Our History

Negotiation Works has been leading innovative negotiation skills programs since 2018.

The idea for the nonprofit organization developed from the experiences of Founder Melissa Reinberg, a poverty lawyer, law school negotiation professor, and community mediator. In 2017, Melissa began volunteering at Calvary Women’s Services, a transitional housing program in the Anacostia neighborhood of D.C., teaching an 8-week Negotiation Strategies program she designed specifically for the Calvary residents.

The women’s reactions to the classes were compelling: as they struggled with homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues, they also reported that they found immediate applications of the negotiation strategies to their lives, such as when weighing job offers, addressing roommate issues, or making overtures to estranged family members.

Melissa created Negotiation Works so that individuals who have experienced trauma and adversity, either individually or community-wide, can benefit from these essential skills.

Our Mission

The mission of Negotiation Works is to empower people from marginalized communities with tools to resolve conflicts, advocate for themselves and others, and build more stable lives.

Our Vision

The vision of Negotiation Works is to foster stronger, more resilient communities. When the members of a community have the tools to advocate for themselves and negotiate with each other, they are better able to achieve shared goals, create lasting relationships, and improve the stability of the community as a whole.

Our Values

We believe that people who have encountered major challenges in life deserve a path forward that provides them with a sense of security, control, and satisfaction; that providing skills to help historically marginalized individuals lead fulfilling, productive lives is important for all and will help reduce economic disparities; and that we must all work to repair the harm generated by decades and centuries of racial injustice.

Our Supporters