Vision

Beyond Us and Them offers a vision for a culture of social connection, engagement and resilience that promotes mutual respect, wellbeing and care and dismantles systems of oppression, exclusion and racism. We are committed to transforming systems through training law enforcement, community-based organizations, educators and policymakers, as well as individuals, to cultivate wellness, compassion and resilience. Our work promotes structures of belonging, utilizing council and other practices to encourage social connection and wellbeing.
 
We live in a time of overwhelming challenges. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory concerning "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." In this moment of social disconnection and rampant othering, our communities are painfully divided, and the social fabric is frayed. Rather than embracing our rich diversity, we are becoming more isolated and adversarial, particularly in the realm of police-community relations. Rather than respecting our commonalities and shared values to engage together in the hard work of reforming our institutions and American society, we increasingly blame, vilify and harden toward those we perceive to be on the other side.

First responders and public safety agencies are overextended and underprepared. Educators are overwhelmed and under-resourced. People of Color and other marginalized individuals feel unsafe. Burnout and attrition is rampant in the law enforcement and healthcare sectors. Calls for transformational change of systems, policies and practices have reached a tipping point. The American public and its public safety institutions are in crisis. Simultaneously, over 2.2 million Americans are incarcerated, over 60% of whom are Black, Indigenous or People of Color. While 95% of incarcerated individuals will be eligible for release at some point, 44% will return to prison within one year, demonstrating the insufficient support for their transition to healthy functioning lives in their communities. 
 
There is an urgent need for transformational change in the institutions we depend on for education, wellbeing and public safety. This historic moment demands a critical assessment of systems and structures that dehumanize and devalue individuals, demoralize agency staff and that perpetuate oppression, marginalization and racism. Together we must lead the creation of new programs and practices that generate respectful dialogue and creative solutions to our collective challenges. Changes in systems and structures can only be sustainably achieved if we work to transform individuals and cultures within the system. This moment demands innovation, action and  leadership in the way we train and structure the work we do on the front lines of social justice, as well as public safety. Our work provides a platform for easing suffering, cultivating wellbeing, increasing engagement, and flourishing together as a community at a time when this is desperately needed.
 
"The mystery of peace is located in the nature and quality
​of relationships developed with those most feared."

John Paul Lederach
 
​Our work focuses on the individual, as well as the collective. Mindfulness practices, compassion-based communication exercises, and training in self-awareness, resilience and self-regulation increases not only personal wellbeing, but group wellbeing, as well. Attentive listening and authentic expression builds positive relationships and neutralizes hierarchical dynamics formed by the inequality of status, race, or other social factors. These practices support a deep sense of community and foster recognition of a shared humanity and interconnectedness. It is critical that individuals give voice to their stories, develop mutual respect, cultivate a compassionate response to anger, defensiveness, and violence, as well as strengthen emotional health and resilience.

Focus


Our focus is on self-awareness, self-regulation and compassion. We believe in self-reflection that challenges any prejudice or bias we discover within us. Our work strengthens our capacity to sit with discomfort and bear witness to each other’s triumphs and challenges. Transformative action depends upon learning to listen more deeply to one another. When we listen from the heart, we hear the stories that make us human, and we inevitably recognize the joy and pain and fear and love that mark our shared journey. We affirm our interconnectedness and commonality and we see that we are all in this together. We build resolve through our commitment to practice, and we learn to trust by experiencing our shared vulnerability. We are training skills that transform individuals, cultures and systems. 
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In April of 2022, Center for Council entered into a partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to work together to increase law enforcement awareness of the intersectionality of wellness, compassion, procedural justice and community building. Through this collaboration, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) division of the DOJ will help raise awareness around Center for Council's Peace Officer Wellness, Empathy and Resilience (POWER) Training Program.

The POWER program is built on science-based strategies for optimizing physical, emotional, mental and relational health. In addition to teaching foundational practices for supporting officer health and wellbeing, the POWER curriculum addresses critical topics like empathy fatigue, moral distress, pathological altruism, depersonalization and burnout.

​Ultimately, this partnership will explore the way in which the skillful integration of high ethical standards, personal well-being and sustainable practices for navigating professional demands of police work help officers enhance compassion toward themselves, each other, and the communities they protect and serve.  (Learn more about POWER here).
 
"When we strengthen our connection with one another, we are healthier, more resilient, more productive, more vibrantly creative, and more fulfilled."

​Dr. Vivek Murthy, 19th U.S. Surgeon General

Methodology

Our methodology focuses on developing the following core capacities: 
  • Mindfulness and Awareness of Self and Others
  • Wellbeing and Self-Regulation
  • Authentic and Compassionate Communication 
  • Social Connectedness and Team Cohesion
  • Creation of Structures of Belonging

Organizational culture shifts slowly. Lasting change cannot be engineered through top-down edicts, or generalized policies, nor designed and imposed by outside experts. Individuals within an organization - be it a school, a business or a law enforcement agency - must be given the opportunity to engage topics and conversations deeply, and at their own pace, in ways that are relevant to their lived experience, cultural orientation and personal communication styles. They must be invited into meaningful conversation, in which they feel their voices are welcome and authenticity is valued. This is especially true when challenging topics such as bias, racism, power differentials and where conflict is involved. If an organization’s values are never explored by its employees in a way that relates to their own lives, the values remain abstract and meaningless.





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Science has begun to confirm what organizations like ours have known for a long time: superficial remedies like “implicit bias training” are not effective in addressing underlying issues. Trainings that are directive, corrective and conceptual, presented in a didactic, multiple choice format, do not create lasting shifts in attitudes or behavior. In fact, these “check the box” mandated trainings may often do more harm than good. We believe that a foundation in the tools of mindfulness, self-awareness and insight, coupled with the group practice of council, creates opportunity for positive and lasting shifts in organizational culture. Our approach provides the foundation for cultivating individual wellbeing, as well as meaningful discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
 
Mindfulness provides evidence-based tools and practices that lead to greater self-awareness and self-regulation. Council creates an opportunity for participants to speak one-at-a-time, without interruption, authentically sharing their personal stories rather than opinions, and listening non-judgmentally while others do the same. Complex societal issues become personally relevant, as participants share their real-life experiences and hear the stories of others.

Council serves the urgent need for spaces that foster recognition of our shared humanity and practices that generate respectful dialogue and creative solutions to our collective challenges. Social connection has been identified by the Surgeon General and others as critical to health; Council provides a trauma-informed, culturally relevant, compassion-based resource for enabling individuals to be heard, to recognize commonality, and to approach life with compassion rather than anger or violence. It is a platform for easing suffering, increasing engagement, and flourishing together at a time when such structures of belonging are desperately needed. 
 
Real change cannot occur without meaningful connection and mutual understanding. Now, more than ever, it is critical to learn to listen beneath opinions and rhetoric to the wisdom of people’s lived experiences. Authentic action that affects change must come from a foundation of honest self-reflection, self-regulation and compassion. In order to look forward with clarity and integrity, we must look inward to discover new possibilities. ​
 
"Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone."
​
Fred Rogers

Research and Publishing




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​Our research into qualitative, quantitative and biometric measures of outcomes continues to evolve. ​Studies evaluating a variety of populations demonstrate the profoundly positive impact of the mindfulness and compassion-based practices that serve as the foundation of our programming.

For example, researchers affiliated with UCLA and RAND Corporation found that Center for Council’s "Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience" program for incarcerated participants demonstrated significant positive change in socio-cognitive functioning and revealed pronounced reductions in physical and verbal aggression, PTSD symptomatology, as well as marked increases in social connectedness, mindfulness, perspective-taking and resilience. Independent research has found that the "Peace Officer Wellness, Empathy & Resilience" (POWER) training program demonstrated statistically significant improvement in mindfulness, emotion regulation, empathy, and management of stress and anger. Additional ​research with police officers has found that mindfulness interventions lead to significant improvement in resilience, stress, burnout, emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, mental health, physical health, anger, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. New breakthroughs in heart rate variability monitoring have created the potential for measurement of HRV Coherence in current program trials.​
Research has demonstrated that our programs lead to increases in communication skills, empathy, workplace connectedness, mindfulness, as well as reductions in social anxiety. Stress-related illnesses account for myriad negative health impacts and managing stress effectively can have profound impacts on illness, and even mortality. Developing skills in managing physical, mental and emotional dysregulation has enormous benefit for individuals, teams and communities. Our work strengthens the underpinnings of a compassion-based workplace, reinforces shared values and builds capacity for greater engagement, more resilience and positive organizational culture.
 
According to the Harvard University Gazette, "In recent decades, public interest in mindfulness meditation has soared. Paralleling, and perhaps feeding, the growing popular acceptance has been rising scientific attention." The American Psychological Association has identified numerous benefits of mindfulness, including reduced rumination, stress reduction, boosts to working memory, focus, less emotional reactivity, more cognitive flexibility, relationship satisfaction, and other benefits.​
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​Testimonials abound, including this compelling 37-minute video of Los Angeles Police Department officers talking about their experience with POWER. In addition to anecdotal accounts, quantitative scales used to develop our outcome assessments include: The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to measure both cognitive and affective empathy; The Brief Resilience Scale (BRCS) to measure the ability to bounce back and recover quickly from stress; The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF), to measure the five facets of mindfulness: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience; The Short-Form Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ-SF), to measure physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility; The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R), to measure experiences of closeness in interpersonal contexts, as well as difficulties establishing and maintaining a sense of closeness; The Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5), to measure mental health before and after the program; The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), to measure the DSM–5 symptoms of PTSD; and The Active-Empathic Listening Scale (AELS), to measure Active-Empathic listening, which consists of sensing, processing, and responding.
In addition to our research projects, Beyond Us & Them engages in publishing of printed, electronic and audio books.

Our first title, Where Compassion Begins: Foundational Practices to Enhance Mindfulness, Attention and Listening from the Heart, offers an overview of our methodology and some practical exercises for integrating mindfulness and council into one's life and work.

The book is available via Amazon and at independent booksellers, and is also available in ebook and audiobook formats and has been published in a special edition for incarcerated persons, with editions available in English and Spanish.

​More information on Where Compassion Begins can be found at this link.
Our second published book is Leaving Prison Behind: A Council Before I Go.

This book is an illustrated novella 
created from the words and stories of system-impacted individuals, and those who support them. Its publication is an outgrowth of the Council Reentry Program and was intended to support and resource incarcerated individuals preparing themselves for the journey home. Presented as the reflections of one man, as he experiences his last night of incarceration, the book includes a robust resource section with ideas, references and practices intended to be of support to those preparing for and embarking on the challenging journey home that lies ahead.

Leaving Prison Behind is available for purchase via Amazon. More information on the book can be found at this link
 
"But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men."
​
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Supporters and Allies

There are many ways you can join us in advancing Beyond Us & Them.

Benefactors are passionately engaged and contribute time, resources and talents to build momentum and achieve impact and systems change
Supporters are inspired by the movement and the vision and offer resources to amplify the voices of those we serve
Allies offer support and commit to the principles and practices of Beyond Us & Them, dissolving bias, embodying compassion and taking action to manifest our shared vision
 
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there."
Rumi

Programs

A grounding in mindfulness, combined with facility with council practice and an understanding of the autonomic nervous system and the ways in which we encounter and respond to stressors, provides a platform for the exploration of a wide range of relevant topics and an opportunity for developing communication, wellbeing and relational dexterity. Listening without judgement and speaking authentically lessens isolation and fosters empathy, leading to an ability to work and interact with less cynicism and more tolerance.
 
We offer evidence-based curriculum, combining the latest innovations in contemplative neuroscience with instruction in mindfulness practice and peer-led group council facilitation to deliver powerful and sustainable skills-based programming. Our trainings for educators, first-responders, organizational staff and other professionals are cohort-based and emphasize authentic engagement and structured individual and group practice. Our programs incorporate mindfulness and council pedagogy, as well as practice, and build practical skills for cultivating resilience amidst stressful conditions, honing attention, regulating emotions, understanding behavioral cues, and cultivating positive relationships. 




Trainings are typically structured around initial immersive workshop sessions, followed by individualized curriculum that is assigned and practiced in the weeks following the workshop, and supported by regular small group “Council Huddles,” asynchronous self-paced online work and supplemental training sessions that are woven throughout the program to supplement the learning journey. The practice of council builds communication skills and promotes compassion, cooperation, and wellbeing. Sharing and listening to universal stories about love, loss, fear, triumph, challenge, hope and other experiences enables participants to recognize that, despite our many differences, we have much in common. ​Programmatic content is tailored to meet the needs of organizations and can include a variety of topic areas, including: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Culturally Based Communication; Community Engagement & Outreach; Change Management; Conflict Exploration; Unpacking Values and Bias; and Restorative Practices. ​

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​Core offerings include:
 
Peace Officer Wellness, Empathy & Resilience (POWER) Training Program. Developed by Center for Council, POWER provides an intensive and interactive three-month curriculum for police and correctional officers that utilizes mindfulness practices, compassion-based communication exercises, training in self-awareness and self-regulation, as well as weekly online assignments and regular small group, peer-led Council Huddles. 
more information here…
 
Businesses and Social Justice Organizations. We work with organizational and business leaders to strengthen and support positive organizational culture, inclusion and equity by providing training to staff that fosters more cooperative and supportive work environments and more effective tools for engaging clients and stakeholders.
more information here…
 
Rehabilitation and Reentry Programs. We have worked with thousands of incarcerated individuals to support effective and sustainable transformation and measurable improvement in criminogenic factors that are indicators of recidivism. Returning citizens serve on our staff and help lead our programs for formerly incarcerated populations and their families.
more information here…
 
Educators and School Staff. Our work fosters more cohesive and compassionate school communities and provides a dynamic platform for the development of creative school curricula, instructional strategies, support services and Restorative Justice practices. Participants engage more deeply, staff and faculty develop a greater sense of connection, and students feel seen and valued, leading to a more meaningful educational experience that promotes equity and opportunity.
more information here…
 
Healthcare Professionals. We offer evidence-based curriculum, combining the latest innovations in mindfulness science with peer-led group practice to deliver a powerful and sustainable skills-based program for physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
more information here...
Join us in moving beyond us and them...
an independent 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization