The Vision
- Many adults, especially those in at-risk situations, may have never received training in interpersonal communications skills to strengthen their interactions with employers, co-workers, and others.
- Many people in re-entry come to the work environment without appreciating the importance of normative differences between expectations in prison interactions or dysfunctional family situations, in contrast to those within typical middle-class work environments. Without sufficient awareness and practice with different patterns of behavior, they may undermine their efforts to do well in their new lives.
- Our programs are designed to support increased awareness and understanding, combined with many “hands on” experiences to strengthen participants’ human relations skills.
What we offer
Life Anew provides a variety of workshops and life coaching services. Currently, these workshops are provided in prison settings. In the future, we expect to expand the option for these training opportunities within the community and “on the outside” in the community.
We offer a variety of experiential training and life coaching services to train participants in personal development and human relation skills. The program provides several workshop series, ranging from basic to more advanced areas of human relations.
Support Group Sessions
Some class series are condensed and presented as an on-going peer support group. Loosely similar in format to an AA meeting, this would be intended to provide on-going emotional and practical support.
Participants have the opportunity to attend weekly support group sessions in which they reinforce learning and practice their interpersonal relations and coaching skills with each other. Participants will also learn relaxation techniques and mindfulness meditation. (In the prison, these sessions occur in 1.5 to 2-hour time frames on Fridays, and in separate all-day Saturday sessions.)
Stand-alone Workshops
Short – video assisted discussion sessions
Typically delivered in 2 to 3 hour sessions, some sessions have a module 1 pre-requisite, others would be available to anyone from the general population of the prison or other groups.
Examples:
- Excerpts from the PBS series – This Emotional Life
- DVD – Emotional Intelligence
- YouTube presentation of Amy Cuddy on Presence
- YouTube presentation of Brene Brown on Shame
- YouTube presentations of Daniel Seigel’s work in interpersonal neurobiology and mindsight
Conflict Dynamics, Anger Management, and Conflict Resolution Skills
Currently, only one new stand-alone workshops series is planned. It will involve three days or approximately 18 contact hours. The workshop series will focus on anger management and the dynamics of conflict, nonviolent communication, and conflict resolution skills. Participants who have completed Module 1 workshops are eligible to attend these sessions. They may attend in lieu of or in addition to the Module 2 series. This offering is based on a college course that Marilyn Durbin taught for many years.
Facilitator Training
Advanced training for peer coaches and workshop facilitators. These workshops involve more complex helping, coaching, and group facilitation skills.
Workplace and Employment Readiness Programs and Mentoring Services
To support a successful transition from “the yard” to the job and the community, we expect to design and deliver several employment-related, experiential training workshops.
Customized Life Anew Programs
Stand-alone workshops and can be customized and delivered for participants within organizations, such as the Women’s Resource Center and Food & Shelter, Inc. in Norman. In time, customized programs could also be offered for DOC facility staff.
Life Anew Workshops
Module 1 – Fundamentals - An Introductory Three-part Workshop Series
Module 1 involves 20 contact hours, typically delivered within a three-week time frame. Some variations in the length and scheduling of sessions can also be arranged for groups outside the prison setting.
Module 2 – Moving Beyond Old Expectations
A four-part workshop series designed to expand and deepen personal awareness and growth, as well as more advanced skills in interpersonal relations, helping, and peer coaching practices (Module 1 is a required pre-requisite)
