Fairfield Center

We advance dialogue and understanding

Blue Sky eSolutions — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 04:24:25 +0000

Harrisonburg International Festival 2012

Conflict Resolution — We resolve disputes of all kinds – divorce, property, workplace, school-based and more. Clients come to us privately or referred by court.
Restorative Justice — We respond to crime with processes that allow victims to be heard, offenders to take responsibility, communities to heal.
Business Services — We improve communications and efficiency within your businesses through custom seminars based on your needs.
Civic Engagement — We bring people together to celebrate culture in the Harrisonburg International Festival. We encourage people to share ideas and concerns in community forums.
Training — We empower people to communicate confidently and manage conflict at work, at home and in relationships – sign up today!

We offer opportunities to the community:

Harrisonburg Nonprofit Center is a major project to co-locate nonprofits in a renovated warehouse to improve collaboration, better serve clients and reduce expenses. Learn more here.
Training in Mediation: Basic, Family, General District Court, Circuit Civil Court, and Circuit Family Court. Professional and Personal Development training are also available. Course descriptions.
Internships & Volunteer positions in Conflict Resolution, Development, Civic Engagement, and Restorative Justice. Get involved.
Community Forums moderated and organized by Fairfield – for example, Harrisonburg Summits, Local Forum on Reducing Gun Violence, and Consumer Protection for the Local Immigrant Community

We need your support!

Give back to the community,
Give to Fairfield Center.

Now in its 30th year, Fairfield Center is integral to the community and region. We serve Harrisonburg-Rockingham and Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro.

95% of people who have taken advantage of the Fairfield Center’s Conflict Resolution Services report finding the process helpful.

Resolving thousands of disputes over three decades, Fairfield contributes to quality of life by showing a more peaceful way forward.

Consumer Protection for the Local Immigrant Community

Blue Sky eSolutions — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:18:48 +0000

Worried about consumer fraud?? Federal Trade Commission representatives will discuss consumer laws protecting immigrants and answer questions from the audience.

Simultaneous interpretation in Spanish, Russian, and Arabic will be provided using headsets belonging to Harrisonburg’s International Festival.

Friday, January 11, 2013
7:00 to 9:00 pm

Blessed Sacrament Church
154 North Main Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Protección de Consumidores y Comunidades de Inmigrantes

Representantes del Comisión Federal de Comercio hablaré y responderá a las preguntas sobre problemas de leyes de consumidores que afectan las familias inmigrantes y sus comunidades.

Con los audÍfonos de la Festival Internacional de Harrisonburg, gente se puede escuchar a interpretación simultáneo en Español, Ruso, y Àrabe.

Viernes, 11 de Enero 2013
7:00 a 9:00 pm

Blessed Sacrament Church
154 North Main Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Patrocinado por Fairfield Center

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Click here for more FTC info on Consumer Fraud and Money Matters.

Harrisonburg Nonprofit Center – 136 W. Elizabeth Street

Blue Sky eSolutions — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 01:20:59 +0000

The Fairfield Center is working toward a community of local non-profit organizations working under the same roof at 136 West Elizabeth Street. The non-profits will share overhead, have quality work space that is easily accessible by clients, and leverage their proximity to enhance cross-organizational collaboration and community participation. This project is for the well-being of the community, for the future, for hope.

The Elizabeth Street Project is a renovation of the historic Wampler Feed & Seed warehouse that will be financed and supervised by the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing. This project will improve the visibility, efficiency and sustainability of nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to enhancing the health, well-being and livelihood of people in the community. This project represents a 3 million dollar investment in the health of Harrisonburg’s downtown and the people of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Your financial support for the Elizabeth Street Project will help nonprofits and the work they do for people in our community. We seek donations in 3 key areas:

Project Development
Construction and Site Development
Sustaining and Maintaining the Facility

With your support we will create a new era of community organization collaboration in Harrisonburg.

This is a wonderful time to give to Fairfield Center!

Blue Sky eSolutions — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:53:48 +0000

Did you know you can support the Fairfield Center by making a gift of stocks, bonds or other securities?

Charitable contributions should be made by December 31, 2012 (the IRS deadline for inclusion in your 2012 tax return).

In some cases you may also gain tax advantages by giving appreciated securities. To learn more about tax advantages of a gift of securities to Fairfield Center, please call:

Tim Ruebke, Executive Director, Fairfield Center — 540.434.0059
Edwin Good / Daniel Uribe, Good Wealth Management — 540.801.8000
Or contact your tax professional.

Remember… donations to Fairfield Center are tax deductible as charitable contributions.

Please help ensure you contributions are received and processed by Monday, December 31 (the IRS deadline for inclusion in your 2012 tax return).

Learn skills to help others solve their conflicts

Blue Sky eSolutions — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:15:14 +0000

Take a Training through Fairfield Center this summer. We will offer Circle Processes, Basic Mediation, and Family Mediation. Basic is the first step in becoming a Virginia-certified mediator.
CEUs available to teachers for Circle Processes* and Basic Mediation.

Circles for the Classroom: Discover ways to use the Circle process in the classroom to build relationships and trust between students and provide a safe space in which difficult subjects can be explored and conflicts resolved. People of all ages respond naturally to this format. Circle processes give each person a voice, especially those who are generally reluctant to speak.
Instructor: Sue Praill, Director, Restorative Justice Initiatives, Fairfield Center; former teacher
Dates: June 13, 1:00-5:00 pm, Tuesday
Completion of 4-hr course = award of .38 CEUs (3.8 contact hours).

Basic Mediation Training: Learn basic principles of negotiation and conflict resolution, the mediation process and communication skills. This experiential course is the first step towards Virginia certification as a mediator. This course is certified by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Instructors: Shannon Sneary, Director of Training, Fairfield Center (Certified Mediator for 14 years)
and/or Timothy Ruebke, Executive Director, Fairfield Center (Certified Mediator for 20 years)
Cost: $530 (manual included, lunches on your own)
Dates: June 11 & 12 8:30-5:00, June 13 8:30-12:30, Tuesday – Thursday
For teachers: completion of 20-hr course = award of 1.86 CEUs, 18.6 contact hours.

Family Mediation Training: (pre-requisite: Basic Mediation) Expand your skills and practice to include separation cases involving parenting issues such as custody, visitation and child support at the Juvenile DR court level. This course is certified by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Instructors: John Oliver Birch, attorney (Certified mediator for 12 years)
and/or Shannon Sneary, Director of Training, Fairfield Center (Certified mediator for 14 years)
Cost: $530 (manual included, lunches on your own)
Dates: June 13 1:00-5:00, June 14 & 15, 8:30-5:00, Thursday – Saturday

View our training schedule.

Dear Fairfield Friends,

Blue Sky eSolutions — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:08:57 +0000

This is a wonderful time to give to Fairfield Center!

Your donation of $30 and up entitles you to a Fairfield Center membership!
You will support the exciting work of the Fairfield Center!
Tax time and counting deductions is coming soon …

Here is a rundown of Fairfield activities this year:

Continuing, on a daily and weekly basis, to facilitate amicable agreements among people overwhelmed by disputes or communication difficulties.
Continuing, on a monthly basis, to train beginning and advanced mediators from Harrisonburg and the whole of Virginia.
Initiating Restorative Justice programs in coordination with local officials.
Supporting International Festival in their 14th year!
Leading the establishment of a Harrisonburg non-profit center to house several non-profits that will share support services and building expenses.
Various FUN-raising events including: Plane Pull, Harvest Celebration and Peace, Pies & Prophets!

In 2013, Fairfield Center will continue its good and important work. Late in the year, we anticipate a move to our new building! As this year comes to a close, please consider a gift to support the work of the Fairfield Center.

Click here to donate online or mail your check to Fairfield Center at 165 South Main St., Suite A, 22801. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Gratefully & with best wishes for a wondrous holiday season,

Tim Ruebke
Executive Director

Click Like! Be our Fan!

Lorie Merrow
Director of Development

P.S. We are polishing our online image to show that we offer a myriad of services, not limited to mediation. Please support Fairfield Center by liking us on our Facebook Fan page – our link to your community! Support us by being our ambassador to your friends and family.

Peace, Pies & Prophets Benefit Tour

Blue Sky eSolutions — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:41:50 +0000

Peace, Pie & Prophets

TED & COMPANY THEATERWORKS are bringing Peace, Pies & Prophets to the Shenandoah Valley on Nov 17 & 18! Events will include the play I’d Like to Buy an Enemy, starring Ted Swartz and Tim Ruebke, unpacking issues of justice and peace building through hilarious and challenging storytelling. Plus, at each show homemade pies will be auctioned, benefiting local peace work.

Nov 17 – 7:00 pm at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren (info and tickets) – benefiting Pastors for Peace and the Fairfield Center

Nov 18 – 7:00 pm at Park View Mennonite Church (info and tickets) – benefiting the Fairfield Center and EMU’s Center for Interfaith Engagement

Click on the image to open the poster.

2012 Harvest Celebration

tim — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:40:21 +0000

2012 Harvest Celebration by The Fairfield Center at Cross Keys Vineyards

International Festival Update

tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:52:57 +0000

Thank you all for the tremendous response to our request for volunteers!

Planning for the International Festival has gotten off to a great start thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers. This year, there will be several new features of the festival, which will expand it to a weeklong event. With the festival just over a month away, there are still many opportunities to get involved and be a part of this wonderful event in our community.

The next planning committee meeting is Thursday, August 16^th at Hillandale Park in shelter 11. An alternate location in case of bad weather will be at Westover Park. The meeting will take place from 7:00-8:30 PM.

There are several new events being planned for the community that will be presented at this meeting, along with opportunities to volunteer.

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Harrisonburg Tourism invites all local restaurants to take part in a culinary celebration:

Harrisonburg International CommUNITY Celebration

Tuesday, September 25th – Saturday, October 6th

“Take a Culinary Trip Around the World in the Dining Destination of the Shenandoah Valley”

Harrisonburg has over 140 restaurants, with many offering international delicacies and secret family recipes. Experience the many exciting flavors of our community with specialty dishes created to celebrate our diversity.

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Court Square Theater will present a goodwill project to raise funds and awareness of Friday evening:

“Playing for Change: Peace through Music” Film

Friday, September 28th at Court Square Theater

The film will be presented as a primer to the Harrisonburg International Festival. The film’s goal is to connect the world through music. Donations will be accepted. Visit the website and watch the movie trailer for details about the event.

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The International Festival will present the first annual soccer tournament:

“International Festival Soccer Tournament”

Sunday, September 30th from 2:00-6:00 PM

Join in the fun and make new friends while playing for change at the Harrisonburg International Festival Soccer Tournament. Register to play on one of the 12 teams representing the world. Local adult leagues will be participating in a coed teams at Smithland Fields. Fee to be determined. Sponsors welcome!

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The Fairfield Center and JMU Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue will host a community conversation tent:

“Our CommUNITY Speaks Conversation Tent”

Saturday, September 29th on the half-hour beginning at 12:30

Come and stop by and engage in a sharing of ideas with fellow members of the Harrisonburg community. With such a diverse range of cultures in Harrisonburg, we welcome all forms of creative expression and feedback about what issues are most important to our community. The ideas collected at the tent will be displayed throughout the day, and will be recorded and used in planning future community summits.

Questions? Please contact Vaunda Brown, Planning Committee Co-Chair

vaundabrown@aol.com or (540) 433-6228

Volunteers Needed for International Festival

tim — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:23:40 +0000

Thank you for your support and response! Please disregard this former urgent call.

~~URGENT CALL: PLANNING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY FOR HARRISONBURG’S INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TO CONTINUE~~

The Harrisonburg International Festival, a key agency in the life of our intercultural community since 1995, is in serious need of community support. The Festival is reaching out for volunteers to join our planning committee if this meaningful event in our community is to continue. The growth of the festival and life changes for some of our past committee members have left us with some vacancies and we are in need of replacements for some key persons who have had to leave us. We feel this is a wonderful opportunity for community service and we hope you will consider joining us at this critical time.

We are holding two volunteer informational sessions on Thursday, July 12^th and Thursday, July 19^that 7 pm – 7:30 pm at Hillandale Park, shelter #11, followed by a planning committee meeting 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. (Severe weather location: Westover Park Community Center, off Rte. 33 West)

The Harrisonburg International Festival has been a free day of family fun that celebrates the many cultures that make up our community. We feature international foods, music, dance, folk art activities for all ages, language learning area, and the World Bazaar featuring traditional folk art. Last year we drew about 7000 people. For learn about the festival, visit our website: www.harrisonburg-international-festival.org

The 15^th Annual Harrisonburg International Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 12 pm – 6 pm at Hillandale Park (off Rte. 42 South). In addition to needing planning committee volunteers immediately, we will be also looking for volunteers to participate as the event nears. All ages from all cultural backgrounds are invited and welcome.

Contact: Vaunda Brown, Planning Committee Co-Chair