The IFCN was conceived in the aftermath of the Columbine High School tragedy, when the Commission actively set about to create a structure and system to be used to quickly put together crisis-response public forums whenever necessary, and to ensure that we can quickly arrange meetings, public forums, conflict mediation or crisis intervention. The Commission continues to explore ways to effectively utilize this network.
Through our shared commitment to these ideals, fourteen members of the UCHRC have completed a program of training in conflict mediation sponsored by the New Jersey Secretary of State’s Office of Dispute Settlement.
We have made a commitment to facilitate the process of peacemaking. Of course, UCHRC volunteers will offer to participate only upon the invitation of its religious and/or community leaders.
The UCHRC’s sub-committee is chaired by Co-Chair Alfred E. Brown, Jr., who is the pastor of Cranford’s First Baptist Church. Pastors, Rabbis, Imams and others open to the vision of hope and reconciliation in our communities have joined with us to work in concert with this vision. At a planning meeting in March 2005, attended by clerical leaders who recently joined the partnership, there was a consensus of opinion about the effectiveness of mentoring youth, especially those at risk -- a joint program offering we will continue to explore.
We continue to try to expand the Network’s reach, and recently contacted Union County’s houses of worship to join with us in this important initiative. We sincerely appreciate our relationship with local religious institutions and congregations who are our partners in this effort, and we look forward to developing focused programs that address and meet citizen and community needs and concerns.
We will continue to seek additional county Network partners. |
