Upcoming Council Trainings & Events
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Hello to all of you who we have had the good fortune to sit in council with over the years.
This is a brief update on what we NECC members have been about recently. Followed by the exciting news of Beyond Us & Them’s launch of programming here in Vermont. Vermont’s Model for Compassion-Driven Public Safety Transformation: A transformative initiative designed to enhance health, wellness, and community relations within Vermont's public safety sector, utilizing compassion-based programming. Please be in touch with them if you are Vermonters. We would love to hear from you with an update on how council may be flourishing in and enriching your lives and communities.
Bonnie, Paul, Jeremiah & Kirstin
Update from Jeremiah: I’m in the thick of it right now. Teaching full time and running a catering business. Sometime in October I’ll emerge from this and feel like a human being again.
I’ve wrapped up my travels to England for now. I was studying at Dr. Martin Shaw’s school of myth. I’m particularly interested in the intersect between myth, folklore, fairytale and other kinds of cultural storytelling and personal myth. I’m interested in how council can be a container for both at once and what that does to the gathered group as a whole. My primary place of practice is in the classroom with my high school students. I’m interested in forming an adult group in my community this winter.
Update from Kirstin: Kirstin continues to live council through the Touching the Earth retreat for young adults. This summer’s cohort enjoyed dozens of magical council circles around the fire, in the living room, and in the meditation hall, often practicing in three small groups simultaneously. Council themes ranged from stories of belonging to reflections on cultivating compassion, stories of feeling oneness with the living earth to exploring the contours of grief. The cohort of 11 young adults brought a global perspective to these inquiries: Members grew up in Honduras, Germany, Sierra Leone, and a Tibetan refugee community in India.
Kirstin and her husband and 12-year-old twins will be practicing council as they travel in Nepal and India from October - April. Later in 2027 she looks forward to offering a council facilitation training in Vermont.
Update from Bonnie & Paul: We celebrated Paul’s 80th Birthday in May in Honfleur, France at the end of a 5-week trip to France which began in Aix-en-Provence where we gathered with a group of European hiking friends (Switzerland, Germany & Belgium) who we have been hiking with for over 40 years. They were originally English language students of Paul’s at the School for International Training who have become life friends who have long carried the power of sitting and listening deeply and speaking openly with others in circles. Our time with them each year is quite special. This trip also allowed both Bonnie and Paul to delve more deeply into their love of painting and the importance of creating contemplative time as part of each day. We are slowing down and focusing on what seems of most importance at this time in our lives and this time of so much global change in the human and more-than-human realms…keeping space for the calls from our land from friends and neighbors and community. We listen for calls for council from those near to us.
Bonnie has been preparing this year to journey out to Big Pine, CA as a participant in the Great Ballcourt Initiation Fall Fast with the School for Lost Borders.
https://schooloflostborders.org/programs_courses/the-great-ballcourt-initiation-fall-fast-2026/
“The life I could still live, I should live, and the thoughts that I could still think, I should think.” CG Jung, the red book
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UPDATE FROM BEYOND US & THEM: PLEASE VISIT THE LINKS BELOW TO READ ABOUT THIS AMAZING PROGRAMS WHICH HAS TAKEN YEARS TO LAUNCH. TIRELESS WORK BY JARED SAEDE, SYDNEY SCANLON, SAMIRA SALAME AND THE WHOLE TEAM AT BEYOND US AND THEM. GREAT PHOTO OF BERNIE SANDERS WHO WAS A CHAMPION FOR THIS WORK COMING TO VERMONT. (YOU MAY NEED TO COPY AND PASTE THE LINKS INTO YOUR BROWSER.)
sydney scanlon project director213-377-5747 ext.104 beyondusandthem.org
samira salame Rise Training program coordinator 213-377-5747 EXT. 119.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY INTEGRATION COUNCIL: Vermont’s Model for Compassion-Driven Public Safety Transformation: A transformative initiative designed to enhance health, wellness, and community relations within Vermont's public safety sector, utilizing compassion-based programming.
https://beyondusandthem.org/vermont/?utm_source=Beyond+Us+%26+Them&utm_campaign=7c62b8a855-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_12_02_07_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_835beb41d7-9b63d1c3e3-438171517&mc_cid=7c62b8a855&mc_eid=d3b9916eb1
Free Training Opportunity in Vermont – RISE Program Now Enrolling
We have an upcoming cohort for the RISE training program:
Newport Cohort – November 12th and 13th; December 17th; February 4th | Hosted at the Newport State Office Building Room 250,100 Main St. Newport VT 05855
Registration is free and open now. You can sign up or learn more here: https://beyondus.info/rise-registration-form. The RISE team is also currently working to get cohorts scheduled in other areas of the state like Brattleboro, Middlebury, and Rutland.
RISE Training is a powerful and dynamic training program offered by Beyond Us & Them, working in partnership with the Vermont Department of Public Safety. This robust, evidence-based training program focuses on individual resilience and group cohesion as critical building blocks in an effective and responsive public safety ecosystem. RISE builds resources and provides tools and practices for both professionals and the communities they serve.
If you're interested in hosting a future RISE training in your community, or if you'd like to be added to the list for future cohort announcements, please reach out directly to rise@beyondusandthem.org.
Please feel free to forward this along to anyone who might be a good fit. You can reach out to me or directly to the RISE team at rise@beyondusandthem.org with any questions.
Recent Council Trainings & Events
July 24 - August 15, 2026: Touching the Earth: A Homestead Retreat for Young Adults (ages 18 - 25) – Edelglass Homestead, Marlboro, VT; Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass and colleagues from the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. This is a three-week immersion for cultivating self-awareness and deepening relationships with others and the living earth. Council is practiced in small and large groups throughout the retreat. For more information, go to the webpage or Instagram account. Applications are accepted through March 15 or until the retreat fills.
July 25 - August 16, 2025: Touching the Earth retreat for young adults (ages 18 - 25). This is a three -week immersion on a Vermont homestead for cultivating self-awareness and deepening relationships with others and the living earth. Council is practiced in small and large groups throughout the retreat. For more information, go to the webpage or Instagram account. Applications are accepted through March 15 or until the retreat fills.
May 9-11, 2025: Council 1: Discovering One’s Voice; Sharing One’s Story - Sun Hill Farm, Putney, VT USA; Co-led by Jeremiah Burrow & Bonnie Mennell. Training Description. Read Full Details. Register Here. Please be in touch about your interest in attending this training.
February 9-11, 2024: Council 1: Discovering One’s Voice; Sharing One’s Story - Sun Hill Farm, Putney, VT USA; Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Jeremiah Burrow. Training Description. Read Full Details. Register Here. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place at all NECC trainings.
November 3-5, 2023: Council 2: Deepening the Practice — NECC, Sun Hill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Training Description. Read Full Details. Register Here. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place at all NECC trainings.
April 28 - 30, 2023: Council 1: Discovering One’s Voice; Sharing One’s Story - Sun Hill Farm, Putney, VT USA; Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Jeremiah Burrow. Training Description. Read Full Details. Register Here.
November 2022 - April 2023: Listening to the Space Between: Monthly Drop-in Councils with the New England Council Collective. Meet from 7 – 9 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month. First session November 29, 2022. Facilitated by Kirstin Edelglass, Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur.
October 2020 - November 2022: Zoom Drop-In Councils. We began offering Drop-In Councils on Zoom in October 2020 as the coronavirus prevented us from gathering in person. The rich stories and sense of connection continue to nourish a growing community of people who love to sit in council, so we decided to keep this seasonal tradition alive. If you haven’t attended in the past, please drop us an email to let us know of your interest. Facilitated by Kirstin Edelglass, Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur.
October 14 - 16, 2022: Council 2: Deepening the Practice - NECC, Sun Hill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Training Description. Read Full Details. Register Here.
July 9 - 30, 2022: Touching the Earth: A Homestead Retreat for Young Adults – Edelglass Homestead, Marlboro, VT. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass and colleagues from the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Read full details and watch video.
July 31 - August 21, 2021: Touching the Earth: A Homestead Retreat for Young Adults – Edelglass Homestead, Marlboro, VT. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass and colleagues from the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Read full details and watch video.
September 10 - 12, 2021: Council 2: Deepening the Practice — NECC, Sun Hill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Training Description. Read full details. Register Here. We have unfortunately cancelled this training due to concerns around the Delta Covid situation. We are greatly disappointed but clear we hold the safety of all participants as first priority. We will be looking at rescheduling this training either as an in person training or possibly a Zoom training. Please contact us by email if you are interested in this training in the future and would like an exchange with one of us at NECC to determine if this training is right for you.
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 2021: Council 3: Living the Way of Council — An online offering of this 3rd level Way of Council Training. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Four consecutive Sundays, 1:00 — 5:00 p.m. with a reading and an online small group council between sessions (a total of 3 sessions which will be scheduled by each small group). The ongoing Covid reality has prompted us to revision this training which is for participants who have completed CT 1 & CT2 in the days of face-to-face trainings. We are excited about this opportunity to innovate this training and make it possible online. Please contact us by using the Inquire Here form below if you are interest in this training and would like an exchange with one of us at NECC to determine if this training is right for you at this time. Read full details.
January 24 – February 21, 2021: Council 1: Discovering One’s Voice; Sharing One’s Story – An online version of the classic Way of Council training. Five consecutive Sundays, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details.
October 29, 2020: Coming Together as a Community: a refresher on Way of Council Practice. Zoom Session for Putney Commons, an intentional community in Putney, Vermont. See info on Putney Commons.
October 30, 2019: Practicing Council with Colleagues & Clients: A half-day training in the Way of Council for the staff of the Northampton branch of Windhorse Integrative Mental Health in Northampton, MA, USA. Led by Kirstin Edelglass.
October 18 - 20, 2019: Council 1: Discovering One’s Voice; Sharing One’s Story — NECC, Sun Hill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details. Read about training logistics.
August 25-31, 2019: Canoeing in a World Between Worlds: A Wilderness Journey for Incoming Students — Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont, USA. This “freshman orientation” canoe trip followed the snaking Raquette River through the Adirondack Mountains. Kirstin Edelglass guided a community of ten students through the joys and challenges of wilderness canoe travel while offering reflective experiences to encourage connection with self, other, and the natural world. The evening council ritual served as a still point for opening the heart to the diversity of human experience and sharing personal insights as they arose.
August 17. 2019: Songs for the Healing of Our World: A day of singing for song leaders — Marlboro, Vermont, USA. Kirstin Edelglass and folk singer Anne Goodwin shared a large repertoire of songs that can be learned easily by a group. Workshop leaders, activists, teachers, group facilitators, summer camp counselors, and anyone interested in building community can put these songs and song-leading skills to good use. (Aspiring song leaders were welcome!) The day moved through themes inspired by the spiral of the Work That Reconnects developed by Joanna Macy. Participants were encouraged to teach a song and share the story of its origins.
July 28, 2019: Summer Gathering for Council Carriers in Marlboro, Vermont, USA. Each year the New England Council Collective hosts a daylong gathering for “council carriers” in our region. This is a wonderful opportunity for people who facilitate listening circles to share stories and float ideas with other facilitators. Much of the sharing happens while sitting in council. This summer we gathered from 10:00 to 4:00 on an airy screen porch overlooking gardens and a pond. Forinformation on future Summer Gatherings, please write to necouncilcollective@gmail.com and use the subject, “Summer Gathering.” See a photo of our Gathering Space.
April 12 -14, 2019: Council 2: Deepening the Practice - NECC, Sunhill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details. Read about training logistics. See photos.
February 4, 2019: Introduction to The Way of Council: a day long workshop for Putney Commons, an intentional community in Putney, Vermont. See info on Putney Commons.
October 26 -28, 2018: Council 1: NECC, Putney, Vermont. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details.
September 4 – October 9, 2018: Undergraduate Course: “Facilitating Council: An Experiential Training in Deep Listening and Guiding Dialogic Processes” – Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont. Taught by Kirstin Edelglass in six 2.5-hour evening class sessions. See syllabus for the course.
August 19-25, 2018: Rites and Rituals of Passage: A Wilderness Journey for Incoming Students – Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont. Led by Kirstin Edelglass. See Photos.
August 2-5, 2018: Council Camping Retreat: A gathering of friends connected to the New England Council Collective -- Sunhill Farm, Putney, Vermont. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell, Paul LeVasseur, and Kirstin Edelglass. Read a brief description with photos.
July 26, 2018: A Taste of Council: Introductory session for students in the Low-Res Master of Arts in TESOL Program, SIT Graduate Institute, Brattleboro, VT, USA. Co-Led by Paul LeVasseur & Bonnie Mennell
July 16 - 18, 2018: Council on the Uncertain Human Future: Next Wave Summit - Wellesley College Club, Wellesley, MA, USA. Bonnie Mennell facilitated a 3-hour UHF Council Practice Session & served as Council resource person for the gathering.
May 14 & 15, 2018: Facilitating Council: An Introductory Training for Bridges* Trip Leaders – Marlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont, USA. Led by Kirstin Edelglass. *Bridges trips are orientation trips for incoming students which are designed and led by current Marlboro College students.)
April 6 - 8, 2018: Council 2: Deepening the Practice - NECC, Sunhill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Bonnie Mennell & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details. Read about training logistics.
March 2 - 4, 2018: El Camino de Consejo 1 (Council 1) - Creative Education Center, Santiago, Dominican Republic. Co-Led by Leonelda Castillo de Urena & Bonnie Mennell.
February 18, 2018: Deepening Community with the Way of Council: An experiential workshop with Kirstin Edelglass & Carlyn Saltman - Psychosynthesis Northeast Community, Greenfield, MA, USA.
December 15 - 16, 2017, February 2 - 3 & April 24, 2018: Council on the Uncertain Human Future - Berkshire Waldorf High School, Stockbridge, MA, USA. Co-facilitated by Walter Wright, professor emeritus at Clark University & Paul LeVasseur of NECC & SIT Graduate Institute.
November 10 - 12, 2017: Council 1 - NECC, Sunhill Farm, Putney, Vermont, USA. Co-led by Kirstin Edelglass & Paul LeVasseur. Read full details.