De-escalation training resources
November 11, 2024 4:50 AM Subscribe
Looking for resources and training about de-escalation that would be useful in street or other public violence situations given the way things are going in the US.
I'm a 40something neurodivergent [i.e. my relationship to eye contact and some other nonverbal things may not be typical] white woman who is butch and read as gay by strangers. I've lived in a handful of blue states and areas and have been exceptionally fortunate not to have dealt with much street harassment in my life. Going forward, I want to be more prepared both for myself and particularly as a bystander or third party. I have seen some advice that hinges partly on just interrupting things as a more privileged person but I'm not sure how playing up "middle-class white lady" would go for me as a gay-looking woman in street settings, especially if the violence is related to gender presentation/queerness.
I'm decent at de-escalation in my job at a bank but less so in settings where I don't have the veneer of authority/power as a teller-supervisor and where the source of someone's anger is likely more messy than "my debit card isn't working again."
I live in Western Massachusetts right now if anyone has in-person suggestions, though I am also interested in online and written resources.
I'm a 40something neurodivergent [i.e. my relationship to eye contact and some other nonverbal things may not be typical] white woman who is butch and read as gay by strangers. I've lived in a handful of blue states and areas and have been exceptionally fortunate not to have dealt with much street harassment in my life. Going forward, I want to be more prepared both for myself and particularly as a bystander or third party. I have seen some advice that hinges partly on just interrupting things as a more privileged person but I'm not sure how playing up "middle-class white lady" would go for me as a gay-looking woman in street settings, especially if the violence is related to gender presentation/queerness.
I'm decent at de-escalation in my job at a bank but less so in settings where I don't have the veneer of authority/power as a teller-supervisor and where the source of someone's anger is likely more messy than "my debit card isn't working again."
I live in Western Massachusetts right now if anyone has in-person suggestions, though I am also interested in online and written resources.
Right to Be does online bystander intervention trainings. They also have a book if that's more your speed.
posted by the primroses were over at 7:35 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]
posted by the primroses were over at 7:35 AM on November 11 [2 favorites]
Lavender Phoenix is an organization that offers curriculum for de-escalation. The curriculum is linked from that page.
I'm posting the Lavender Phoenix training because you mentioned folks read you as queer. In my community, an LGBTQ group offered de-escalation training ahead of some pride events - so something to be aware of.
posted by skunk pig at 9:03 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
The Protect Our People: De-escalation Training is a facilitator-led two part training curriculum which offers an introduction to de-escalating situations of violence, conflict and harm. The curriculum was developed to center trans and queer BIPOC and is rooted in key Lavender Phoenix values: abolition, abundance, interdependence and self-determination.I think I have done the Be Ready training. It offered varying levels of ways to intervene that could work for 40something neurodivergent folks. I say this as a 40something, neurodivergent queer person (who people don't read as queer).
I'm posting the Lavender Phoenix training because you mentioned folks read you as queer. In my community, an LGBTQ group offered de-escalation training ahead of some pride events - so something to be aware of.
posted by skunk pig at 9:03 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
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posted by mkb at 5:33 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]