This Trainer's Manual, designed as a "workshop for public officials," provides essential information for any individual, agency or organization that participates in a collaborative process. The workshop is presented in eight modules, each covering an aspect of what has been found to be the "best practices" in participating in a collaborative or consensus building process. It is based on the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR) Report, "Best Practices for Government Agencies: Guidelines for Using Agreement-Seeking Processes." (continue)

Reuniting America is a network of organizations, associations, and individuals engaged in transpartisan dialogue. It is guided by a national steering committee and board of advisors comprised of leaders from across the political spectrum. Our intention is to foster authentic dialogue among leaders and citizens from across the political spectrum; to highlight and build on the citizen engagement work already taking place in communities across America; and to support and strengthen the capacity of leaders and citizens to discuss divisive issues and to engage in collaborative action. (continue)

Taking America's Pulse III (TAP III) was the third major national survey of intergroup relations conducted by The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ). The survey provides insight into intergroup relations in contemporary America and how, if at all, attitudes have changed in recent years. Data from TAP III demonstrates that, as American society grows more complex, intergroup relations are increasingly critical to social well-being and national progress. (continue)

We are an international not-for-profit organization with a mission to provide service and learning opportunities to young people who want to improve themselves and their communities. Our unique ability is helping diverse groups cross barriers of race, religion, creed, or national origin through working together in service. We help and encourage youth to become civically engaged and build cooperation between diverse groups in their communities and in the world, leading to lasting change. (continue)

Thirdside.org is sponsored by the Global Negotiation Project at Harvard University. The idea of the Third Side and the initial content of this website are drawn from Bill Ury's book The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop. Thirdside.org offers numerous tools for negotiation, including high school and college curriculua, workshop facilitators' guides, Third Side stories and case studies, and a variety of exercises. (continue)

This commentary was submitted by Libby and Len Traubman for the NCDD website on July 31, 2003. It begins "The First Day of Global Arab Jewish Dialogue -- Sunday, July 20, 2003 -- was marked in our area when Palestinians and Jews attended the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival to see two documentaries about Hebron -- one about Palestinian women, the other about Jewish women.... (continue)

Throughout history, there have been many social movements for change - for democracy, for the abolition of slavery, women's rights, for peace, for the environment. Many advancements have been made, but each of these causes is just part of a larger wish for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. These diverse movements for thousands of different causes are beginning to converge and a more holistic movement --what UNESCO has described as a 'global movement for a culture of peace' -- is beginning to emerge. The Culture of Peace Movement is helping to unite the strengths of existing organizations and individuals so that creating a culture of peace really is now possible. (continue)

The Interfaith Encounter Association is dedicated to promoting peace in the Middle East through interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural study. We believe that, rather than being a cause of the problem, religion can and should be a source of the solution for conflicts that exist in the region and beyond. (continue)

The JAMS Foundation, a non-profit corporation, provides financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national impact, and shares its dispute resolution experience and judicial expertise for the benefit of the public interest. The Foundation encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution, supports education at all levels about collaborative processes for resolving differences, promotes innovation in conflict resolution, and advances the settlement of conflict worldwide. (continue)

The Peace Development Fund makes grants to organizations and projects working to achieve peaceful, just and interdependent relationships among people and nations. We believe that the change in values needed to establish a more just and peaceful world will come about only if it is strongly rooted in local communities. (continue)