Negotiation Works provides negotiation and self-advocacy training courses for people who are emerging from difficult and often traumatic situations—incarceration, homelessness, addiction, domestic violence—so they gain the skills to navigate everyday challenges and live the next chapters in their lives confidently and productively.

Not business suits and boardrooms—we mean self-advocacy to manage daily situations, resolve conflicts, and develop solutions so that our class participants can gain the outcomes they deserve and the confidence to handle whatever comes their way.

Tailored to marginalized community members who are working to establish a new direction for their lives, our courses take into account the racism and unequal footing that too many of our participants and their communities have endured for generations. Rather than starting difficult conversations from a perceived position of weakness—which often can lead to ‘flight-or-fight' responses—our participants learn to listen, assert, and make the case for what they need to continue to live productive and happy lives.

Our courses deliver skills and strategies to participants so they can capably and comfortably handle a wide array of everyday challenges with employers, landlords, colleagues, family, teachers, businesses, and more. The goal of each day and each course is to provide the tools for our participants to become strong communicators and self-advocates for themselves and their families.

Role-playing, group activities, and games enable our participants to learn and practice skills over multiple weeks. Programs range from four to eight weeks depending on the preferences and structure of our community partners. Our trained volunteer teachers bring knowledge, compassion, enthusiasm, and creativity to the classroom and customize the course to the needs and challenges of each participant group.

At the end of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Completion, a set of strategies they have created with their classmates, and reference materials to keep. In addition, many participants join our Ambassadors program for alumni to stay connected, share tips and lessons learned, and take advantage of periodic refresher classes.

We deliver the courses through community organization partners, customizing each course to ensure that the program content meets the needs of each organization’s clients and equips the participants with skills to better self-advocate and navigate challenges they face on a daily basis.

Our fees cover the costs of the course and ongoing development of the program and are based on the length of the course, number of participants served, and frequency with which the program is repeated within a calendar year.

Regular monitoring and data analysis are key to ensuring our courses target our participants’ needs and deliver actionable and memorable strategies for their use. In-course surveying ensures we’re on target during the sessions and identifies areas for review and discussion. After-the-course surveys help us track impact over time.

Along with the signature course, Negotiation Works offers:

• Ambassador Program that unites course alumni to share lessons learned and new tips and to engage in formal refresher courses

• Professional development programs on negotiation skills for nonprofit staff

• Self-guided four-part video series for community groups, correctional institutions, nonprofits, and others

• Train-the-trainer courses for partner organizations

• “How to Negotiate” guides in English and Spanish

• Standalone workshops on negotiation strategies

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