Pathways of Courage
8-week online course
In a divided world, true strength comes not from domination, but from the ability to respond to conflict and injustice with clarity, compassion, and courage. Pathways of Courage: Tools for Inner Strength, Dialogue, and Social Transformation, equips participants with practical tools for building trust, responding to harm without replicating it, and leading with resilience. Drawing from timeless wisdom - Ahimsa, Ubuntu, Nonviolent Communication, Empathic Leadership, and global civil resistance - this course invites us to cultivate the courage to transform ourselves, our communities, and our world.
This is not a course in being “nice.” It is a course in being real, grounded, and transformative, especially in the face of challenge. It is for those ready to cultivate inner strength, practice courageous nonviolence, and lead communities toward transformation through vision, compassion, and dialogue rather than fear. During the 8 weeks, you will:
Explore the philosophical and cultural roots of non-harming (Ahimsa) and collective dignity (Ubuntu) as personal and societal practices.
Learn tools for honest and effective communication under pressure.
Study the strategies of nonviolent movements around the world.
Reflect on the relationship between inner transformation and social action.
Cultivate skills in listening, empathy, boundary-setting, and restorative dialogue.
Engage with stories, tools, and models that inspire sustained, grounded leadership.
Course Facilitator
Fran Faraz is Professor Emerita of Global and Peace Studies at Golden West College and an educator, facilitator, and peacebuilder dedicated to advancing nonviolence, social justice, environmental stewardship, and human dignity.
She currently teaches several graduate courses in the Regenerative Earth Management degree program at the Institute of Brain Education (IBE) and serves on the Board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine. Throughout her career, Fran has collaborated with universities, nonprofits, and international organizations to foster dialogue, cultivate compassionate leadership, and support individuals and communities working toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
As the facilitator of Pathways of Courage, Fran brings together insights from Ahimsa, Ubuntu, Nonviolent Communication, Earth-centered leadership, and the study of nonviolent movements, inviting participants into a shared journey of inquiry, reflection, and practice. Together, they explore practical pathways to courageous action and the cultivation of peace in everyday life.
Dates & times
Participants meet weekly over zoom on Tuesdays, September 29th through November 17th, 2026. Classes are 90 minutes 4-5:30 pm PT / 7-8:30 pm ET. [Sept 29, Oct 6, Oct 13, Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17]
Contribution
This course is valued at $600, yet we believe cost should never prevent someone from engaging in our offerings. We therefore invite voluntary contributions based on personal ability, with the assurance that all are welcome no matter their financial situation. If you are able and interested in supporting another participant, there will be an opportunity to indicate this on the registration page.
REGISTER today!
Grow your courage. Strengthen your spirit. Let nonviolence become a force for transformation in your life and community. This course will support every step.
A core promise of this course is that your growth starts the very day you make the choice and register. That decision alone begins the unfolding. Click here to register today.*
Space is limited. Registration deadline is September 15th or until all 30 spots are filled!
*This course is currently designed for a North American audience. During the course, we will explore concepts in the context of the socio-political history and current environment in North America. We plan to host additional offerings for global participants in the near future.
As part of the promise of this course, know that your journey begins the very day you say “yes” and register.
if you feel called to expand yourself, to grow, and to step into a deeper version of who you are, know that this course has a way of meeting you exactly where you are. Even the simple act of registering begins the transformation. Your course doesn’t start on the first day; it begins the moment you say “yes.” From that instant, you will find yourself gently pulled into conversation with your higher self, with your inner wisdom, and with the deeper possibilities of your life.
If you choose to join us, please come with openness. Come with curiosity. Come ready to be surprised by how quickly your inner journey awakens.
We look forward to walking this path with you.
Still have questions? Please email info@euphrates.org.
Optional Immersive Trip
To supplement and enrich the course experience, we also invite participants to join an optional in-person immersion trip to Atlanta, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama, to explore the roots and the legacy of nonviolent leadership during the Civil Rights movement. The trip includes visits to Equal Justice Initiative’s three Legacy Sites and a guided tour through Atlanta, Montgomery, and Selma. We’ll be traveling in April 2027. The trip dates and fee will be confirmed this fall.
On the registration form, you will find a place to indicate your interest in this trip.