Typically presented as a one-day seminar, Building Bridges (also know as the Prejudice Reduction Workshop) is a participatory program which reduces the harmful effects of prejudice and discrimination, and begins to explore the cycle of systematic oppression.  The workshop increases awareness and teaches specific skills which empower individuals to be effective allies on behalf of others.

Building Bridges II Workshop

Presented as a follow-up to the Building Bridges workshop, Building Bridges II provides an opportunity for participants to delve deeper into the concepts introduced in Building Bridges. Through interactive exercises, small and large group discussions, and opportunities for self-reflection, participants develop their own individual leadership and ally skills. The workshop provides a setting and guidance for practicing ally skills in real-life situations. Participants leave the workshop with individual action plans to bring their new skills back to their workplaces, homes, and organizations.

Effective Communication Skills Public Workshop

This interactive workshop leads participants though a series of experiential activities geared toward building concrete skills for effective communication.  Participants will: begin to understand how our own and others' perspectives influence communication; practice active listening skills; practice communication skills that build relationships. This workshop is ideal for activists, executives, educators, students, lawyers, social workers, and anyone who values open communication in their lives

Healing White Racism Workshop

This two-day workshop will guide white/European heritage participants through a series of exercises designed to increase understanding of how racism manifests in the United States.  Participants will: gain new skills for being good allies to people of color; begin to understand the impact racism has on white people; and explore their own experiences and heritages as white people.

Women's Workshop

This one-day workshop will provide women and their allies with a framework for understanding sexism and its relationship to racism, heterosexism, classism, and other forms of oppression. Participants will: explore the differences between sex and gender; examine their own leadership skills as related to sexism and internalized sexism; and practice skills for being good allies to women across social boundaries.

LGBTQ Workshop

This Workshop is an designed for people who identify as members of the LGBTQQITS community. The day-long event will guide participants through a series of exercises designed to increase understanding of how heterosexism, homophobia, and gender oppression impact participants' leadership abilities, as well as their capacity for being allies within and across their social identity groups.

Effective Conflict Resolution Workshop
(featuring the Controversial Issues Process)

The Effective Conflict Resolution Workshop is an interactive program that teaches participants to become more effective in reducing tough inter-group tensions. Participants learn to locate the underlying issues in any conflict situation and to utilize effective communication skills for resolving conflicts.

The NCBI Controversial Issues Process was designed to train leaders how to deal with tough controversial issues in a way that builds bridges.  It provides a structured methodology for airing and listening to entrenched positions on both sides of an issue, and then reframing the issue to include each party's concerns.  This process gives leaders a way to take on some of the most heated controversies in society today, such as affirmative action, gay / lesbian marriages, and trans-racial adoptions.

Ending Violence Workshop

By exploring and demystifying the root causes, nature and impact of violence, NCBI's "Ending Violence" Workshop model motivates participants to access the skills and motivation to implement nonviolent intervention techniques.  The workshop model focuses on empowering strong leadership teams around violence prevention and is the centerpiece of sustained school, organizational and community strategies for the prevention of violence.  It is relevant for multiple audiences, but designed specifically to involve youth in violence prevention leadership.

Leadership Training Institute (Train the Trainer) 

The Train the Trainer Institutes teach participants all the steps required to lead the Prejudice Reduction and Conflict Resolution Workshops.  These workshops may be either 3 or 5 days.  Participants learn how to heal the emotional and institutional impact of discrimination.  They also have an opportunity to develop their own leadership skills and practice leading the workshop models.  Those who attend these NCBI Institutes are eligible to join NCBI Chapters back home in their own communities.  See our Calendar of Events for your next opportunity.