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Conflict & Peacemaking Across Cultures

A project ofFresno Pacific University

Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies, funded by

the Office of Refugee Resettlement

Dr. Duane Ruth-HeffelbowerProject Officer

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Project Goal

Create a best practices model for orientation of refugees, resettlement agencies and receiving communities in cross-cultural conflict resolution

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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