The People We Serve

We work with youth and adults in...

• Schools and educational organizations
• Community-based and youth-serving organizations
• Government agencies and departments -- from municipal to national
• Partnerships and coalitions

What We Do

As shown below, we use any of our three "core processes" to connect with people and help them learn about the any of the four "core content areas" at the heart of our work.
For example:
• We provide powerful keynote addresses and workshop presentations at state and national conferences.
• We conduct trainings to harness the power of young people to intervene with their peers to prevent and stop the bullying and cruelty they see around them.
• We help schools and districts plan and conduct “summits” that actively engage students and staff to focus on a topic like bullying or substance abuse.

Core Content Areas

Our base of knowledge and experience includes…

	Bullying and Violence Prevention Where some might focus on reducing visible violence and overt bullying, we take a broader and more systemic approach. We help schools reduce peer mistreatment – exclusion, put-downs, harassment, and relational aggression – and improve the overall social emotional climate – promoting tolerance and respect for diversity. With our emphasis on youth development, we help schools and other organizations harness the power of young people to set positive behavioral norms, and to intervene with their peers to prevent and stop the mistreatment they see around them. Eight Keys to Safer Schools Safe School Ambassadors Training and Program Support School-wide Activities After-school Programs
	Youth as Contributors We can help you provide structured opportunities for young people to get their developmental needs met in positive ways, which reduces risk behaviors, improves academic performance, and sharpens employment skills. Youth-Led Community Meetings, Forums, and Summits Youth Speakers' Bureau Leadership Training G-Force Peer Education and Peer Helping
	Strategies and Tools for Adults We have designed trainings to serve the staff of schools and districts, after school program providers, youth-serving organizations like YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs, and others working with youth. For adults responsible for creating physically and emotionally safe places for young people to gather, we help them better understand the problem and costs of cruelty, bullying and violence, and then help them develop strategies they can use to address it—by themselves or in partnership with youth. For adults dealing with other aspects of youth development, we design trainings and experiences to meet your needs. Relational Skills to Reduce Mistreatment Building Safer Schools from the Inside Out Tools for Parents Community Forums and Summits Search Institute's Developmental Assets™
	Partnerships & Coalitions If you're just starting, we can help you build your partnership on a solid foundation and lay the groundwork for future success. If you need to strengthen and sustain your efforts, we can help you re-energize and plan to ensure your coalition's long-term success. And we can provide vital training and guidance to partnership leaders from across a community, state, region, or discipline. Starting Strengthening and Sustaining Training

Core Processes

The work we do is a combination of...

	Training Improve the performance of the youth and adults in your organization or partnership through single or multi-day skill-building programs tailored to meet the needs we identify together. "My doubts were completely eliminated within the first hour of your two day training session in November. We accomplished so much in those two days - not just by organizing a solid foundation and framework for future planning, but most importantly, by giving students and adults opportunities to quickly gain mutual respect and trust." —Jay Darrin, high school teacher and service coordinator, Andover, MA
	Facilitation and Strategic Planning Get help designing and facilitating the meetings and retreats essential to your success. We work with you to create dynamic and productive sessions so you can move forward effectively. "Thank you for doing such an outstanding job facilitating our recent 'Call to Action' summit. Your participation throughout the process was extremely beneficial.... Your assistance in preparation, your ability to make the necessary adjustments as you facilitated the day, and your assistance in turning the nine recommendations into actions created a complete package. We walked away with some specific actions we could take to make a difference." —Janet Condron, Vice Mayor, City of Santa Rosa, California
	Presenting Help your attendees create safer schools & communities, learn about the developmental assets framework, sustain partnerships, build community support, or involve youth. We can enrich your conference or meeting with engaging presentations that are right on the mark. "This was exactly the kind of interactive session I was looking for. I knew I wanted to break the old mold of keynote 'speeches' and move our participants into a different mode. You made it happen. . . . Thank you for a great energizer and motivating keynote." —Starla Jewell-Kelley, Executive Director, National Community Education Association

Why Choose Us?

Working with Community Matters means you benefit from our:

Proven principles—Current research confirms that resolving the complex problems our communities face requires that their different sectors - education, business, law enforcement, social service, government, faith, health care - form partnerships and collaborate effectively. We help build the skills, relationships, infrastructure, and values necessary for successful collaboration.

Seasoned staff—The people on our team who'll work with you are known and respected nationally and internationally for their expertise, and their ability to share it with clients in practical ways.

Truly custom design—Our training, facilitation, presentation, and consulting work all begin with an assessment of your needs and objectives; we ask insightful questions and listen carefully. Our experience allows us to then apply those proven principles to create effective solutions that reflect the uniqueness of your situation.

Established track record—We have helped hundreds of schools and communities in the United States and Canada to mobilize both youth and adults and engage them in meaningful activities that make their communities safer, healthier, and better places to live.

Extensive network—Our relationships with local, state and national organizations opens the door to a wealth of resources for our clients. We also create networks of communities to share their ideas, learnings, and strategies for success.

Ongoing support—Because we know that complex problems are resolved in stages, and over time, we maintain long term relationships with our clients. We are available to answer questions, help solve unexpected problems, and provide additional training.

What Others Say About Our Programs

"…Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a Safe School Ambassador. I had the opportunity to help others keep out of trouble, while struggling to keep myself from being expelled. I want to let you know that I am out of gangs. That’s it for me. I am tired of fighting without a reason…."
—Safe School Ambassador, Santa Rosa Middle School, Santa Rosa, California

"…Even in its first year of implementation at Basalt Middle School, the Safe School Ambassadors program has already had a positive impact on our school community, and I believe its potential is unlimited. The students who went through the training have an enhanced ability to recognize, analyze, and intervene in bullying situations. They have documented more than 200 interventions in the past two months. Thank you for helping us start this program at our school."
—Christian Kingsbury, Principal, Basalt Middle School, Basalt, Colorado

Recognition and Awards

Among the recognition and awards garnered by Community Matters and the communities that have utilized our programs...

Today Show
On the fifth anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy, our Safe School Ambassadors program was featured as a best practice model for preventing school violence, reducing peer mistreatment, and improving school climate.

We invite you to explore our website . . . and discover how we can help you meet the challenges you face!