On October 29 and 30, 2024, Saint Paul University in Ottawa welcomed Rev. Dr. Julia Robinson Moore and Rev. Ricky D. Moore from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for "Building Beloved Communities Through Peace."
This transformative event, a collaboration between the School of Leadership, Ecology, and Equity at Saint Paul University and the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR), explored groundbreaking approaches to healing racial and ethnic trauma and fostering resilient communities.
Day 1: Theoretical Foundations and Spiritual Context
The first day was a deep dive into the historical racial-ethnic traumas, exploring their lasting impacts on society today.
Rev. Dr. Julia Robinson Moore shared profound insights from revelations of neuroscience (Jim Wilder), mimetic theory (René Girard), and applied spirituality (Presbyterian) to address the intergenerational legacies of racial and ethnic trauma.
This context helped frame trauma’s broad, intergenerational effects and highlighted how spiritual approaches can support the journey toward healing.
After the lecture, participants engaged in a Q&A session and then enjoyed refreshments, where they could connect and reflect on the powerful ideas shared. This open, informal gathering set the stage for the immersive workshop the following day.
Day 2: The Brain’s Hierarchical Model, VCR Skill, and Group Exercise The second day moved from theory into application, focusing on understanding trauma's effects on the brain and exploring new pathways to community healing. Dr. Ricky Moore presented the brain’s hierarchical model as a framework for understanding how trauma shapes behavioral responses, particularly within communities affected by racial and ethnic trauma.
Participants also learned about enemy mode, which captures certain defensive responses to conflict, and discussed the VCR skill—Validation, Comfort, and Repatterning. This skill encourages a shift in how individuals process relationships, keeping them larger than problems, and is designed to help the brain stay relational, fostering peaceful connections even in difficult times.
The day culminated in an engaging group exercise where ten participants role-played the brain’s hierarchical model, while bringing the Immanuel Approach to life. Through this exercise, participants gained insights into how trauma affects the brain and influences our capacity to interact with others.
They experienced how incorporating the Immanuel Approach can calm (“put on mute”) the alarm triggered in the amygdala and hippocampus, fostering peace and enhancing relational connections.
Across both days, participants were encouraged to balance vulnerability with connection, creating a safe and supportive environment for confronting the painful realities of racial and ethnic trauma. This journey toward building beloved communities brought attendees together in a spirit of compassion, support, and a shared desire to foster change.
Join CICR in the Journey Toward Peace-building
This event, presented in partnership with The School of Leadership, Ecology, and Equity at Saint Paul University, aligns with CICR’s mission to empower individuals, organizations, and communities through conflict resolution. Dr. Julia and Dr. Ricky Moore’s work beautifully demonstrated how neuroscience, spirituality, and community can intersect to transform trauma and foster lasting reconciliation and peace building.
The Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR) is dedicated to fostering understanding, dialogue, and healing in our communities. Through workshops, conflict resolution certificate programs, and events like Building Beloved Communities Through Peace, CICR equips individuals, communities, and organizations with the skills needed to navigate and resolve conflicts constructively.
Explore our certifying training program and join us in making a meaningful impact on the journey toward conflict resolution and community empowerment.
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