Training

Applicants for both the Full-time Corps and the Reserve Corps participate in an intensive, integrated, four-week training course involving action, reflection, and practice of a variety of peacemaking skills.

CPT conducts Peacemaker Corps trainings in Winter and Summer for groups of 10-15 full-time and Reserve Corps applicants in Chicago. Regional trainings are arranged when 10-15 people from an area are ready to join the Reserve Corps.

CPT's nonviolence training is reserved for individuals intending to join CPT. We get lots of requests: "Can I just take the training?" Unfortunately, no. But we do provide below a number of the resources used in our training.

CPT’s training manual is a compilation of handouts brought by various trainers who facilitate different modules within our month-long training program. Not all handouts are available electronically.

This collection of handouts does not include certain documents that CPTers receive which are internal to CPT as an organization (i.e. CPT’s policy manual, organizational chart, certain Chicago-specific orientation pieces, etc.) Each trainer develops their own module/session outlines which are also not included in this manual.

Please feel free to adapt and use any of these materials in your work to further the cause of nonviolent peace and justice-making.

General Orientation

Contact the CPT Chicago office if you have more questions about additional General Orientation materials.

Biblical Nonviolence

CPT's work is grounded in Biblical tradition and Christian faith.

Conflict Transformation

Most of the materials used in CPT’s Conflict Transformation Module are drawn from “Mediation and Facilitation Training Manual: Foundations and Skills for Constructive Conflict Transformation,” published by:

Mennonite Conciliation Service
21 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 500
Akron, PA 17501
717-859-3889
mcs [at] mccus [dot] org
www.mcc.org/mcs.html

Organizing Skills

"Organizing Skills" covers a range of topics including:

  • Facilitation skills
  • Fundraising
  • Media work
  • Effective Writing

Preparing for Presence

As we prepare CPTers to work within different cultures and to be present in conflict situations, we cover:

  • Cross-cultural sensitivity
  • Death and Dying discussions
  • Human Rights documentation
  • Trauma responses
  • Truth-Telling

Public Witness

CPT training includes two public witness actions planned by the training group. Often, these actions include civil disobedience. See our Public Witness Resources for more information about CPT and public witness.

Team Building

"Teams" is our last name.  CPT training covers skills and practices needed to fuction as healthy teams in conflict situations.  Topics include:
  • Consensus decision-making
  • Leadership skills
  • Work styles
  • Team roles
  • Communication skills

Undoing Oppression

CPT understands violence to be rooted in systemic structures of oppression. CPT is committed to undoing oppressions as part of our violence reduction work, starting within our own organization. CPT training includes modules on:

  • Undoing Racism
  • Undoing Sexism
  • Sexual Harassment

Worship & Spirituality

CPT is grounded in Christian faith, and our teams regularly worship and pray togther.  CPT training introduces various spiritual disciplines and worship practices.  For a selection of worship services used during training, click here.