Do you have organization skills and technical experience in Quickbooks?  The Fairfield Center is hiring a part-time bookkeeper.  Applications received by March 17 will receive fullest consideration.

Please, no phone calls about this job! Apply via email.  Information below and in PDF format. Read more »

The Shenandoah Sustainability Summit is scheduled for April 23, 2011, and promises to be a Saturday focused on “Bringing Ingenuity Home” – Valley ingenuity, that is.  Fairfield Center is hosting the Shenandoah Sustainability as an extension of its summit series of the past two years.   Read more »

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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The Fairfield Center seeks community participation in the Harrisonburg Justice Summit on Saturday, November 13, 1-6pm at Eastern Mennonite University’s Campus Center.   Professionals, neighborhood leaders, students, advocates, policy makers, analysts, researchers, organizers, businesses, and institutes are encouraged to register online to attend the summit, which will address issues facing Harrisonburg and Rockingham County related to

• Criminal Justice
• Neighborhood and Public Safety
• The Prison System
• Rehabilitation of Offenders
• Alternative Sentencing Options
• Fair Housing
• Employment Opportunities
• More Read more »

Guest post by Harvey Yoder.  Harvey is organizing a Community Forum on Corrections on October 11 from 12-1:30pm at the Massanutten Regional Library.

Are there more effective ways to combat crime than by simply locking up offenders for increasingly lengthy prison terms?  According to the official US Crime Statistics, Virginia’s growth in imprisonment rate per 100,000 residents was the 8th highest of all states from 2000 to 2008. As a result, 7.6% percent of our state tax dollars were spent on corrections in 2008, 10-12% more than the national average. Read more »

PDF Press Release August 30 Harrisonburg Student Citizen Summit

Harrisonburg, VA, (August 12, 2010)-  Fairfield Center’s Harrisonburg Summits series continues with a evening focusing on creating connections between local college students and the community at the Harrisonburg Student-Citizen Summit.  The free event is scheduled from 3:30- 9:00 pm on Tuesday, September 21st, and will convene at Memorial Hall (Entrance B), the former Harrisonburg High school at James Madison University.

As with past Harrisonburg Summits, participants will create session topics based on their interests, ideas, and concerns. The breakout sessions will be Read more »

Even the strongest and closest families can have moments of stress and conflict. From time to time, conflict can be between siblings, parents and siblings, parents themselves, uncles and aunts – and at any age.  A family conflict can be particularly stressful and draining, because we can’t just walk away – it’s family.   Read more »

See a flyer about Fairfield’s upcoming two-part training on Handling Differences and Disagreements in Congregations (PDF) .  Register below!

Are tensions mounting in your congregation?  Have you been through some painful conflict and wish things had gone differently? Do you foresee potential difficulties ahead in dealing with the differences in your congregation? This is a natural part of growth for any community – and congregations are no different!

Sometimes, religious organizations and leaders shy away from conflict in fears that its recognition or exposure might present a weakness to the community or outsiders.  This can become costly, in time, money, and morale. Read more »

Frequently, leaders of groups, teams, committees, and organizations must lead conversations.  These conversations can be complex, focusing on topics ranging from strategic planning, to marketing ideas, to project development.  Facilitating conversations is a sometimes daily tasks for many business and nonprofit leaders, however few of us have had an opportunity to hone our skills.  Here is an opportunity!

On September 21, the Fairfield Center is offering a one-day Facilitation Training in Harrisonburg, VA.  Learn ways to run effective and efficient meetings with facilitation techniques and strategies for planning and preparation, group involvement, issue identification and collaborative decision-making.

Register below – the first three nonprofit leaders who enter the discount code “nonprofitleader” save $25!