​We are experiencing an excess of division and polarization in our world today. I envision a world where individuals and communities are empowered with the skills to care for the whole of life where everyone’s needs are considered and matter.  I want to empower people with the skills to reclaim connection with themselves and others to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth, understanding, and healing. I’d like to think that even impacting a few individuals in this way can have the ripple effect of ultimately affecting hundreds, if not thousands. 

 

For over 25 years, I've served as a Senior Negotiator for the American Guild of Musical Artists, driven by a vision to blend compassion and kindness with power and influence. A non-adversarial approach to negotiating collective bargaining agreements for performing artists—one rooted in empathy, connection, authenticity and courage was not easily found in the innately adversarial culture of union negotiating. Early in my relationship with my husband, Cliff, he introduced me to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Marshall Rosenberg as a foundation for our partnership. I instantly recognized it as the framework I had been seeking for effective conflict resolution. Not long after, we connected with CNVC Certified Trainer Aya Caspi, and together founded Reclaiming Life, a project offering NVC training to individuals and groups worldwide. More recently I've been focusing much of my efforts in offering mediation services privately and through the Conflict Resolution Center of Nevada County, where I now serve as a board member and volunteer as part of their court program.