Specific Programmatic Strategies to Increase Empowerment

Auvine B. Densmore B. Extrom M. Poole S. Shanklin M. (1977). A manual for group facilitators. The Center for Conflict Resolution, New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A good model for how to serve as an outside facilitator for groups working on conflict, a crisis, or a problem, using an empowering process. It works well for your own groups too

Avery M. Auvine B. Streibel B. Weiss L. (1981). Building united judgement: A handbook for consensus decision making. The Center for Conflict Resolution, New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. An excellent resource for learning to use consensus, which can be an empowering group decision-making process

Bodner J. , & American Friends Service Committee (1984). Taking charge of our lives: Living responsibly in a troubled world. San Francisco: Harper & Row. An excellent and thorough examination of how to live an empowered life that does not exploit others. It includes articles about food, clothing, consuming, health care, work, children, etc

Children's Creative Approach to Conflict Program Staff (Eds.). (1988). The friendly classroom for a small planet: A handbook on creative approaches to living and problem solving for children. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A book similar to A manual on nonviolence and children. They compliment each other well. It includes reviews of attempts to use these ideas in inner-city schools

Coover V. Deacon E. Esser C. Moore C. (1985). Resource manual for a living revolution. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A resource book full of approaches, tools, and exercises to help a group learn to act effectively for non-violent social change

Freire P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum Publishing Co. A basic theoretical statement by the famous Brazilian educator delineating a liberating education from a domesticating one. It is a classic, but is not easy reading

Galland C. (1980). Women in the wilderness. New York: Harper & Row, Publishing, Inc. Out of print. Inspirational descriptions of women empowering themselves and each other in wilderness settings

Gardner H. (1985). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligence. New York: Basic Books. Addresses the seven different forms of intelligence we each possess and ways to attend to each in teaching

Harmin M. Sax S. (1977). The peaceable classroom: Activities to calm and free student energies. San Francisco: Harper & Row. Provides a rationale for and description of specific right-brain activities for getting centered, relaxing, discharging tension, and freeing up energy

Honnet E. P. Poulsen S. J. (1989). Wingspread special report: Principles of good practice for combining service and learning. The Johnson Foundation, Inc., Racine, WI, 53401–0547. A short report describing ten strategies for effective service learning. It includes dozens of great examples

Howe L. W. Mary M. (1975). Personalizing education: Values clarification and beyond. New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc. Out of print. One of the best books I've seen for creating a choice-centered, empowering classroom. This book provides ideas and specific activities that deal with human relationships, student goals, the curriculum, and classroom organization and management

Hunt J. S. Jr. (1990). Ethical issues in experiential education. Boulder, CO: The Association for Experiential Education. This books helps develop an ethical argument for why we ought to be empowering our students in addition to providing an understandable introduction to the field of ethics and reviewing many common ethical issues in outdoor education (using poignant examples). This is a highly recommended book

Johnson D. W. (1986). Reaching out: Interpersonal effectiveness and self-actualization. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. An excellent experiential college text with specific activities for learning to be a more empowered person

Johnson D. W. Frank P. (1987). Joining together: Group theory and group skills. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. Another college text with lessons on how to work effectively with others. One of my favorite books on group dynamics

Judson S. (Ed.). (1984). A manual on nonviolence and children. Friends Peace Committee; New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A good introduction for developing the roots of nonviolence, creative conflict resolution, and empowerment with young children. Includes numerous activities that can be used in classrooms plus a section on cooperative games

Macy J. R. (1983). Despair and personal power in the nuclear age. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A source book for conducting programs that move people through their despair about nuclear holocaust to acting to counter the nuclear menace. Provides good insight on what gets in the way of empowerment and how to move beyond those feelings. Includes a good section on relating with young people

Pirtle S. (1987). An outbreak of peace. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A delightful fictional story of a group of students (high school and younger) becoming empowered

Rohnke K. (1989). Cowtails and cobras II: A guide to games, initiatives, ropes courses, and adventure curriculum. Project Adventure; Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, IA. An updated version of the 1977 Project Adventure classic, this book is an excellent introduction to one of the most commonly used experiential education methodologies. In addition to providing specific empowering activities, this book offers helpful philosophical considerations

Rogers C. R. (1978). Carl Rogers on personal power. New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc. Rogers is one of the founders of the Humanistic Psychology and Education movements. His books are easily read, exciting, and inspiring. This book uses wonderful examples

Rogers C. R. (1982). Freedom to learn for the eighties. Columbus, OH: Merrill. This update of a 1969 classic is an excellent introduction to Rogers' philosophy and style

Ryan R. S. Travis J. (1981). The wellness workbook: A guide to attaining high level wellness. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. One of many guides to holistic wellness which includes being empowered to take charge of your own health. Includes chapters on breathing, sensing, eating, moving, feeling, thinking, playing, working, transcending, etc

The Training/Action Affinity Group of Movement for a New Society (1979). Building social change communities. New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. A series of useful articles on such topics as consensus decision-making, creative conflict resolution, meeting facilitation, networking, and relationships

Wells H. C. Canfield J. (1976). 100 Ways to enhance self-concept in the classroom: A handbook for teachers and parents. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc. Specific activities that help to build a base for personal empowerment

Wigginton E. (1986). Sometimes a shining moment. New York: Doubleday & Co., Inc. A master teacher describes how he uses the process of cultural journalism to help his students become empowered. Lots of touching examples set within a solid theoretical context. Inspirational and highly recommended!