Greetings, Friends!
Typically, at this time of year, we request donations to support our work, but this year is different. We’re writing to thank you for your support and to announce we are no longer accepting contributions.
As the year comes to a close and we turn the page to 2025, the Center for Compassionate Living (CCL) is also turning a page: We will no longer be offering classes and workshops.
However, we’re pleased to continue to host practice groups as we move forward, plus contribute content to our website and send monthly newsletters as time allows.
When CCL was founded 18 years ago, we saw an opportunity to share the life-changing gifts of Compassionate / Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in Central Oregon. At that time, people who wanted to learn NVC traveled across the Cascades to Portland, Eugene, and Ashland (and even further). We saw a need, and we filled it—with classes, practice groups, workshops, events, NVC think pieces for our website and newsletter, and more.
Things have changed, and now there are opportunities galore to learn NVC from teachers around the world via Zoom, and NVC has become widely known and valued for its connecting communication teachings. What a wonderful thing to happen!
As volunteers, Denise and Bryn have joyfully taught/led/facilitated Compassionate Communication classes and workshops for dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals.
Over the years we’ve enjoyed the support of a great many donors who valued the experience of NVC and wanted to encourage others to learn how to communicate with compassion, respect, and connection. These donors were partners in our mission to provide Compassionate Communication to anyone who wanted to learn these skills.
Bryn enjoyed the extraordinary gift of teaching NVC at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution for almost ten years (until the pandemic brought these classes to a close). CCL and its donors made these classes possible, helping to provide all the handouts and books and even supporting Bryn’s transportation costs twice a week for years. We have stacks and stacks of cards written by the men who took these classes thanking the donors for their individual experiences of growth and learning—and expressing how their lives were enhanced and transformed by using these skills.
Both Denise and Bryn have hearts bursting with gratitude for all the connection and learning they have enjoyed with the many people with whom they’ve had the pleasure of sharing NVC.
For those with long histories with us, you’ll remember we’ve had homes for the Center in the cabin behind the Old Stone Church, then on Hill St., Century Drive, and finally Industrial Way. We have a wealth of wonderful memories from each of those places with so many extraordinary people—all made possible by the support of our donors.
Thank you for everything you’ve made possible and for all the encouragement, appreciation, and support over the years. We hope you too have enjoyed our journey together.
Our practice groups will continue on the current schedule and we look forward to connecting with those who enjoy our ongoing efforts to create the world we want to see: A world with joy, compassion, caring, and respect—and one that values everyone’s needs and seeks ways to meet them together.
In appreciation and gratitude,
~ Beth Hanson, Joanne Diepenheim, Sarah Mason, Denise Torres, Bryn Hazell, and Barb Troyer
