March 18th, 2006

Circle Training of Facilitators was offered in Miami, Florida, at the Victim Service Center. This half-day interactive workshops provided an introduction to circle theory and methodology along with facilitation practice.

Staff from two organizations: Victim Services Center and the Women’s Shelter in Miami, attended along with a woman visiting in Naples for a total of 16 women. This was a four-hour program designed for these two organizations to get to know one another in circle and learn how to conduct circles within their organizations. The experience was so successful that they have made a commitment to work closely together and support one another’s leadership. The woman visiting in Naples will start two circles in the New York area with coaching from Ann Smith.    

All participants felt it provided them with the knowledge of Circle Principles and how to facilitate a circle. Two who were skeptical of a circle model, one being a lawyer who likes hierarchical structures, are now ready to support the others in introducing this to other organizations in Miami.

The training was conducted by Ann Smith of Circle Connections and Teresa Descilo, Director of Victim Service Center.