2025:Program/Communicating as human beings. An introduction to nonviolent communication

Session title: Communicating as human beings. An introduction to nonviolent communication

Session type: Pre-conference event

Track: Community Health

Language: en

Being able to communicate and interact in a positive way with other people is critical in all parts of life, and especially in a complex and diverse environment like the Wikimedia movement.

This will be a workshop for beginners on Nonviolent communication, an approach to communication that seeks empathic dialogue and understanding among all parties. It is aimed at understanding Nonviolent Communication and learning how to use it. We will spend most of the time on hands-on practice.

Description

This is a full-day preconference workshop (for Tuesday, 5th of August) on Nonviolent Communication.

During the workshop, we will cover the basics of Nonviolent Communication and learn how to use it. Most of the time will be spent practicing. Participants will be invited to bring real-life cases of difficult or frustrating conversations they have experienced, either on-wiki or not, if they feel comfortable doing so.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

Nonviolent Communication enhances inclusivity by creating safer spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued, it improves our impact by enabling more effective collaboration across different perspectives, and it strengthens sustainability of our communities by addressing conflicts constructively - one of the main reasons volunteers leave our movement.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• Lorenzo Losa

Long term wikipedian, former chair of Wikimedia Italy, vice chair of the board of the Wikimedia Foundation.

• Miriam Konert (WMDE)

I am a certified mediator, coach and facilitator with formal training in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and 15 years of experience helping resolve conflicts across diverse settings - from NGOs and unions to theater organizations and private individuals. As a practicing mediator for 5 years, I'm passionate about creating safe spaces where all voices can be heard. Since September 2023, I've led a team at Wikimedia Deutschland that offers voluntary support to wiki communities facing conflicts, burnout, and tensions. We provide tailored, needs-based support that the communities can access voluntarily, respecting their autonomy and unique characteristics. My approach focuses on fostering genuine dialogue and transforming how we communicate with each other.