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Conflict & Peacemaking Across Cultures. A project of Fresno Pacific University Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement Dr. Duane Ruth-Heffelbower Project Officer. Project Goal.
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Conflict & Peacemaking Across Cultures A project of Fresno Pacific University Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement Dr. Duane Ruth-Heffelbower Project Officer
Project Goal • Create a best practices model for orientation of refugees, resettlement agencies and receiving communities in cross-cultural conflict resolution
Methodology • In each of five cities per year, identify a cooperating resettlement agency receiving new Bosnian and Iraqi refugees, through an RFP process • With the cooperating agencies create a cross-cultural team including refugees, agency workers and representatives of community agencies
Methodology 2 • Provide a four-day elicitive training for the team during which group formation, cross-cultural understanding and development of conflict resolution skills are the focus • Support the ongoing work of the group through telephone consultation, a dedicated internet listserve and World Wide Web site
Methodology 3 • Study the work and effectiveness of the group in its conflict resolution efforts over a one-year period • Provide a follow-up visit and training to enhance skills of the group • Modify the process in each subsequent site to develop a best practices model • Publish the model after three years and fifteen cities
Training Details • Getting acquainted process, including telling stories of how you or your family came to the United States • Slides of the refugee experience focused on refugee camp life • Form homogeneous groups and describe the usual ways persons of your culture manage conflict, sharing results with the whole group
Training Details 2 • Role play of conflicts in cultures represented • Conflict theory presentation, eliciting cultural variations and adopting a model for the group’s use. • Personality and conflict style presentation eliciting cultural variations on style variables • Refugee resettlement process input and discussion
Training Details 3 • Conflict management skill-building input and role play • Differences and cultural variations among mediator, facilitator and conciliator roles • Role play of negotiation and mediation situations • Developing a local plan
1996-97 Cities • Atlanta -- Bridging the Gap (high school students) • Buffalo -- International Institute (adults) • Pittsburgh -- Catholic Charities (adults) • San Diego -- Catholic Charities (adults) • San Francisco -- International Institute (high school students)
1997-98 RFP Process • ORR has funded 1997-98 • 97-98 RFP is available at http://www.fresno.edu/ dept/pacs/refugee.html • Proposals due Jan 16, 1998 • Subgrants to cooperating agencies of $12,000 • E-mail duanerh@fresno.edu or call 800-909-8677
More Information • Details about the project and its work in the first five cities, including photos, are available at http://www.fresno.edu/ pacs/refugee.html