JCCA has an investment in the issues of race relations, equity for all children and adults, and the overall health and vitality of Arkansas.
Like many in central Arkansas, JCCA board members have been distressed by the recent tenor of the public conversation in Little Rock, particularly surrounding changes within the Little Rock School District, the election regarding Mayoral powers, and the LRSD Board of Directors election. JCCA believes that the controversy surrounding these events is symptomatic of the unspoken and unresolved social issues that affect the quality of life in our community. And we don’t believe that controversy surrounding race relations is unique to Central Arkansas.
In line with our mission, the JCCA Board of Directors and staff members are deeply committed to identifying stakeholders, building both short and long term plans of action to create safe places for honest conversation. In doing this, JCCA’s aim is to foster reconciliation and long term dialog and healing.
We have engaged The Plowshares Institute to provide training for community leaders through our newly established Community Forums, enabling these trained facilitators to guide our community in times of conflict. JCCA will host at least three sessions of their “Community Conflict Transformation” training sessions:
“Community Conflict Transformation (CCT) training creates a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural network of skilled community and city leaders to work proactively to build constructive relationships among all citizens. In response to current and emerging areas of conflict, CCT training helps communities and parties bogged down in what often seem to be irresolvable conflicts to build skills, achieve new levels of respect and empowerment, and develop mutually beneficial agreements.” (www.plowsharesinstitute.org)
With a trained group of community problem-solvers, we should be positioned to address present and future issues with civil dialogue to promote healthy outcomes for our entire community. JCCA’s aim is to foster reconciliation and long-term community dialogue and healing.
We welcome ALL individuals and organizations who share that same aim. So if you care about our community and want it to be the best possible place for all of us to live, work and raise our families, we ask for your endorsement of our Community Forums program. We are looking for more stakeholders, both as individuals and on behalf of your constituent groups, to endorse this process. To date over 250 individuals have signed on as stakeholders in this process and 30 community organizations have signed on as Partners. Sign on as a stakeholder, being kept up to date on upcoming Community Forums, and helping to move our community forward.
The first two CCT training sessions were held in November, 2007 and on April 8 & 9 of 2008. More than 80 community leaders from the surrounding area have participated in these dynamic training sessions. See what some of the participants had to say about their experiences by reading their testimonials. Our third Community Conflict Transformation Training session is scheduled for October 13 & 14, 2008. Apply now for our next Community Conflict Transformation Training session.
"In my work as a facilitator, as well as in my daily life, I can see how mediation used as a tool to empower and build peace, would be very useful. I am also interested in continuing the work we started during the workshop."
"Not only did I enjoy the trainers, I also enjoyed the agenda and format, the community conflict examples they provided us with, as well as the multiple role playing experiences. I also enjoyed that we concluded the training with a “roundtable discussion” regarding true-to-life issues surrounding the Little Rock area."
"After attending this training, I anticipate to use my newly developed conflict resolution skills to further my ability as a mediator not only in my professional work in the community, but also in my personal life. I have real difficulties with problem solving (I don’t like conflict, and like to avoid it at all costs!), so this training has opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. And, not only did I leave the training with tips, tricks, and valuable notes, I also walked away from the training with a wonderful book to help me along the way!"
"I hope to get involved with a systematic interaction with people of different races to see what would happen if we got to understand each other at a deeper level. Hopefully this process won’t require mediation as much as courtesy, respect and honesty. However I now have an understanding of how a mediator can facilitate dialog for real understanding."
We invite you to contact JCCA staff or board members to learn more about Community Forums.
JCCA also offers the Walk for CommUNITY, the Humanitarian Award Dinner and the Gathering of Friends as other events aimed at the broader community.