Training

Constructive Communities offers a variety of trainings that can be adapted to fit the needs of many kinds of groups - workplaces, community organizations, youth-serving programs, or any other group. All the offerings begin with a pre-training call to learn more about your community's needs and how we can tailor the training based on size, your mission/focus area, identity of participants, and any other relevant factors. Trainings are highly interactive, designed through an equity and trauma-informed lens, and usually followed by participant evaluations.

Longer trainings can be arranged with enough notice. Please visit the Contact page to inquire about availability and pricing.

Conflict Resolution overview - 3-4 hours

This training gives participants the nuts and bolts of conflict resolution and some foundational practices that can be utilized in various settings. We explore key approaches to conflict and reflect on how and when these show up in our experiences with conflict. Participants are introduced to the Positions/Interests/Needs model and explore how that can help to reframe conflict. Lastly, we dig into skill-building on both addressing and receiving conflict, including learning tools for effective communication in conflict and de-escalation techniques.

Conflict Resolution Intensive - 6-8 hours

This deeper dive builds on all the foundational principles and practices covered in the Conflict Resolution Overview. It includes additional training in active listening, nonviolent communication, navigating conflict in groups, and addressing challenging parties in conflict. Finally, we integrate learning and tools covered through small group work focused on problem-solving various kinds of interpersonal and group conflict.

Conflict Resolution in the workplace - 4-5 hours

In this training we explore how conflict resolution tools and approaches contribute to a healthy, collaborative culture in the workplace. Participants look at conflict styles and discuss how awareness of their own style(s) and those of their co-workers and teammates can prevent and address conflict that might arise. After learning other core conflict resolution skills, the group has an opportunity to role play relevant workplace conflict and practice implementing these tools. Lastly, we focus on using a strengths-based approach to support positive team-building in the future.

Conflict Resolution for Managers - 4-6 hours

This interactive workshop is for managers looking to sharpen their knowledge and skills on navigating conflict effectively. Participants in the workshop will explore their own approach to conflict and biases to better understand how this affects their management style; be able to recognize how the diverse needs of their teams may create conflict and how they can support team members at both the group and individual level; and practice specific tools to open, hold and engage in difficult conversations by learning how to move from positions to interests and needs.

Navigating conflict with youth - 6-8 hours

This training is geared toward youth-serving organizations and staff members. It incorporates a restorative justice philosophy with classic conflict resolution tools, tailored for implementation with young people. This training uses a trauma-informed framework and language and includes strategies for de-escalation, communicating with honesty and compassion, and concludes with a chance to practice tools in conflict situations among youth.

Introduction to Restorative justice - 6-8 hours

This training offers a broad look at restorative justice philosophy and practices. We start with the history and context of how modern restorative justice arose from the practices of Indigenous communities. Next, we ground ourselves in the central principles of restorative philosophy. We then touch on several key restorative practices, including affective statements, restorative questions, restorative conversations, and community-building circles. Participants will leave with an understanding of the origins and context of restorative justice philosophy, as well as a solid command of several core restorative practices for building positive relationships and addressing challenging behavior and conflict.

Restorative justice Intensive - 2-5 days

The training builds on the Introduction to Restorative Justice to include a deeper dive into restorative philosophy and the core assumptions of a restorative lens, as well as more concrete skill-building on a variety of restorative practices. This training also delves into how restorative principles and practices can support us in competently addressing conflict and harm. Lastly, participants will explore what building restorative culture can look like on a systems level and reflect on ways to become more restorative in their work and organizations. The time-frame of this workshop is highly customizable based on the capacity and interest of participant groups.

Restorative circle Keeper Training - 2-3 Days

This training delves into the background, principles, and mechanics of basic restorative circles. It covers the roots of circle practice in Indigenous communities and the primary values that are its foundation. It also includes the key elements of circle, the role of the circle keeper, troubleshooting challenging situations, and time to practice designing circles. Participants will leave equipped to facilitate basic community building and talking circles, with options to “level up” and get training in conflict and other more complex circles. This training is highly experiential and we will spend lots of time learning and connecting in circle format.

Youth Mental Health First Aid - 5 hours Live Instruction + 2 hours Self-Paced Introduction OR 8 hours live instruction

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an international, evidence-based training course. It is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants who complete the full course receive a certificate valid for 3 years.

Tricks and tips for online learning and collaboration - 1-2 hours

This workshop is designed to equip facilitators, trainers, teams, and organizations with dynamic tools to create interactive and connective online learning and collaboration. With so much happening in virtual or hybrid spaces, this workshop will provide much-needed practices and tips for you to make your online learning and collaboration engaging, fun, and accessible to whoever your audience may be.