In Our Hands

			In Our Hands

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A Peace and Social Justice Program, Adults

Authors: Robert C. Branch, Samuel Goldenberg, and Mary Thomson

Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association

Pub. Date: 1990

Available From: UUA Bookstore

Theme and Description Encourages participants' collaborative inquiry into many peace and justice issues. Among the topics considered are personal decision making, attitudes toward interpersonal conflict, and envisioning a more peaceful and just world community. Each session allows plenty of opportunity for reflection and discussion. Participants perform a variety of explorative activities, which helps them go beyond information about issues to integrate their knowledge, feelings, and values into their own lives and to act effectively for peace and justice.

Goals for Participants

To enlarge and sharpen their awareness of peace and justice issues
To explore the threats to the survival of human life on this planet, and to consider their feelings about these threats
To observe the connections between peace and justice in their personal decision-making
To evaluate ways in which they deal with conflict
To accept the challenge of working to increase the quantity and the quality of peace and justice in the world
To recommit themselves to work for peace and justice.

Age Range Adult

Size of Group 6 to 16

Space Requirements A comfortable living-room setting, large enough for small-group and total-group discussions and activities

Number of Sessions 6

Length of Sessions 2 hours

Leader Training A thorough reading of the course and personal reflection on the themes for each session are necessary. Knowledge and experience in group process and conflict management would be very helpful, but are not essential. Go-leadership is highly recommended.

Leader Preparation About 2 hours per session, depending on the leaders' experience in group process and the amount of time used in reflection of the topics

Strengths

Offers well-organized sessions and a variety of creative, reflective, and interactive activities
Engages not only the intellect but also the emotions and spirit of participants
Addresses the developmental needs of many learning styles
Nurtures the growth of a trusting and caring group
Is tied to a process of inquiry and not to specific issues or current events.

Limitations

Flows from the contributions of participants, so some groups may feel the need for supplementary reading to help themselves prepare for each session
Suggests a leader-directed process, which may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable to some adult groups
Lacks a bibliography and good background material for leaders.

Adaptability

Sessions may be shortened to 1 1/2 hours
Can be used at a retreat
Although the program builds toward a personal and/or group commitment to peace and social justice, each session has a specific focus and can stand alone. As part of the In Our Hands series of peace and social justice programs for ages 5 through adult, it can be used as part of an all-congregational focus on these themes.

Unitarian Universal Values The program focuses on 5 of the Unitarian Universalist Principles: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; the right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Implicitly, the program models living out all the Unitarian Universalist Principles.