This one day training, pulling content from our previous annual 3-day Institute, will introduce and allow time to practice communication skills that support healthy group dynamics. The Communication Training is relevant for current and future educators, managers, supervisors, mentors, and facilitators that want to create a learning and work environment that fosters brave risk taking, relationship building, and healthy feedback methods.

Objectives:

Participants will…

• Learn about why people communicate and engage with conflict the way we do

• Learn about awareness tools that help us understand each other and ourselves in group/peer dynamics

• Learn about and practice feedback strategies that we have used at GRuB, within youth programs and among staff, for over twenty years

• Connect with other local and regional educators, facilitators, leaders, mentors, movers/shakers, and rad people

Lunch, beverages, and snacks will be provided.

GRuB is an approved Clock Hour provider and hours will be available for educators who need them.

The registration fee per person is sliding scale, $100-$300, which can be paid through the online registration. If you need to pay in another way, please contact us. 

If the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, do not let that deter you. Contact us and we can look at options.

Please let us know if you require accommodations to attend this training and we will do our best to accommodate you. Indoor masking is no longer required at GRuB. If this prevents you from participating in this training, please reach out. We anticipate being outside the entire time, however.

For questions or support, contact Wade at wade@goodgrub.org, or 360-753-5522.

The 2019 Institute participants circle up in the GRuB playfield

"The way it was organized was a great flow of actual practice, reflection, fun, serious conversation, and lots of exchange of information rather than being talked at."   -2023 Institute Attendee

"I think you all do a fantastic job with incorporating all people's ideas and that everyone has a voice/is being heard. I get a very comfortable feeling when I do any GRuB training."   -2023 Institute Attendee

"Thanks so much, honestly from the bottom of my heart, for the effort put into setting this up. It's extremely inspiring and motivating knowing the work doesn't stop here and I feel honored knowing I am supported by this community in both work and my personal life; being able to take away some really valuable lessons and exercises."   -2023 Institute Attendee

The 2023 Institute attendees pose together in the GRuB playfield

Trainers:

Kim Gaffi (she/her) is the co-founder of GRuB and served as Co-Director, Executive Director, and Director of Youth Programs from 1997 through 2019. Kim has led GRuB’s work in building a successful youth empowerment program that engages youth in food justice work. Kim has successfully collaborated with multiple school districts to integrate GRuB’s food justice curriculum and youth development model into regional high schools. She has also helped to launch similar programs through other organizations and agencies throughout the state. Kim has written Career and Technical Education (CTE) frameworks outlining the curriculum taught in the GRuB School model as well as the Tend, Gather, and Grow curriculum. She co-designed and co-led every Institute GRuB has offered since 2010, which featured the content in this training, and co-led the July 2024 Games Training, and this same training in June 2025. She graduated from The Evergreen State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development and Bachelor of Science in Urban Ecology. Kim now supports GRuB projects as an independent contractor. 

Wade Uyeda (he/him) is a GRuB youth alum who returned to join the staff in 2009. Over the span of 16+ years, he has deeply engaged with GRuB’s youth program model, holding various roles such as Farm Manager, CTE Teacher for GRuB School, Youth Programs Manager, and now Program Director. Wade has mentored and taught over 300 Opportunity Youth in GRuB programs, provided guidance to more than 50 youth alum Farm Assistants and Peer Crew Leaders, and supervised five AmeriCorps Youth Program Counselors.  Wade has played integral roles in supporting every 3-day Youth Institute offered by GRuB, including co-designing and co-facilitating the August 2022 and May 2023 Institutes that featured the content from this training. He has taught GRuB staff, and consulted with other organizations to teach this content. Additionally, he co-designed and co-facilitated the games trainings from 2023-2025, and this same training in June 2025.