders seeking an integrated toolkit for transforming interpersonal conflict.
Core Topics:
Four key lenses for understanding conflict: Needs, Trauma, Narratives, and Power
Circle processes for community building and restorative practices
Empathy and compassionate communication
Self-awareness and self-compassion
Dialogue and win-win approaches
Informal mediation skills
Interpersonal de-escalation skills
Core training: 12 hours
REQUEST A WORKSHOP FROM: Peter Digitale Anderson at peter.anderson@peacecatalyst.org
HEALING HARMS:
From Trauma to Everyday Resilience
This six-week interactive course is designed for everyday people—teachers, pastors, social workers, students, parents, activists, and neighbors—who want to navigate difficult experiences with greater awareness and care. Whether you’re supporting others or reflecting on your own journey, this course will equip you with practical tools to recognize harm, foster healing, build stronger relationships, and contribute to wider peacebuilding efforts.
Core Topics:
Introduction to Trauma
Personal, Group, and Trans-Generational Trauma
Cycles of Violence and Trauma
Grief and Lament
Agency, Forgiveness, and Empathy
Self-Care and Resilience
Core Training: 9 hours
REQUEST A WORKSHOP FROM: Mirela Popaja-Hadžić at mirela.popaja@peacecatalyst.org
COMMUNITY PEACEBUILDING:
Building Peace in our Neighborhoods
It's one thing to be a good neighbor; it's another to partner with your neighbors for change. Transforming our communities from the inside out requires presence, trust, and collaboration. This course will guide individuals, groups, and congregations on the incarnational journey of building relationships, integrating into their community, and partnering for the common good of all.
Core Topics:
Connected versus disconnected community
Positive peace
Discerning one's call and contribution
Postures, values, and roles for community peacebuilding
Community learning and mapping
Networking and trust-building
Collaborative partnerships and community organizing
Core training: 12 hours
Content/duration adaptable to a group
REQUEST A WORKSHOP FROM: Peter Digitale Anderson at peter.anderson@peacecatalyst.org
CATALYZING JUSTICE:
Building a Just Peace in our Society
Building lasting peace means transforming aspects of our systems and that perpetuate harm. But what if those with the power to effect change ignore us? The Catalyzing Justice course provides an introduction to building a nonviolent movement for justice. Rooted in Kingian Nonviolence and drawing from several movement organizing theories, this course prepares you to work towards social change in your own community with both courage and love.
Core Topics:
Courageous Nonviolence and Positive Peace
Social Movements and Power
Values of Nonviolent Social Change
Elements of Social Change Campaigns
Social Change Roles
Crafting a Social Change Strategy
Core training: 12 hours
Content/duration adaptable to a group
REQUEST A WORKSHOP FROM: Peter Digitale Anderson at peter.anderson@peacecatalyst.org
Small Groups & Workshops
In addition to courses, we’ve also created small group curricula and workshops designed to help you continue exploring peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and Christian formation in you own communities.
