Groundswell, the new name of OC Human Relations Council

Dispute Resolution Program

The Dispute Resolution Program provides a broad spectrum of mediation, conciliation, negotiation and facilitated dialogue programs to resolve conflicts.  The mediation programs offer a positive approach and utilize dialogue as an alternative to violence and litigation. We can help resolve neighbor-to-neighbor, landlord-tenant, employer-employee, child custody, divorce, and small claims conflicts. We train and certify court, community, family law, and youth mediators, many of whom become volunteers/interns. We provide 32 hour state certified basic mediation training as well as advanced mediation training and internships.  Mediation services are offered free of charge to low-income residents. 

Community Building Program

The Community Building Program collaborates with diverse organizations, institutions and community leaders to build understanding and respect, develop diverse leaders, advocate for justice and build community capacity. Specific Programs include: Community Dialogues, Listening Sessions, Hate Crime Education and Response, Human Relations Education/Training. We lead community dialogues and circles, education programs, advocacy work, capacity-building, and leadership programming.

BRIDGES School Intergroup Relations and Violence Prevention Program

BRIDGES develops a diverse group of students into leaders who have the skills, knowledge and tools to create, advocate for and sustain a safe, inclusive school environment where all students feel welcomed, are treated with respect and can succeed academically.  Staff are at school sites for the whole school year to train and coach students, teachers and parents in skills such as facilitation, conflict resolution and the foundations of human relations including empathy, respect for differences through personal connections and dialogue, and opens up communication on a variety of topics such as bullying, name calling and school violence BRIDGES works throughout the school year to empower students, teachers and administrators to sustain a more positive, safe and inclusive campus. Teachers are introduced to a variety of classroom materials, curriculum and lesson plans. Students are empowered to take action through positive leadership roles, public speaking and project organizing. In addition, each school is asked to commit to the BRIDGES program for a minimum of three years in order to see changes in the school climate integrated into the school’s culture. Within the BRIDGES Programs, we recently launched the Restorative Practices for Schools Programs that seeks to address the ineffectiveness and disproportionality that arises in more traditional school discipline systems by bringing a Restorative Justice perspective to the school setting. This project improves school climate by collaboratively working with school community stakeholders to embed Restorative Practices (a combination of community-building and restorative justice techniques).

Restorative Schools Program (RSP)

RSP is implemented at 8 middle and high schools across Orange County. This program implements community-building restorative practices and provides conflict-resolution skills to youth and adults. RSP provides an alternative to the punitive approach to wrongdoing which relies on suspensions and expulsions and feeds the “school to prison pipeline,” that disproportionately impacts youth of color and those with a disability. RSP transforms school climate to focus on the core values of respect, relationship, and responsibility by addressing the youth who faced or witnessed a conflict’s needs, involving all parties impacted by the conflict, and ensuring the young person is accountable for the harm they caused, while addressing underlying reasons for their behavior

Training

Empowering an Equitable Future Through Training: Our mission comes to life through our workshops and trainings. We strive to highlight our shared humanity, unlocking pathways for growth, change, and a sense of belonging. Our expert-led workshops and trainings empower leaders, engage individuals, and support change in communities and organizations.