Common Ground Project

ABOUT US

The Common Ground Project is a peer conflict resolution program designed to provide students with practical information and skills to approach and resolve interpersonal conflicts. Information will be presented to students through educational workshops, one-on-one coaching, and class presentations. Trained student volunteers, Peer Conflict Resolution Educators (PCRE's) will be utilized to co-facilitate workshops and presentations as well as provide one-on-one conflict management/resolution skill building sessions.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

Students participating in Common Ground Project activities will learn:

Various terms and concepts of conflict theory
About their personal conflict and communication style
Active listening and verbal communication skills
Alternative methods of reducing and solving conflicts
Techniques for managing intercultural conflicts

COMMON GROUND PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Provide an on campus conflict resolution resource for students
Provide students with proactive solutions for approaching and managing conflict
Inform students about local community services, in the areas of conflict mediation and resolution

SERVICES & RESOURCES

CONFLICT COACHING

Conflict coaching is a one-on-one process in which individuals meet with a "coach" to receive information and skills in self-mediation. Conflict Coaches are Cañada students who have been trained to listen and help their peers come up with options for handling conflict. Assistance is confidential and free of charge.

Why should I talk to a Conflict Coach?
A conflict coach is a fellow student with special training, who can provide you a sounding board and a chance to talk. They will not give you advice or tell you what to do. Instead they will listen to you and help you think through how you can handle your conflict. Conflict Coaches are not counselors. They are peer educators that help students brainstorm action plans to handle conflicts.
What Types Of Conflicts Can Be Discussed With A Conflict Coach?
Disputes with parents, co-workers, roommates, a significant other (partner), or another classmate can be discussed with a Conflict Coach.
Disputes involving abuse, physical violence, threats of violence, and/or harassment are not appropriate topics for Conflict Coaches. Students experiencing the above listed problems can visit the Common Ground Project website for additional resources. Students can also contact the Cañada College Psychological Services Counselor Linda Huey at 650-306-3152.
How Do I Make An Appointment?
Contact the Student Activities Office at 650-306-3373 to schedule an appointment during available hours.

WORKSHOPS

Common Ground Project workshops are designed to be active, engaging and informative. Workshop topics include:

Basic Communication skills
Interest Based Negotiations
Intercultural Conflict
Constructive Confrontation
Conflict Styles
Consensus Based Decisions

RESOURCE LIBRARY

Books, pamphlets, and handouts are available to students. Listing of local organizations specializing in various topics: mediation, housing disputes, domestic violence, etc., is also available through the website.

REFERRALS

Students can receive referrals to the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center for mediation services.

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Alameda County

Mediation Services
Mediation Services provides a panel of mediators to assist you in the process of reaching an agreement. Our mediators do not represent either party, but remain strictly neutral. Low cost fees are charged on a sliding scale basis.
http://www.mediationservices.org/index.htm

East Bay Community Mediation
The mission of East Bay Community Mediation is to promote dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflict for and among neighbors, families, organizations, and schools by using trained community volunteers to provide and teach the skills of mediation, facilitation and collaborative problem-solving.
http://www.ebcm.org/

ECHO Housing
ECHO's services reach over 10,000 clients per year with housing information and assistance. ECHO's primary service component continues to be equal housing access; however, more recent services have been directed to intervention and prevention of homelessness.
http://www.echofairhousing.org/pages/1/index.htm

San Mateo County

Bay Area Legal Aid
Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) is the largest provider of free civil legal services in the Bay Area. Our seven regional offices work together to provide high quality legal assistance to low-income people regardless of their location, language, or disability. BayLegal is uniquely positioned to help people across county lines. We assist people in the areas of housing, public benefits, health access, and domestic violence.
http://www.baylegal.org/

Coastside Opportunity Center
The Coastside Opportunity Center (COC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit multi-service center incorporated in 1976 whose mission is to provide human service programs to the homeless, low-income, working poor, immigrant, farm and nursery workers, elderly, and disabled residents of the San Mateo County Coastside. We are the only such organization on the Coastside and every effort is made to assist those who have become homeless and to prevent others from becoming homeless.
http://www.coastside.org/

CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse)
CORA provides free and confidential services to victims and survivors of domestic/dating violence and abuse, including child and teen witnesses, in San Mateo County . Our services include a 24-hour hotline, support groups, legal services, emergency and transitional housing, and more, in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
http://www.corasupport.org/

Human Investment Project (HIP) Housing
http://www.hiphousing.org/

Landlord and Tenant Information and Referral Collaboration of San Mateo County
The Landlord and Tenant Information and Referral Collaborative of San Mateo County, a collaborative of governmental, nonprofit, and private entities, will provide timely and accurate information and referrals concerning landlord/tenant issues in San Mateo County .
http://www.landlordtenantinfo.org/

Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center
The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC), founded in 1986, is a public benefit corporation serving individuals, groups, and organizations throughout San Mateo County . We provide conflict prevention, management, and resolution services and promote the use of non-adversarial processes in a wide variety of situations. PCRC services empower people, build relationships, and reduce violence.
http://www.pcrcweb.org/

Stanford Law Clinic
The Stanford Community Law Clinic (SCLC) trains Stanford law students to become highly qualified public interest attorneys by serving individuals and communities in need through legal representation, advice, and education.
http://www.law.stanford.edu/clinics/sclc/

Superior Court of California , San Mateo County Small Claims Mediation Court
Small Claims Mediation is a voluntary, free mediation service. Our program uses volunteer mediators to help people resolve their cases.

Mediation sessions are private and less adversarial than going to court. The mediators help the people involved to find a solution that works for both sides.
http://www.sanmateocourt.org/director.php?filename=./adr/smallclaims/index.html

Santa Clara County

Los Altos Mediation Center
http://www.losaltoscf.org/lamp.html

Project Sentinel
Project Sentinel is a non-profit agency providing services to help people resolve housing problems. The agency assists home seekers as well as housing providers through counseling, complaint investigation, mediation, conciliation and education. The services are funded by cities and counties in the greater Bay Area and Central Valley . All services are free and confidential.
http://www.housing.org/index.htm

Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara
The Legal Aid Society of Santa Clara County (LAS) is a non-profit corporation founded in 1960 to provide free, civil legal services for those low-income persons unable to obtain access to the judicial system through other avenues. As Silicon Valley 's economy has grown, the unique diversity of the area has made the needs of families in poverty more complex.
http://www.legalaidsociety.org/

San Francisco County

La Raza Centro Legal
La Raza Centro Legal provides direct legal services, education, leadership development, and opportunities to organize around community issues. As a bilingual and multicultural staff, we seek to create a more just and inclusive society in the interest of the Latino, indigenous, and immigrant community.
http://www.lrcl.org/