Dear Friends,

I’m inviting you to join me in giving a gift that helps create a firm foundation for peacebuilding, and offers justice, healing, and hope in our community. That’s the mission of the Fairfield Center.

Let me tell you a personal story. On a recent dark day, I was discouraged by heavy rain, my first prescription for bifocals, and a clerical error that left me unlisted for insurance coverage. I’ll admit I was feeling a bit down about the marking of time emphasized by those bifocals.

Then I spoke on the phone with John Paul Lederach, my former peace-building professor. Our conversation reminded me that the marking of time is also good. Fairfield Center now employs three of John Paul’s former undergraduate students Tom Brenneman, Shannon Sneary and me – and we’re all still passionate about the work we do… not such a bad day after all.

Restoring Justice, Fostering Hope since 1982

2012 marks Fairfield Center’s 30th year of service to the community. We’ve been on a journey of peacebuilding since 1982. Our strong history has touched the lives of many children, families, and organizations throughout the central Shenandoah Valley. We continue to help hundreds of families navigate through crisis and transition. We continue to offer staff interns and training participants valuable hands-on experience and knowledge through our training and mentoring programs as we raise up a new generation of peace-builders. We offer a growing restorative justice program, discussion facilitation services and a variety of conference opportunities.

Building for the Future

In November 2011, the Fairfield Center Board purchased the historic Wampler Feed & Seed Building on Elizabeth Street in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia.  The two-story building contains 18 thousand square feet with up to 40 parking spaces, will be co-owned and co-occupied by Fairfield Center and a diverse group of social service, cultural and educational agencies. The building will be a gathering space that offers operational efficiencies and amenities for a broad range of services for people in our community. Humbling yet exciting. Stay tuned for news and developments!

In this season when we celebrate light and love, I thank you for your care and support of the Fairfield Center. Please consider sending a generous contribution today as we head into our 30^th year!

Sincerely - Tim Ruebke, Executive Director

We are happy to announce that our 2012 Mediation and Communication Training schedule is finalized.  Please click on the link to the right to browse our offerings for the coming year. 

If you are a regular mediator or volunteer on Fairfield Center’s roster, please contact us about discounts we offer for advanced trainings. 

Any questions about our training schedule should be directed to Shannon Sneary at training@fairfieldcenter.org.

At Fairfield, we highlight  in presentations and with our clients the importance of listening. Even when there is no outright conflict and trust is high, listening is often difficult when there is a lot to say. Good listening is not only a skill that requires attention and practice (even in the best of times), it is also the most important tool if people want to move forward together in some fashion.

So, what about the worst of times: when differences are stark; when there is a lot at stake; and, when tensions are high and we feel threatened or angry? In these times, rarely do we get to the point of applying our skills and tools because our attitudes get in the way. We frequently see conflict as wrong or abnormal… that it shouldn’t exist. That differences in-and-of-themselves indicate weakness and failure. When we view conflict in these terms, our shutting down or exploding become short-circuited ways to deal with the issues.

The truth is, and I know this will shock most readers, conflict is... normal. Conflict happens all the time!… at home, at work, in our car, in places of worship, at the checkout counter, at sporting events, in town halls, and when we least expect it. What if in these times people more frequently viewed conflict as normal…? What if we didn’t become so anxious so quickly and told ourselves that conflict is going to happen… that it is natural?

What if we would go even a step further (without getting too touchy-feely) and tell ourselves that there is a chance that through our differences we may find even greater engagement, better ideas, and higher quality outcomes?

- Timothy Ruebke, Executive Director

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