Transforming Psychological Trauma Into Nonviolent Power

Until risks associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have abated, all of our trainings and events will be hosted on Zoom. 
​ If you have any questions, please direct them to info@mnpeace.org.  

For details and registration links for all our upcoming trainings and events, see the Programs tab above. ​​
The Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute ("Peacebuilding") is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonsectarian public charity nonprofit organization transforming psychological trauma into nonviolent power with positive, productive alternatives to revenge to prepare individuals and organizations for truth-telling, conciliation, and repairing harm for healed, just relationships toward the vision of making Minnesota the peacebuilding power state for all.

Our mission is to instigate, train, and support racially, sexually, religiously, ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse individuals and organizations to become trauma-informed, resilience-oriented, and restorative justice-focused, empowering communities in Minnesota, the USA, and around the world.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming 
Trainings for the General Public

Learn about trauma awareness, restorative justice practices, and racial healing education. We provide transformational tools for everyone to use within their sphere of influence,
 leading to positive equitable systemic change.

Upcoming 
Trainings for those who live and/or work in the East Metro

Learn about trauma awareness, restorative justice practices, and racial healing education. We provide transformational tools for everyone to use within their sphere of influence,
 leading to positive equitable systemic change.

​These trainings are partially funded by the F. R. Bigelow Foundation and are specifically offered for those who live and/or work in Ramsey, Washington, or Dakota County. 

STAR-Lite

STAR-Lite is a single-day, evidence-based training integrating neuropsychology, trauma healing and resilience, restorative justice, nonviolent conflict transformation, and broadly defined spirituality.

It is designed for those who wish to learn the basics of becoming trauma-informed, resilience-oriented. and restorative justice-focused within a shorter-time frame than the full STAR Training. 

Thursday, December 1st, 2022
8:30AM - 4:30PM (CST)

Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR)

STAR is a 38-hour, multi-day evidence-based trauma awareness and resilience training with a 19-year reputation of national and international success. STAR was created with a $2,000,000 grant in the year following the US tragedy of September 11, 2001. Since then STAR has taught thousands of laypeople, paraprofessionals, and professionals how to transform psychological trauma into nonviolent power with positive productive alternatives to revenge for personal and structural change.

January 10, 17, 24, 31 and February 7, 2023

8:30AM - 4:30PM CST

Peacebuilding Partners

Sonja Fernandez-Quiñones

"Tapping into trauma, learning about the cycles of violence, and applying the strategies to break free were all relevant not only to her work with sexual assault survivors but also to her personal life. She learned her reactions are normal and that there is a 'possibility of a life past trauma'. STAR gave her hope for herself and for other people—for communal and transgenerational healing."

Tabitha Montgomery 

"Resilience, trauma healing, and restorative justice develop deeper muscles and skills to be in relationship with one another in ways that don’t rush. 'It’s not a binary track,' Tabitha says, 'but the idea of creating an ecosystem of people and tools and systems. It’s not just investing in one system, but investing in the larger vision.' This vision builds community at the speed of trust. This is Peacebuilding."

Carolyn Yoder 

"Right now, we are living in a time of collective trauma. There is not a single person who isn’t affected by what is happening with COVID-19 and racialized trauma, which means we have all the more reason to use a community-oriented approach. It is more important than ever to have restorative justice-focused strategies to address trauma and transform conflict."



Information for...

Licensed Professionals

Peacebuilding’s trainings are designed to meet the continuing education requirement for social workers, psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed drug and alcohol counselors, nurses, educators, and attorneys. 

Leaders & Decision Makers

Peacebuilding’s trainings provide best practices for trauma-informed, resilience-oriented, and restorative justice-focused strategies for individuals, organizations, corporations, and community groups.  All of our community-based trainings are available via contract arrangement for organizations, corporations, and community groups. 

Direct Care Staff & Community Members

Peacebuilding’s trainings integrate trauma-informed, resilience-oriented, and restorative justice-focused concepts and practical strategies via accessible teaching and experiential educational methods for those from all educational backgrounds.  Whether you are a high school or college graduate, licensed professional, or a graduate from the school of hard knocks, we welcome you to Peacebuilding's trainings.