Capacity Building
The CCC hosts and provides capacity-building trainings and experiences to the community. Based on community members’ interests, unique workshops and presentations are developed and held in community space. CCC staff actively searches for unique offerings that are of benefit to community members.
Trainings in restorative justice, restorative practices, and restorative community conferencing are available throughout the year. In addition, NCRC Training Institute signature communication, conflict management, and intercultural relations trainings are regularly offered.
Building on strengths that are present in the community and NCRC’s success in teaching people to communicate more effectively, NCRC has developed a series of four training modules customized for the communities in which we live. These interactive trainings help participants explore their own personal and cultural identity and learn how it relates to their communication style; how these different styles can sometimes be the root of communication breakdown; and, most importantly, how they can learn to recognize when a communication breakdown is happening and do something about it.
The ART of Communication
The ART of Communication not only gives community members more skills in responding to conflict, but also offers an actual strategy to help them put those skills in practice. It is a hands-on, practical course intended for immediate implementation. Participants learn how to improve their reaction/response to others when they feel attacked by their peers in the community. Community members leave with improved communication skills, the ability to de-escalate anger, and proven techniques to manage conflict more effectively.
The Diversity Advantage
Diversity in the fullest sense of the word, including not only race and ethnicity, but also gender, sexual orientation, age, lifestyle, and abilities are explored and valued. Participants have an opportunity to learn how they, as individuals, and in community groups, can become more inclusive. Additionally, participants will look at how respectful communication can address difficult comments from others that might be considered racist, sexist, ageist, homophobic, or in other ways derogatory to others. All of this is done in a safe and respectful learning environment.
The Exchange
There are times in which people need assistance in managing their differences. The Exchange process, based upon mediation theory and methodology is a four-stage process for resolving conflicts. After observing a demonstration and learning the elements of each stage, the participants have an opportunity to practice that stage. Participants learn to successfully manage a three-way conversation that addresses each person’s interests and those of the community.
Work Readiness
NCRC’s Work Readiness programs target at-risk populations to give them the critical life/work skills to successfully participate in their work and/or current living conditions. Focusing on the communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving aspects of positive workplace behavior, participants leave with new skills and additional insight into constructive behavior.