“Fabulous — focused, thoughtful important and engaging.” • “Extremely thought-provoking and stimulating. I felt inspired.” • “Mr. Cowan was phenomenal!” • "Very professional — incredibly valuable.” • “Outstanding material, presentation and very much needed today.” • “Very impressed — I wish the session could have been longer!” • “Very thought-provoking and interesting! Great stuff!” • "Clear, practical and stimulating.” • “Great speaker! Very thorough presentation.”

— Evaluation Comments

(Overall Evaluation = “Excellent”) Violence & Powerful Learning

2004 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development 59th Annual Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana

Comments

following are some of the comments Mr. Cowan received about his presentations and writings.

“A new and original thinker.”

— Philip K. Dick

Author — Do Androids Dream Electric

Sheep? (Blade Runner), Valis, and The Minority Report

“You have truly touched my life; you will be in my memory for a long time (and hopefully my friends' minds to whom I've been telling about your presentation). Thank you again.”

— High School Student

in a letter to the author

“Fabulous — focused, thoughtful important and engaging.” • “Extremely thought-provoking and stimulating. I felt inspired.” • “Mr. Cowan was phenomenal!” • "Very professional — incredibly valuable.” • “Outstanding material, presentation and very much needed today.” • “Very impressed — I wish the session could have been longer!” • “Very thought-provoking and interesting! Great stuff!” • "Clear, practical and stimulating.” • “Great speaker! Very thorough presentation.”

— Evaluation Comments

(Overall Evaluation = “Excellent”)

Violence & Powerful Learning

2004 Association for Supervision and

Curriculum Development 59th Annual Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana

"Excellent model, very clear connection to character." • "Effective and efficient use of time." • "Very insightful — it helped me, as a counselor, to see violence in a new light."

— Participant Comments

Overall presentation rating = "Excellent"

2004 Character Education Partnership National Forum

Houston, Texas

“Ari Cowan's extensive experience as a consultant to major healthcare organizations and his ability to institute positive change has earned him great respect throughout the healing community. In particular, Mr. Cowan's immense passion and unique understanding of the issues of violence makes him well qualified to write on the subject. He exhibits profound insight into the devastating effects of violence and proposes clear, concise, success-oriented solutions to eliminating acts of aggression in our society. Mr. Cowan takes a fresh approach to understanding violence by highlighting the cultural influences that perpetuate and escalate violent behavior. His remarks will undoubtedly instill hope as well as challenge all of us to eradicate violence in our world.”

— Daniel R. Valentine, PhD, MFT, DAC

Chief Executive Officer,

Sharp Vista Pacifica Chemical Dependency Recovery Hospital

Treating Clinician,

National Football League's Program for Substances of Abuse

"An audience of students, parents, and teachers [at the Mothers Against Violence in America conference] sat mesmerized by [Mr. Cowan's] invitation to investigate the relationship between boys and violence. His questions about men and boys challenged us to rethink the nature of masculinity; his statements provoked meaningful and intense discussions about boys growing up in our culture. I knew this was a man who my husband, my son, and my daughters should hear. This was a message that students and parents should hear. When Ari spoke of what it is to be a boy in America, he spoke to what it is to be human. He captivated all of us with his message of compassion and hope."

— Barbara Padden

Teacher

Kenmore Jr. High School

“Wonderful! Great knowledge of subject matter.” • “You should do this every day.” • “Best workshop so far.” • “Great presentation style.” • “Terrific.” • “Should keynote.” • “Provocative and rejuvenating.” • “Excellent.” • “Powerful.” • “Impressed with presenter's commitment.” • “Very motivational.”• “Inspiring, very emotional stuff.” • “One of the best workshops I've attended.” • “Great humor.” • “Impactive.” • “Almost an experience from a 'higher power.” • “Great handouts, format.”

— Evaluation Comments (Overall Evaluation = “Excellent”)

1994 Annual Adolescent Pregnancy Professionals Fall Conference

Bellevue, Washington

“Mr. Cowan's book [Acts of Courage, Acts of Cowardice: Transcending the Culture of Violence ] captures the spirit and very soul of how to help our children become non-violent adults. His heart- touching prose coupled with a masterful weaving of important data combine to make a compelling read that I could not put down. This book is a resource for all who care about our children and society. Parents and professionals must save a place for Acts of Courage on their bookshelves.”

— Thomas M. Dramer, EdD

Educator

Recipient, Washington State Award for Excellence in Education

Former Adjunct Professor, Leslie College

Adjunct Professor, Seattle Pacific University

and Adjunct Professor, City College

“You provided us with a fun, educational experience. Your anecdotes were unforgettable and you really made a lasting impression on me as well as everyone.”

— Student

Alternative High School

in a letter to the author

“Ari Cowan is a knowledgeable and informed writer and speaker who has done his research and knows the topic of violence intimately. Having come from an abusive childhood and youth, Mr. Cowan is able to bring a personal perspective to the issue of violence. He is able to speak about this personal and horrifying topic with deep understanding and compassion.”

— Elaine Childs-Gowell, PhD

Author, Good Grief Rituals and Stages of Ages

Founder, Institute for Developmental Education and Psychotherapy

Former Member of the Board of Directors,

Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health

“Your speech moved me. I think people/teens would really listen to you and take into consideration what you have to say.”

— High School Student

in a letter to the author

“Author Ari Cowan offers a deeply thoughtful analysis of the problem of violence that goes beyond critique to offer compassionate, practical solutions toward healing the personal and societal wounds that violence has begotten. The beginning of the end of violence starts with this book [Acts of Courage, Acts of Cowardice: Transcending the Culture of Violence].”

“A must-read for any parent, teacher, counselor, or doctor.”

— Kathleen Ervin, MFCC

Program Coordinator

Venture Adolescent Day Treatment Program

“I liked Ari's openness — he held my attention. I couldn't leave as I originally planned on.” “A really unique and new approach to an old problem.” “Just what I was looking for.” “This helped me a great deal!”

— Evaluation Comments (Overall Evaluation = “Excellent”)

2003 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

58th Annual Conference

San Francisco, California

“After listening to your speech I couldn't help but tell my friends and family what you had to say. This was the best presentation I have ever had the privelage [sic] of listening [sic].”

— Student

Alternative High School

in a letter to the author

“Ari brings to the conversation on violence a clear and realistic view of the core issues. I have sat with Ari in rooms full of people from all walks of life; among them judges, doctors, and counselors who deal with the issue of violence on a daily basis. Ari meets people where they are, acknowledges every person's humanity and invites us to begin to make a difference.”

— Howard Winkler

Parent Educator

ParentEd

“Ari Cowan is a great friendly shy giant of a man with an encompassing knowledge and understanding of violence. He presented “Out of the Belly of the Beast: A Remembrance” at the 1998 Love of Violence Conference at the University of Washington, sponsored by the Ernest Becker Foundation. The time slot was right after lunch when you have to be a good speaker to hold an audience. Ari was superb. Attendees loved him, hanging on his every word. He immediately connected with them and used humor, gesture, self-deprecation, even a little melodrama — all to very good effect. He was telling his story so there was no reading from notes, let alone a text. With the gift of a splendid speaking voice and a mastery of language, his message came across effectively and clearly.”

— Neil J. Elgee, MD

Founder and President

The Ernest Becker Foundation