CRC

About Us

Our Value Added

The Ramirez family network will be utilized to bring on financial, in-kind, nonprofit and civic leader support. An advisory committee will be made up of corporate, education and community leaders that will lend their expertise to our cause. We will build a support network that will be dedicated to supporting our hyper focused effort to mobilize resources to make an immediate impact in our first chosen community of Elysian Heights and surrounding communities.

OUR LEGACY

To breakdown the societal barriers that keep our communities from thriving.

Our (Not So Hidden) Agenda: To mirror our efforts in other communities by teaching potential leaders to model our structure and agenda to enable them to continually advocate and bring resources to their communities.

Our Hopes

To represent underserved communities and to create generations of advocates within said communities that will continue to advocate for their families, friends and community members that face housing, education and workforce challenges.

Support and Testimonials

John E. Perez,

Chief of Police, Pasadena Police Department

This correspondence is in regard to the professional services provided by Mr. Ramirez. To begin, I have over 35 years of experience and my past assignments involved the management of an Anti-Gang Unit and SWAT team that conducts over 5,000 investigative contacts with people each year. As a result, we sometimes receive complaints about the demeanor and behavior of officers during field contacts. In order to combat this problem, the Pasadena Police Department requested the assistance of Mr. Ramirez to help teach officers how to communicate better with people in the community. This resulted in over 15 police officers from the Special Enforcement Section receiving training from Mr. Ramirez on conflict management techniques. Over the past year the number of complaints regarding the behavior of the officers has dramatically decreased, in part, due to the officers understanding of how to properly communicate with others. Currently, we did not receive any community complaints for that year, however, the overall production of arrests had increased over the year. In addition, Mr. Ramirez has been a great community resource by offering his services to the family of homicide victims killed as a result of the local gang culture. Mr. Ramirez was able to work with families and offer them counseling and other service resources to assist them during this crisis. Mr. Ramirez has also requested and used our officers to assist on mediation with high school students to resolve conflicts. This has been very helpful for officers to learn some of the core issues that cause conflict among teenagers, while improving the image of the officers with our young adults in the community. I hope that Mr. Ramirez continues to be an asset to the community and a leader and educator that I have depended upon to help fight the culture of gangs and youth violence in our society.

Rev. A. Paige Eaves, Associate Pastor for Youth & Missions Pasadena 1st United Methodist Church

After my training, I immediately put my enhanced mediation skills to work in the church environment. I was asked to mediate a colleague’s church conflict, a prolonged and difficult affair. I find that I have more confidence in facilitating large meetings where controversial subjects are on the table. The training’s focus on intergenerational, interethnic conversations has proven to be particularly relevant for my work.

Zoot Velasco, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company

We greatly value the training and partnership we received from you. We have incorporated what we've learned into our curriculum and will be referring others to your training! It has been an invaluable experience for us. It should be a required college course for all students!

Sally Fairman, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company

The training was superb! I would recommend this course to anyone wishing to enhance their listening skills and interactions with people in any environment. Because of the training, our curriculum now incorporates non-violence techniques allowing the participants to get community service credit for their participation, helping them get off probation and get on with their lives.

Mayra Nolan, STARS Program

I found the training extremely helpful for my own line of work

Kathleen Stein, Girl Scouts - Mt Wilson Vista Council

The training Mr. Ramirez provided was informative as well as engaging. The trainers were very knowledgeable and imparted information and taught skills provided was in a very accessible way. The role play practice and group exercises were helpful in gaining insight into my own behavior as well as observing others.

Brian Biery, Neighborhood Connections, City of Pasadena, HSRD

Mr. Ramirez provided an excellent workshop on "understanding diversity" as a guest speaker for the Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute. His rapport with the students was terrific and as a result he was able to assist them to analyze their racial and ethnic biases in a manner which allowed them to be introspective and yet not defensive about their feelings. The participation by the students was very high as all of them recognized that the improvement of race relations is of the utmost importance in our society today. After the discussion all of the participants rated the workshop as 'very good' or 'excellent' so there was a high level of satisfaction with its content and implementation. Our office would definitely like to utilize Mr. Ramirez and his services like this workshop in the future.

TESTIMONIALS

Amy Froeschle Teacher and Peer Mediator Coordinator

Our 38 peer mediators have gained leadership skills while helping to reduce student conflicts on our campus. Thanks to these mediators, our school is now a more peaceful place to learn.

Shelly MacGuire, Counselor

I see a major impact in the children’s self responsibility. The growth in the students who are involved is in leaps and bounds. I am confident that if all the students here at Franklin could be directly involved, the impact would be monumental.

Damon Bonds, Teacher

Within my classroom, the students who are mediators assert themselves in a problem solving capacity to resolve issues to that I as a teacher don’t have to.

Rose Evans Butts, Behavior Aide

I have personally seen transformation of behavior with certain problem students who have become peer mediators. Some have even raised their grades in class because their writing skills have improved from writing agreements.

Amy Strings, Conflict Counselor

The students here at Jackson are really abiding by the rules. I see better listening skills being practiced. Instead of interrupting, the students allow each other to finish what is being said. The kids who were once big problem causers are the biggest problem solvers. I have learned from the program to be a better listener and meet the needs of the youth.”

Sharon Laffler, Principal

Our peer mediators have really made a difference in the classroom. They’ve really been helping the teachers out. I’ve recommended the program to [other principals]

Jan Regan, Counselor

Students have complained they’re bored because there are so few conflicts at recess now.

Learn More

Here are some of the past Trainings and Workshops provided by our Program Director Ray Ramirez and highlights some of his groundbreaking work for over 30 years.

Find out more

Our Programs

Career and Life Success certificate programs taught by experienced and credentialed instructors

· Foundations for College

· Career Planning and Development

· Basic Computer Skills

· One of the following:

· Reading and Writing for Career and Life

· Elements of Reading

· Mathematics for Employment

· Basic Mathematics

· Time & Stress Management in the Workplace

· Decision Making, Problem Solving, and Conflict Resolution

· Customer Service and Attitude in the Workplace

· Communication and Team Building

· Values, Ethics, and Organizational Change

Life Success Certificate Requirements

· Foundations for College

· Basic Computer Skills

· Human Awareness and Relational Skills

· Money Matters

· Modes of Expression

· Health Matters

Strategies For Life Success (SFLS)

Strategies For Life Success (SFLS) Is a six module life and soft-skills program designed to help individuals succeed personally and professionally. SFLS helps participants focus on understanding their behaviors, attitudes and relationships with others to improve their work and personal lives. The course addresses dozens of hiring and retention issues of concern to employers.

Each of the six modules consists of 20 hours of instruction and self-study. Individuals may attend modules most relevant to their needs or complete all six. If they complete all six, they receive a certificate of completion.

Program overview

Module 1: Work Concepts • Self-motivation, exploring careers and learning what employers really want. • Applying for jobs, packaging yourself like a professional and sharing your story • Customer service, workplace diversity, team building and professionalism

Module 2: Health and Well-being • Core values, life choices and personal integrity • Personal and professional self-awareness, establishing boundaries, stress and time management skills Strategies for Success Life Skills Program • Social readiness and your online footprint • Accessing community resources and developing networking skills • Solving problems, setting goals, action planning techniques

Module 3: Communication • Interpersonal and business communication • Listening, writing, computer and presentation skills • Verbal and non-verbal cues, conflict resolution, emotional control • Phone, email and social media communication

Module 4: Personal Strength Builders • Attitude, motivation, overcoming fears, planning for success, improving your situation and time management skills • Self-worth, integrity, flexibility and adaptability • Spending habits and financial literacy Module 5: Community Engagement • Culture and self-identity – being sensitive to both • Personal and social rights, citizenship and civic engagement

Module 6: Work Concepts II • Multitasking, staying motivated • Personal leadership, organization skills • Trauma vs. drama, managing the unexpected • Cognitive bias and how it impacts every decision we make • Developing a solid vision for a professional future

Conflict Resolution and Mediation Certificate Programs for Home, School, Workplace, and Community conducted by Certified Experienced Instructors

CRC is seeking funds to support its work in piloting a school-based, community mediation center out of the CRC homebase at 1919. This center proposes to bridge the artificial divide that often exists between school-based conflicts (often characterized as youth-based disputes) and community conflicts (often characterized as adult-based disputes). However, schools are at the heart of their local communities, and problems in the local community can often percolate into the school environment and affect the interactions of students or their academic performance. By the same token, conflicts that begin with students, teachers and administrators may expand out into the local community to include family members, friends, law enforcement, legal counsel, and community agencies. CRC will provide comprehensive services that go beyond the scope of a traditional student peer mediation program. We envision CRC as a project where youth and adults will be partners in violence prevention and conflict management on campus.

The CRC program will target cases involving suspensions (chronic repeaters), poor attendance, disrespectful student behavior towards school officials, parent complaints, teacher-administration disputes, and community complaints against school sites. School Districts are focusing on school safety and student retention/attendance.

Our Educational Programs and Trainings

CRC SCHOOL PROGRAMS

CRC’s programs work to strengthen school systems by 1) Teaching skills and concepts to students and adults and 2) Offering programs that provide alternatives to traditional methods of discipline and behavior management. CRC works with schools to assess the school environment and tailor each program to meet the needs of every school site. The following six programs are available for schools to implement on their campuses as determined by their needs assessment.

STEPS TO SOLUTIONS (Pre-K – 2)

The Steps to Solutions program is designed to teach students grades pre-K through 2 a basic 4-step process for resolving conflicts as they occur both on the yard and in the classroom.

Program Content

Students are taught a basic problem-solving process:

State the problem using an I-Message
Offer a solution to solve the problem
Offer a way to handle the problem differently in the future
Come to an agreement

Most petty classroom disputes that take up teacher time can be resolved easily by students through the Steps to Solution process. The process also gives young children and adults an opportunity to resolve conflicts in a constructive, non-adversarial manner.

The training takes 6 hours and can be delivered to students in their individual classrooms or in groups of up to 30.

Program results include increased teaching time in the classroom, fewer discipline-related calls to parents, decreased fighting, and increased tolerance among students.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION (CRE) (3-12)

CRE teaches students age-appropriate techniques to resolve conflicts constructively and turn problems into opportunities.

Program Content

The elementary curriculum teaches:

Tolerance and respect for self and others
Communication skills and empathy
Cultural diversity education
Problem solving
Decision making and handling difficult situations

The training involves interactive activities, discussions, roleplays, and peer skill reviews. Middle school and high school CRE incorporates more sophisticated versions of the above concepts and conflict analysis training.

CRE lays the foundation for the peer mediation training and requires 12 hours of training time. Ideally this program is delivered to individual classrooms but may be delivered to groups of up to 40 students.

Program results include an increased tolerance for differences, increased respect for peers and authority figures, fewer conflicts in the classroom and on the yard, less teacher time spent handling conflicts, and fewer referrals to the office.

PEER MEDIATION (3-12)

Peer Mediation training for students builds on conflict resolution education and teaches students to be neutral third parties who can help their fellow students resolve their conflicts. Mediators resolve student conflicts on the yard or in the classroom as they occur, or they mediate problems referred by teachers and administrators. The peer mediation program is designed to be integrated into the school’s disciplinary system as a problem-solving alternative to punitive action. Students in conflict are given an opportunity to take responsibility for their problems and arrive at their own solutions without adult intervention.

Program Content

Peer mediation training teaches:

Advanced listening skills
Advanced problem-solving skills
Skills for staying neutral
Mediation techniques
The mediation processes

Students are taught to assert themselves and manage their peers without being viewed as bossy or nosey. Older students receive advanced instruction for dealing with multi-party and complex situations, as well as mediations that are at impasse.

If students have received CRE training, peer mediation training takes 8 hours. If students have not received CRE training, peer mediation training requires 20 hours. Unlike other trainings, two to four students are selected from every classroom and trained in a group of up to 35 students.

Program results include reduced referrals, detentions and suspensions; less adult time spent on resolving student conflicts; a cooperative learning environment; and student ownership of their behavior.

ZERO IN ON BULLYING (K-12)

The Zero In On Bullying Program is an all-ages, universal intervention for the reduction and prevention of bully/victim problems. The program addresses bullying at three levels:

Individual—CRC offers interventions with children identified as bullies and victims, as well as discussions with and training for parents of involved students
Classroom—CRC offers character development curriculum that is taught in classrooms (see Character Development Program), and trains teachers to 1) establish and enforce class rules against bullying and 2) integrate discussions about bullying into their daily activities.
School-wide—CRC works with the school to assess the nature and prevalence of bullying and to develop a school-wide plan of action to address the issue.

Program results include a reduction in reports of bullying and victimization; a reduction of general antisocial behavior such as vandalism, fighting, theft and truancy; and significant improvements in school climate and student relations.

THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (2-8)

The Character Development Program is a 6-hour program designed to teach elementary and middle school students to value diversity, personal integrity, and civic participation in order to create positive leaders who will work to build a dynamic school environment.

Program Content

The six hours of instruction are delivered in individual classrooms and cover:

Development of self-esteem as a product of responsible behavior
Cultivating integrity, trustworthiness, self-respect, honesty, and caring for others
Acknowledging and honoring differences and finding common ground to work cooperatively
Respecting the rights of and treating all people fairly, regardless of personal differences
Communication skills, identifying prejudice, and recognizing the effects and consequences of negative speech and actions
Discerning “Right” from “Wrong” and making difficult decisions, including resisting peer pressure and standing up for what is right
Taking responsibility for actions
Developing problem solving skills to reach fair and equitable solutions
Goal setting, short and long term planning, and development of self-discipline to work for goals
Valuing citizenship and participation in society

After the initial training is complete, students will receive booster trainings later in the school year to reinforce the concepts. An additional six hours of instruction will be available for students who are at- risk for gang involvement, hate-related activity, or violent behavior. These students and their parent/guardians will receive training in conflict resolution as well as character development.

Program results include an increased tolerance for differences; a greater sense of community on the school campus; a reduction in the number classroom altercations and referrals for disrespectful behavior, bullying, name calling, and profanity; and a reduction in dishonest behavior, including lying, cheating, and stealing.

ALTERNATIVE TO SUSPENSION PROGRAM (6-12)

The Alternative to Suspension Program offers middle and high students a six-hour, Anger Management/Conflict Management class in lieu of suspension. The program targets middle and high school students who have been slated for suspension. Both first-time and repeated-referral students should participate in this program.

Program Content

The class curriculum covers:

Managing conflicts at home, work and school
Impulse and temper control; managing boredom and depression
Coping skills and effective decision making
Respecting differences and working cooperatively with others
Managing frequent irritability and reduced sensitivity to others
Problem Solving Skills

The class is held on campus during school hours so that students are credited for their attendance. Sessions may be scheduled anywhere from once a month to once a week. In order for students to complete the class and forgo a suspension on their official records, parents are required to attend the final hour of the class with their children. In deference to working schedules, parental sessions may be scheduled at a separate time.

Parents, faculty, and students also have the option to sign up for parent-child, parent-faculty mediation and/or conflict resolution if they choose.

Program results include a reduction in the number of suspensions; improved attendance for the school; a decrease in referrals and suspensions; improved social skills and behaviors for students who chronically visit the Counselor, Dean or Principal’s office; and increased ability for students to constructively handle problems.

All programs require CRC to meet with faculty in order to familiarize them with the programs and train them in modeling and reinforcing the concepts being taught to students. CRC also offers advanced training for teachers in classroom management, leadership, conflict resolution, and family conflict resolution workshops for parents.

Additional programs

Adult and Organizational Programs

PEER MEDIATION / CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROGRAMS

CRC offers training for organizations and corporations. Our modules focus on enhancing organizational effectiveness and creating a positive and effective work environment.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION (average 3 hours)

Topics covered: Conflict analysis, Problem Solving, Generating Options, Consequence Analysis

Skills covered: Conflict management styles, Sources of Conflict, Positions vs. Interests, Creative Brainstorming, Problem Solving Process

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (average 3 hours)

Topics covered: Positive and Negative Communication, Listening, Framing Your Message Effectively

Skills covered: I-Messages, Active Listening, Reframing

GENERAL MEDIATION SKILLS (average 6-9 hours)

Topics Covered: Role of the Mediator, Eliciting Information, Mediation Process,

Skills Covered: Setting the Tone, Establishing Ground rules, Getting the Stories, Finding Common Ground, Exploring Options, Creating Agreement, Crafting a Sound Agreement

LARGE GROUP DYNAMICS AND FACILITATING MEETINGS (average 3 hours)

Topics Covered: Time Management for Meetings, Dealing with Difficult People, Handling Complex or Difficult Issues

Skills Covered: Defining Roles, Rules, and Responsibilities; Time Management for Meetings, Creating Group Consensus, Building Trust, Power Dynamics

FACILITATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SESSIONS (minimum 2 hours, multiple sessions often required)

If a group is experiencing conflict, CRC incorporates facilitated problem-solving sessions into its trainings. Group may choose to address specific problems, engage in options exploration, or work to redefine it mission, goals, internal structure, etc.

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