National Coalition Building Institute’s Middlebury

College Chapter Moves Forward

Initiated in June 1998, the Middlebury College chapter

of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) continues

to develop a core group of individuals on campus who are able

to train others in skills for prejudice reduction, inter-group

conflict resolution, and coalition building. NCBI is open to all

members of the Middlebury community-staff, faculty and students-and

strives to enhance the college experience through skill training

and the creation of effective venues for problem-sharing as a

first step to problem-solving.

Since the initial three-day Train the Trainers Workshop

led by members of the national NCBI affiliate last June, Middlebury

chapter members have continued to train themselves and others.

In September, Assistant Dean of Students David Donahue and Associate

Director of Student Activities Francy Magee led a Prejudice Reduction

Workshop for the residential life staff. Later in the fall, Middlebury

NCBI team members traveled to Maryland to participate in a three-day

retreat. To more effectively lead Middlebury’s efforts, Magee

joined Liane Barrera of the College’s Information Technology Services,

Professor Tom Beyer of the Russian department, and Associate Director

of Admissions Onis Cheathams to meet other NCBI teams to strengthen

leadership skills and develop meaningful connections with other

groups focused on similar efforts around the nation. In November,

Barrera, Beyer and Magee presented NCBI’s mission to Middlebury

College faculty, and demonstrated ways to address prejudice and

reduce its impact on campus.

Next January, the Middlebury chapter will offer two

more opportunities for people to become involved. On Friday, Jan.

15, a full-day Prejudice Reduction Workshop organized by Director

of Residential Life Kathy Ebner will be held in the Kirk Alumni

Center. Modeled on the September workshop for residential life

staff, the January session will be open to the entire College

community. To register, contact Karen White of the Residential

Life Office at 443-5386.

From Tuesday, Jan. 19-Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Kirk

Alumni Center, two NCBI leaders from the parent organization will

return to campus to again offer the three-day Train the Trainers

Workshop, which was successfully received on campus last June.

Nearly 40 members of the Middlebury College staff and faculty

attended the June session, and Middlebury’s current NCBI team

was formed from that original workshop. The goal of January’s

Train the Trainer Workshop is to provide the opportunity for students

as well as additional faculty and staff to participate in the

training session to continue to encourage a broad community of

coalition builders and NCBI workshop leaders on campus. To register,

contact the Student Activities Office at 443-3103.

For more information about NCBI activities, contact

Tom Beyer at 443-5536.