Monday, September 9 2024
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Courageous Connection is a mindfulness-based community engagement practice that brings together Black Flint residents and Flint and Genesee County Police officers. This multi-week series is designed to facilitate honest and trustworthy relationships and foster a deeper understanding of each other’s humanity. The ultimate goal is to continue working towards a positive, safe, vibrant, and transformative city in Flint.
The program kicks off in the fall with separate orientation sessions for Black Flint residents and Police Officers. The residents orientation will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The police officers’ orientation will be held over two days: Monday, September 9, 2024, from 8:00am to 5:00pm, and Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 8:00 am to 5:00pm.
The weekly series will then take place for both groups separately, with the final session culminating in an all-day retreat together.
Throughout the program, participants will engage in a variety of mindfulness-based practices, including:
- guided meditation,
- mindful listening
- compassionate communication
They will also have the opportunity to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives in a safe-enough and supportive environment. The goal is to co-create a space where participants can connect with each other on a deeper level and build the foundation for lasting relationships.
Courageous Connection is a unique and transformative program that has the potential to create positive change in the Flint community. By bringing together community members and law enforcement officers in a spirit of openness and vulnerability, the program can help to bridge divides, build trust, and create a more just and equitable society.
Course outcomes:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the impact of stress by implementing strategies for a healthy stress response.
- Enhance self-awareness, emotional resilience, and communication skills to effectively navigate challenging conversations and foster meaningful connections with others.
- Contribute to a paradigm shift in societal attitudes by challenging stereotypes and promoting an inclusive and just community.
- Empower individuals to become agents of change, creating a ripple effect that fosters a more compassionate and interconnected community.
- Strengthen and collectively build trustworthy relationships between Black Flint Residents and Police serving in the City of Flint and Genesee County.
