York-North Rotarians Attend Positive Peace Workshop

York North Rotarians Gary Lauer and Dave Davies Attended District 7390’s Positive Peace Workshop on May 31st. This event was facilitated by PDG Hector Ortiz.  Here is an overview of the Workshop:
 
“Peace is not when everyone agrees. It is when we can respect our disagreements and still play in the sandbox together.”
 
This quote encourages respectful coexistence and collaboration despite differences—a message likely meant to inspire immediate, inclusive community engagement. It fits well in settings focused on peacebuilding, community service, or conflict resolution.
 
What can one do right away?
  1. Respect yourself and others
    • Develop a culture of respect
  2. Civility Framework
    • Practice the no-harm approach
  3. Courtesy, kindness, politeness
    • Utilize a sensitive framework
These points emphasize foundational behaviors for fostering peace and cooperation: self-respect, harm reduction, and empathetic communication. It’s a great guide for individuals looking to make an immediate, positive impact in their communities or relationships.
 
How to Get Involved & What Can One Do Right Away? Core Mindset Principles
  • Peace ≠ Agreement: True peace is about respecting differences and still collaborating.
  • Inner Dialogue: Reflect and identify unresolved tensions.
  • Inner Peace: Focus on personal transformation as a foundation for external peace.
Practical Steps to Begin Now
  1. Respect Yourself and Others
    • Foster a culture of mutual respect.
  2. Use the Civility Framework
    • Practice a no-harm approach in conversations and actions.
  3. Model Courtesy, Kindness, and Politeness
    • Apply a thoughtful and sensitive lens to interactions.
  4. Stay Positive
    • Assess your environment and the people around you. Cultivate positivity.
  5. Reframe Challenges as Opportunities
    • Ask: Is this a growth moment? Turn adversity into action.
  6. Choose Discussion Over Argument
    • Discussion: Focus on what is right.
    • Argument: Focus on who is right — and that’s less productive.
  7. Practice Empathy Over Sympathy
    • Step into others’ shoes. Truly see from their perspective, not just feel for them.
Steps Toward Positive Peace
  • Respect yourself and others – Build a culture of respect.
  • Civility framework – Practice the no-harm approach.
  • Courtesy, kindness, politeness – Approach interactions with sensitivity.
  • Inner dialogue – Recognize and resolve internal tensions.
  • Inner peace – Commit to internal transformation.