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From prisoners to peacemakers

5/30/2014

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While I was a master’s student in Non Profit Leadership, I would dream of how I would run my own organization. So when the teacher mentioned “Gracious Space,” I felt immediate kinship. I visited the Center’s website and ordered everything I found there, including the amazing little book.

As I read the book I kept thinking that when I’m a leader in an organization, I’m going to look at everything through this filter and make sure everything is gracious. When you look at how an environment can be gracious and how you treat staff, each other and yourself – if you approach everything that way – it’s an easy way to make an organization run better.

When I took the three-day Gracious Space training, everything changed. After the workshop I realized I could no longer work in the “ungracious” atmospheres I was in and set about figuring out how I could do the gracious work every day. I wanted to do more to promote the work, embrace the concepts and bring Gracious Space to life. When the position for Executive Director of The Freedom Project came up, I went for it.

The Freedom Project is a 10-year old non-profit organization that takes mindfulness training and non-violent communication to prisoners in Washington state prisons.

Compassion was actually on the job description –how cool is that! Their work in bringing mindfulness and non-violent communication is such a good match for Gracious Space. I feel like I’m living my dream. It’s 90 percent volunteer run, and I’m making sure the organization benefits from my Gracious Space experience. In the first few weeks after starting the position I focused on the setting and interpersonal communication.

The office had moved in February and in July, things were still unpacked. We immediately rearranged to make the space more friendly and compassionate. There were a lot of pictures of giraffes – they have the largest hearts and are a symbol for us – but they were all stacked against the wall. Now we have a welcoming environment for the staff and for those returning from prison to the community.

I also addressed my leadership style with the staff, and invited them to help me create an environment where they could invite the stranger and learn in public together. There was a real release of tension, they were so grateful to be able to express themselves without fear.

I feel very fortunate to be given this opportunity and feel a responsibility to make it a healthy organization. I believe no one needs graciousness more than those who are incarcerated, and those returnees coming back into their community, so I am over the moon with possibilities!
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    Joanne Conger

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Seattle, WA 98107 
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