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Common Ground Communities. Transforming the Way Your Community Deals with Conflict. Search for Common Ground - USA. There are seven billion people on this planet, we will never all agree, we can only learn how to disagree in peace. Community Conflicts – A Given. Neighbor to Neighbor.
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Common Ground Communities Transforming the Way Your Community Deals with Conflict Search for Common Ground - USA
There are seven billion people on this planet, we will never all agree, we can only learn how to disagree in peace. Community Conflicts – A Given Neighbor to Neighbor Interpersonal Intergroup Interethnic Intragroup Land Use Misdemeanors
Conflict is neither positive or negative in itself . . . it’s the way we deal with the issue and each other that is the key. Dealing with Community Conflicts – A Choice Unite Flight Fight
When in conflict, we can either try to be the winner or look at how can we work this out together. Why Does Your Choice Matter? • Festering resentments • Injustice Flight • Peace and Quiet • Order • Justice • Imposed outcomes • Damaged relations Fight • Time • Effort • Commitment • Mutual agreements • Improved relations • Lightened court caseload Unite
Resolving conflicts as partners is a learning experience for all involved – it is rarely the easy route, but ultimately it is the most rewarding approach.
Not all conflicts can be resolved by dialogue, much harm could be avoided by a change of approach. What Is A Better Approach? Flight Flight Fight Fight Unite Unite “now” “then”
Given the right tools, we can learn how to manage conflicts as partners so that everyone wins. Generate Options Develop Agreements Raise Issues Discover Interests The Cooperative Problem Solving Path
To resolve conflicts as partners, we must be prepared to stop finger-pointing and labeling – honest listening and expression are fundamental to positive resolution. Manage Emotions Effectively Communicate Respect Perceptions
How? Widespread Individual Skills Cooperative Problem Solving Processes Supportive Leadership
Widespread Individual Skills • Conflict Analysis • Conflict Management • Problem Solving How and When to Access Third Party Processes Positions Interests Brainstorming Active Listening Anger Management
Cooperative Problem Solving Processes • Develop the Processes to Match the Problems Neighbor to Neighbor Mediation Interethnic Study Circle, Media Programming Land Use/ Safety Neighborhood Problem Solving Process Misdemeanors Restorative Justice Processes
Endorse Overall Vision of Change Supportive Leadership • Provide Support • Walk the Talk Government Community Groups Religion Business Education
How Does This Happen? Search Homeport Change Skills + Leadership Processes Partners
Role of Homeport Partner • Act as a catalyst for change, be “applied visionaries” • Identify and proactively respond to systemic and emergent community conflicts • Build a network of volunteers and professionals who provide resources and services to community members • Enlist support of community leaders • Develop partnerships with and among other community organizations
Search supports: Strategic Planning • Articulate Vision • Identify Barriers • Define achievable pieces of the vision • Agree on a plan of action • Implement • Evaluate / Improve
Search provides: Ongoing Support • Mentoring, coaching, advising • Sources of information • Training • Materials • Networking
Search for Common Ground “. . . transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions” Mission D. R. Congo Middle East Angola Morocco Liberia Iran Where United States Sierra Leone Macedonia Ukraine Greece-Turkey Burundi
Contacting Search for Common Ground Search for Common Ground www.sfcg.org
Every day we choose how to respond to crisis, those in our lives and in the world . . . we are all connected, each individual makes a difference.
Map of Cooperative Problem-Solving Principles Process Results Attack Problems Use conflict as a natural resource Attack problems, respect people Good agreements Good relations Raise Issues Discover Interests Generate Options Develop Agreements Respect People Emotions Communication Perceptions
Training • Individual Conflict Resolution Skills • Facilitating the Community Problem Solving Process
Materials • Communities That Work – Together Guidebook • Processes Guide