De-escalation in Tense Situations
Are you a community leader or church professional who is unsure of how to handle escalated situations?
On August 5th, at 7 PM ET, join us for a special panel conversation where de-escalation expert and former ranger with the National Park service Leah Taber joins Kaleidoscope’s executive director the Rev. Julie Boleyn to share stories, swap techniques, and explore how to navigate conflict without losing our grounding.
Together, we’ll explore:
Why naming fear can help us move through it
How shared care doesn’t always mean shared methods
The three grounding principles of Verbal Judo
And how leaders can own their authority with dignity, not domination
Leah Taber is a strategic communications professional with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), currently based in Knoxville, Tennessee. With a rich background in public service, she spent 17 years in the federal government, including 12 years as a park ranger at various national parks on the Eastern Seaboard. Most recently, she worked at the US Patent and Trademark Office in communications. During her time at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Leah became a certified Verbal Judo instructor, specializing in de-escalation techniques and conflict resolution. Her approach focuses on treating people with dignity, understanding the importance of communication across different perspectives, and redirecting energy in challenging interactions. With roots in multiple mainline Protestant denominations and a family connected to church leadership, Leah brings a nuanced understanding of community dynamics and interfaith dialogue. Her personal and professional experiences have given her unique insights into the complexities of communication across different religious and cultural contexts.
The Rev. Julie Boleyn is an ELCA Lutheran Pastor. She served at Unity Lutheran Church in Berwyn, Illinois from 2011 to 2021. During her ministry she accompanied the development of Unidad, a Spanish language ministry with a special focus on serving the LGBTQ community. She also co-founded two non-profit organizations, Awake and Project 88 Music Academy. Julie has worked in software development, fundraising, and community organizing. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in 2002 and her Master of Divinity at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2010. Julie is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory®.
Please join us on:
Tuesday August 5th
4-5 PM PT/ 7-8 PM ET
Graceconomics - $5 to $50
As is the usual KI custom of Graceconomics, we offer a range of registration fees. Please contribute the amount that you are able, knowing that the closer you can pay to the upper range, the more we can use the resources to help others who may not be able to pay.
