Since its inception in 2018, Cara has played an instrumental role in supporting students and staff of the Practice Held in Common Master's program at ArtEZ. Next to teaching the foundational course, Compassionate Communication, she also supports students and staff on an individual basis, mediates conflicts when they arise, and facilitates community meetings when a safe space is needed. Cara's evolution in facilitating the CC course in the program has been inspiring to witness.

Over the past several years and ongoing, Cara has provided multiple services for DSA, including serving as our ombudsperson, facilitating bi-weekly Team Emotional Hygiene meetings, as well as a daylong retreat for our board in which we focused on reflection and connection. She provides our school a wonderful holding space, combining her care and communication skills which enable us to have free and honest discussions on sensitive matters in a light way. She helps our staff, students and parents feel welcome, seen, heard and connected.

As a follow-up to Cara's week-long training, we have taken steps to improve internal communication and better engage relevant levels of staff in decision-making processes especially within the existing teams. Personally, I am also more conscious about the way that I express (judgmental versus empathic attitude) and try to apply the NVC method when I can. I believe it has had a real impact which is reflected in staff morale and a greater set of 'soft skills.'

Our goal was to become more effective not only with our advocacy but also be in tune with our own feelings and emotions about our target clients. In this very insightful training, we learned many ways to connect with ourselves, to listen with empathy and we learned the different steps of Nonviolent Communication. Cara was very open in sharing her own experiences and was flexible in adapting to our needs.