Partnership in Practice
From its beginnings in 1999, the Conflict Management Certificate Program (CMCP) at Grebel has sought partnerships with professional trainers and organizations who bring specialized conflict management expertise. These collaborations have both shaped and strengthened the program as needs in the workforce have shifted over time.
Identified as one of ten grounding philosophical principles, this collaborative approach began with Barb Landau, Sy Landau, and Rick Russell. According to Susan Baker, manager of the program, “they suggested that a partnership could serve an important educational function and be mutually beneficial.” The relationship continues today through ongoing training with Agree Inc and financial support from The Landau Family Scholarship for students in the CMCP and the Peace and Conflict Studies academic program.
Partnerships give workshop participants the opportunity to learn highly specialized skills from experienced practitioners. For example, the workshop on Transformative Mediation & Facilitated Dialogue: Restorative Approaches to Sexual Harm is offered with Community Justice Initiatives, who are recognized worldwide for their restorative justice foundations. Likewise, internationally recognized practitioner Kay Pranis made it a priority in her schedule to include an annual Peacemaking Circles training since 2011 together with training partner Jennifer Ball.
PACS students and workshop participants alike benefit from skills training that Grebel doesn’t otherwise offer through its academic courses, connecting classroom learning with professional practice. Partnerships have also enabled the program to respond to emerging opportunities. For example, the program partnered with Projacs International and Fercan to provide conflict management training for the construction industry in the Middle East for many years.
The program’s relationships with practitioners also evolve over time. “As a trainer, Betty Pries shared her expertise when she moved to Waterloo from Winnipeg,” explained Susan. “As Betty’s interests and research have developed, so has her organization, and we now partner with Credence and Company, providing training in the corporate, community, and congregational settings.”
The most recent collaboration is with Gary Furlong of Agree Inc. as he launches the Labour Relations Academy of Canada. This collaboration has created an opportunity to offer workshops focused on those employed in unionized environments. More than 25 years later, collaboration remains central to CMCP.
