Marshall Rosenberg

Marshall Rosenberg grew up in Detroit, Michigan. When his family moved to Detroit, racial tensions escalated into riots that killed more than 40 people. A few weeks later, at the beginning of the school year, he unknowingly discovered that “a family name could be as damaging as skin colour” when some of his classmates used to wait for him after school and beat him up because they thought he was a “dirty yid”…

It was from these events that Marshall Rosenberg’s quest began. He was constantly discovering a means of expression that would be an alternative to the need to resort to violence.
In 1961, he was awarded a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Wisconsin and five years later was awarded the highest distinction of the American Jury of Professional Psychology.
After working with Carl Rogers, he developed the process of Nonviolent Communication in the early 1980s.
He then founded the Centre for Nonviolent Communication, a non-profit organisation designed to promote this art of dialogue inviting mutual goodwill.

Together with his colleagues, Marshall Rosenberg introduced the NVC process to tens of thousands of people in some 40 countries – including countries at war – and on five continents. These trainers address a wide variety of audiences: educators, pupils and students, parents, company managers and staff, physical and mental health professionals, lawyers, judges, prisoners, police officers, religious leaders, etc.

He has travelled all over the world to mediate conflicts and promote peace.