Possibilities for peace
​Some topics we discussed included data justice, data feminism, and design justice as key tools to build feminist peace. While there are many women and feminists doing multi-generational work related to peace, social justice, and ecological wellbeing - we noted the work of two in particular: 
​

• ​Chandra Talpade Mohanty, an American scholar born in India now at Syracuse University who writes about the interwoven processes and impacts of many "-isms" (capitalism, sexism, racism, etc.) that are a part of a global, social fabric - noted in her book Feminism Across Borders, 2003.
• Nawal El Saadawi نوال السعداوي, an Egyptian activist and medical doctor who worked to stop female genital mutilation and highlighted that the term 'Middle East' is colonial language since Egypt was located geographically in the 'middle' to the British colonizers, while it is actually in North Africa or West Asia.

​Taking into account our positions and privileges within the social fabric and noting the power of language, we reflected and shared about the following questions:

• How do I show up in my leadership role as a woman - as a woman who cares about peace?
• What is an issue in my community that is important to me?
• What is 1 action step I can use my superpowers to make happen? ​

We​ envisioned possibilities and actions through artistic activism, holding community spaces, mediation and dialogue, cultivating curiosity and awareness, challenging gender and violence bias in AI, connecting the dots in complex (digitized) contexts, and saying YES to synchronicities.

For me, this looks and feels like focusing on my on breath, prioritizing relationships, rematriating and connecting with the water and the land, engaging in activities focused on creativity and pleasure, mothering myself, BIPOC/queer/disability/fat/etc. solidarity, continuing to learn about and practice anticapitalism, antiracism, and related decolonization practices. 

For motivating inspiration on saying YES, check out Andrea Gibson's spoken word poetry "Say Yes".

I engaged with UPEACE NY as a PhD Candidate and Anu and Naveen Jain Family Foundation Peace & Health Innovation Fellow with the Global Center of Peace Innovation at the University for Peace on Huetar Territory in Costa Rica. To develop the research, I drew from my consulting practice supporting leaders and teams to navigate conflict and culture change processes. Article content originally posted on LinkedIn on 06 November, 2025. ​--> Contact me to learn more. 

​​Typical design processes​ related to design thinking, human-centered design, and user-centered design draw from a design model which emphasizes the following components (d.school):

Greetings readers – Michelle Helman here, Consultant and PhD Fellow in Peace and Health Innovation at the University for Peace. I am excited to share a couple of everyday evaluation musings and tools that I love and hope you might find useful and inspiring.

First, a very short story – I recently worked with a group that chose the word traumatized to describe their previous evaluation experience facilitated by another agency. They refused to use the word evaluation in their upcoming assessment process and were nevertheless keen to engage with me. We developed a learning-based framework inspired by developmental evaluation and experiential learning pedagogy that drew people in with curiosity and motivation to learn and improve while engaging in an evaluative process that supported their ongoing work.

This experience got me thinking and reflecting on many instances when evaluation is an afterthought or at worst – avoided due to fear of consequences such as criticism and retribution. I was reminded of Dr. Carlo Rovelli’s work on quantum gravity that one particle cannot exist without the existence of another particle – and the importance (and potential) of connection, collaboration, and relationship in evaluation, which brings us to we…

Rad ResourceIf you want to learn more about integrating open-ended questions into your evaluation design process and approach, check out my resource on Facilitation Essentials for Evaluators, which draws inspiration from a number of amazing additional resources listed in the article, and the Design Justice Network’s Design Justice Principles which can be framed as open-ended questions as well. 

How might we reconnect with the everyday magic of evaluation?
Remember – evaluation happens and it can be experiential. To put everyday evaluation into practice first and foremost with yourself and build that into your practice. Try this at home: first, read these brief instructions then move aside from any screen. Then, use your senses that are available to notice five things you can see, smell, hear, taste, and feel. That is everyday evaluative magic, demystified.

Rad ResourceIf you’d like to see some examples of the everyday magic of evaluation and data visualization, get inspired by Mystic Mamma’s Read the Signs images which provide quick visual insights with an artistic and creative flair – as a reminder that data don’t need to live on a spreadsheet – they are stories about people, places, and politics!
Maybe you’re looking for more resources and a community committed to not just data visualization but data physicalization. If so, check out the Viz for Social Good website and projects page.
​
​Originally published on 7/16/24 at:
https://aea365.org/blog/lawg-week-everyday-evaluation-demystification-and-magic-by-michelle-helman/

Getting to WE
At the nexus of I AM and I CAN is the space to imagine and co-create! 

• Try an activity such as regulation and grounding - look around the space, move around the space, or leave the space, - breathe, hum, make music or art, or dance!

 

A trauma-informed approach for an organization or team might look like:

• User-defined emotional/physical safety
• Cultural & identity components are considered, celebrated, and centered
• Transparency and accountability in decision-making and information sharing
• Collaboration as a norm, “we all have a role to play”

• Community and peer support with people who have lived experience
• Choice, participation, and awareness of power-dynamics with a focus on resilience and healing
• Active learning, reflection, and play.

How might we…
> Integrate a trauma-Informed lens and somatic approach throughout the facilitation process?Incorporate movement, music, and rest; offer participation options, and consider energy levels.

• Tip: Circle back to the goal of the event and of each session.
• Tool: Build in time for pause and rest via reflection, debrief, and gratitude.

 
> Hold space and balance roles - acknowledge and celebrate differences and lived experiences?
Context matters – note the space, time, and people e.g. bathroom, access, safety, and snacks!

• Tip: Move around the environment to find an object (found or provided) that has meaning for you and regroup to share the why.
• Tool: co-create shared agreements for engagement that are specific to the event ask: How do we want to engage as a group? What do you need to feel productive and safe in these conversations? How can we center community care, incorporate decision-making approaches, and address confidentiality? Remember: you are the owner of your own story.

 
> Share stories and listen – strengthen response techniques when you experience discomfort and manage talk time?
Culturally-relevant core human needs include security, connection and belonging, identity, acknowledgement and recognition, freedom, and autonomy. Remember that people need those things!

• Tip: validate, summarize, reflect, and check for understanding.
• Tool: small group discussions, arts-based methods, and parking lot or seed-saver area for ideas.

 

​A few of many resources that inspire my approach and ongoing learning:
Call of the Wild - by Kimberly Ann Johnson
Healing Justice Lineages - by Cara Page and Erica Woodland
My Grandmother’s Hands - by Resmaa Menakem
Polyvagal Theory - by Steven Porges
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
The Body Keeps the Score - by Besser van der Kolk
Trauma Stewardship - by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk
When the Body Says No - by Gabor Maté
 
→Let’s connect to talk about how you or your team might benefit from integrating a trauma-informed approach. 
 
NOTE: This document is for general learning purposes only - it does not provide medical advice. The author is not liable or responsible for any outcomes caused by actions taken from this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without the prior written permission and consent of the author.

​Conflict and communication issues often arise when we are doing meaningful change work. I recently facilitated a session with Oregon Mediation Association addressing one of the most common questions I hear from clients:

How can we respond and navigate these challenges?

Creative activities can help us build the essential skills to repair and foster relationships, connection and belonging.

• Our learned beliefs often influence our protective behaviors to get our needs met for safety, connection and belonging.
• This is challenging when operating within a white supremacy culture focused on disconnection, blaming, avoidance, right to comfort, entitlement, to name a few.
• Some antidotes include curiosity and play, engaging in discomfort and ongoing learning.
• Note there is a difference between feeling UNsafe and UNcomfortable.

3 tools for your conflict resolution toolkit:

1. Name something that’s true for you right now.
2. Brainstorm what works, what gets in the way?
3. Draw what success means to you.

Brainstorm ideas from the group:

What gets in the way?

• FEAR: rejection, abandonment, retribution, physical and psychological safety
• Discomfort, Uncertainty
• Concern about perception and reputation
• Feeling hurt, old wounds
• Risk of losing status and connection
• Worried about outcome
• Triggers, trauma, amygdala hijack

What makes it work?

• Hope, Curiosity
• Desire for change and connection
• Safe(r) space, being seen and heard
• Opportunity to understand another person and selves on a deeper level
• Confidence in our communication skills
• Emotional self-regulation and awareness

Try it on for size, keep what works, and leave the rest!
Have questions? Please contact me.

Originally published on LinkedIn on February 28, 2023
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creative-approaches-conflict-resolution-michelle-helman/

The 2021 Oregon Mediation Association Annual Conference has come and gone. Michelle Helman, Founder and Principal Consultant at Michelle Helman Consulting, LLC, led a virtual workshop, Connect & Co-Create! on November 6th. For folks who attended or who may have missed it, here is a brief write-up about it to share some tips, tools, and resources.
 
ABOUT THE SESSION
In this skill-strengthening workshop, attendees actively participated in learning about and utilizing improvisation techniques necessary to move beyond settler-created themes of neutrality toward co-liberation. Together, we co-created a space that provided the opportunity to connect via our shared humanity through play, curiosity, and imagination.

For additional details, activity descriptions, tips and resources - check out the the file below: