References, Slides and Resources

Our conversation this morning was intense- we talked about a range of feelings, thoughts, fears and unknowns around what is happening with people who are currently in correctional facilities. We had a lot of resources shared and many personal reflections around how the quarantine is affecting our communities, families, friends and loved ones.

We started off by doing a poll- asking those who were present if they knew someone in prison.

This is not a linear process- Covid19 is not finite. We will be changed, as a society, a world, from this pandemic. With that being said, the question of Who Do I Want to Be During COVID19? seems overwhelming and not quite enough.

So we dove together into how we can restoratively ask ourselves and our communities questions that helps navigate through some of the murkiness that is the future.

A powerful conversation was had this morning by those who joined us. While the world is constantly changing around us, we have named many feelings and reactions we feel and have. Naming these helps give us the power over circumstances that are challenging.

Often times though, our discussions don’t dive deeper than naming it. It is important to hold space for naming challenges, feelings and reactions AND it is important to have strategies to help us move from simply acknowledging and naming TO looking for opportunities for action or skill building.

During this community conversation, we talked about how profoundly relationships carry us through hard times, good times and everything in between.

However, in this time, we are entering into relationships in new ways that are stretching how we have connected. These are unfamiliar times to us all, and we are craving connection. It also means that we are realizing harm is happening, not only outside of our own worlds but inside them as well.

One point that is critical to remember now is that processing of a trauma does not need to and often will not happen until months, years later, when we are feeling emotionally and physically able to process and deal with the effects of such a challenging event.

Naming that a traumatic event is occurring is the first step because it allows us to find information about how we are reacting and “being” in the present. Our window of tolerance is something that helps name how our bodies and minds are responding to trauma.

Being in the same space for an extended amount of time with the same people, particularly your family, can be challenging even in the best of times. Add in a global pandemic, shelter-in-place orders, closed schools and other limitations, and this time can be overwhelming, tiring, confusing and very frustrating when communication in your residence devolves into conflict.

We want to provide tools that enable all people- adults and children- to be able to understand how to have conflict better and to understand why people respond the way they do in conflict.

During our community conversation this morning, we had a great discussion around some of the challenges going on in our communities surrounding sharing resources. Hoarding has been a problem all across the country, with many people not able to purchase or access materials they need during this time.

So what can we do about this? We watched a video that started off our conversation.

We had some wonderful discussions this morning about the stages of grief, how they are connected to trauma and the confusion around COVID-19. Here are some of the articles we referenced and the slides we shared.

Let us know what you think in the comments below and share this others! Let’s start talking about this!