On this page PAR Model in Your Life >> About the PAR Theorist >> Who Should Attend >> The New PAR Model >> Additional Information >>

Host your own PAR in Practice workshop.

Help us put an end to violence today.

Click on the button above now to join the NVRI E-Alert email list. It's FREE and your information is kept confidential.

Comments from those who have attended the "PAR in Practice" workshops:

"Compelling, evidence-based, practical, transformational!" • “Terrific - don't miss it!" • "I'd say that this is the workshop to go to if you really want to understand the practical applications of the model." • "I would strongly recommend it to anyone." • "Very effective for anyone to use in their everyday life and any career path you are on. Forces you to think about your own belief about types of power." • "Extremely valuable. Very timely." • "Provides an opportunity to do something practical about issues of violence." • "Absolutely valuable." • "Definitely worthwhile. Quite revolutionary in it's accessibility." • "Very helpful and different way to look at situations. Solve problems without drama and/or loss of power."

What they say about the work of and other presentations by theorist Ari Cowan:

“Fabulous — focused, thoughtful, important and engaging.” • “Extremely thought-provoking and stimulating. I felt inspired.” • “Mr. Cowan was phenomenal!” • "Very professional — incredibly valuable.” • “Outstanding material, presentation and very much needed today.” • “Very impressed — I wish the session could have been longer!” • “Very thought-provoking and interesting! Great stuff!” • "Clear, practical and stimulating.” • “Great speaker! Very thorough presentation.”

— Program Evaluation Comments

Workshop

Putting the PAR Model in Practice in Your Life

The purpose of this FREE workshop is to provide
participants with the opportunity to learn how
the PAR Model works through practical application
in their own lives, with a minimum
of theory and technical description.

The PAR in Practice program is a continuing dialog with theorist Ari Cowan and others experienced with the new Violence Integrative Prevention and Restoration (PAR) Model. These sessions are largely devoted to spending time with participants and addressing their personal questions, challenges, and opportunities in support of their efforts to become positive contributors to resolving conflict and fostering peace.

This workshop includes:

		A brief summary of the new National Violence Reduction Initiative, the challenge of violence, and the opportunities to improve the quality of life for everyone..
		A summary of the PAR Model: what it is, how it works, and what results it produces.
		A short example which illustrates how the PAR Model is applied to reduce conflict and violence.
		An interactive segment addressing participant questions, experience, challenges, and opportunities. These range from questions about international conflict to how to deal with an antagonistic teen. This is the major focus of the workshop. We devote the majority of the workshop time to this segment.
		A short wrap-up which includes the next steps participants can take to learn more about the PAR Model and to become involved in the National Violence Reduction Initiative.

This program is part of the National Violence Reduction Initiative.

About the PAR Model Theorist

Ari Cowan is a writer and theorist living in the Pacific Northwest. He is the recipient of the United States national public health award from the US affiliate of the international physician organization which received the 1985 Nobel Prize for Peace.

Mr. Cowan was cited — along with Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former US President Jimmy Carter, 1980 Nobel Prize recipient Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, and others — for his assistance in bringing the first edition of The International Bill of Human Rights to publication. He is also the recipient of the Association for Human Resource Professionals’ Award for Excellence in Human Resources — the highest award granted by that organization.

A member of the adjunct faculty of the University of California, Irvine Graduate School of Management (Irvine, California) for eight years, Mr. Cowan also served as a member of the Workplace Violence Task Force of the University of Washington Graduate School of Public Affairs, Institute for Public Policy and Management. Click here to visit Ari Cowan's web site.

Who Should Attend

This program is open to everyone interested in ending violence, bringing peace, understanding human development, and exploring the possibilities for compassion, understanding, and building a bright future.

The program is suitable for ages 14 and older.

The New PAR Model

The Model : Developed in Washington State and successfully demonstrated at a Level 5 (maximum security) prison and in other settings, the “Violence Integrative Prevention and Restoration (PAR) Model” is a new, evidence-based, cognitive approach to violence response and prevention built upon a public health foundation. It is a significant departure from the traditional “punitive” model for dealing with violence. The PAR Model incorporates new thinking about and language for describing violence, provides a new framework for preventing and responding to violence, and presents an effective alternative to the commonly-used traditional punitive-based approaches for dealing with violence.

Applications: The PAR Model can be applied in a broad range of settings including prisons, international conflicts, criminal/justice systems, schools, healthcare systems, communities, families, social service agencies, public health programs, relief projects, and peacebuilding initiatives.

Effectiveness: Preliminary evidence about this new “social technology” suggests that violence can be greatly reduced and, in some settings, eliminated. The PAR Model has been applied with success at the Clallam Bay Corrections Center (CBCC), a Level 5 (maximum security) facility which is part of the Washington State Department of Corrections. During the demonstration, violent incidents were reduced 100%, Intensive Management Unit ("segregation," “solitary,” the “hole”) referrals were reduced 100%, and logged confrontation were reduced 100% (references available). An annual program investment of $4.2 million is expected to return $78.4 million annually in direct savings to the State of Washington — an 18.5 to 1 return on investment. This projection assumes a 10% reduction, not the 100% reduction produced at the at CBCC demonstration.

In addition to the early prison demonstration, the PAR Model has been successfully demonstrated in American schools and on the India-Pakistan border. These early indicators suggest that we can produce significant positive results in a broad range of disciplines and cultures.

Click here for more information on the PAR Model.

Additional Information

Language: The course is currently provided in English only.

Tuition: There is no charge for this workshop. All materials are provided at no charge..

Recording: The operation of audio or video recording devices during these courses without the express written consent of SpiritRidge Institute is prohibited.

Discrimination: SpiritRidge Institute courses are open to qualified persons regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, economic status, or military service

IMPORTANT: Please note that faculty, fees, and program specifications are subject to change without notice. Except as noted in the "Discrimination" section above, we reserve the right to limit or deny participation in this program

All workshoip materials
are provided
at no charge.

If you have questions about the workshop, please email