Peace by Design » Joy Helmer

About Me — Joy Helmer

Joy Helmer I have had a lifelong passion for creating a peaceful world. Shaped by difficult experiences in my family growing up, witnessing the Cold War, the Civil Rights era and the Vietnam War, among other conflicts, I have always had a deep knowing that human beings have the potential to live together in much more life-affirming ways. While I have been a psychiatric nurse my entire adult life, my avocation and passion has been understanding the origins of conflict and violence. I was trained as a mediator in the early 90’s and was involved with the Restorative Justice movement for several years. I led a workshop on accountability to a group of men convicted of murder and other violent crimes at a state prison for several years. I have also studied different forms of communication, from Non-Violent Communication to Compassionate Listening. I was President of the Board of Directors of The Compassionate Listening Project for two years and am currently on the Board of the Israel-Palestine Project. One of the most profound influences in my own evolution and development has been my training with Landmark Education where I have taken courses since 2001. I have also had a meditation practice which I have practiced daily since 1980. My basic approach to the entwined subjects of violence and peace is inquiry, deep listening, engagement and holding all of it, even that which I may not like.