The Clearing

The "Clearing" is a meeting that follows the weekly 4-Part meeting in the classroom. The format of the Clearing is somewhat more structured. Each participant starts off with "My name is Don and I feel like saying ..... That's what I feel like saying. What do you feel like saying, Jane?" (normally the adjacent person). This process continues around the circle until each person can say "I'm clear."

This process allows each participant to bring up issues that are not necessarily appropriate in the 4-Part meeting, such as a problem with another participant. These issues can be aired and potentially resolved with the facilitator's help (guided, if necessary, by an adult advisor).

If the problem involves the adjacent participant, the normal rotation is skipped to allow some "cool-off" time before that person can respond.

In New York City, where the NIS program has been running for some time, gang members have used the Clearing to resolve fights that otherwise would have ended in violence.

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