The Connection Practice

The Connection Practice is dedicated to teaching a social and emotional skill set for a more connected world, with a vision of a world where every person practices the art of connection and passes this gift to the next generation. Through coaches and trainers certified by RFI, the Connection Practice is spreading rapidly in schools, businesses, nonprofits and in faith-based communities (as BePeace). Rasur Foundation International (RFI) is a nonprofit organization founded by Rita Marie Johnson. It was named after the poem Rasur or The Week of Splendor, written by Costa Rican poet, journalist and educator Roberto Brenes Mesén. Beginning with her 1993 move to Costa Rica, Ms. Johnson sought a method of social and emotional learning that could be used reliably and efficiently in all areas of life. In 2004, Ms. Johnson began offering this methodology – now known as the Connection Practice -- in Costa Rican public schools. Since then, close to 1,500 teachers have been trained in the Connection Practice, building the social and emotional intelligence of nearly 40,000 students. Annual evaluations reveal that bullying, intolerance, conflicts, violence and misconduct reports decreased after Connection Practice training. Since 2010, Ms. Johnson has taught the Connection Practice Foundations Course at the United Nations-mandated University for Peace, a graduate school for international leaders, as well as myriad other venues in Costa Rica and the United States. Now, almost 100 coaches and trainers have been certified in the Connection Practice in the United States, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. RFI gratefully acknowledges the work of the Institute of HeartMath® and the Center for Nonviolent Communication for inspiring the Connection and BePeace Practices.