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The Chester Police Department and the National Coalition Building Institute have been awarded a grant to provide Communication Training for Law Enforcement and the Community. The grant will provide training in community leadership and communication. We will be conducting focus groups in the Chester community and would like for Chester residents to participate. As we develop the program, your input is vital. Our planning process will bring together a broad cross-section of leaders from law enforcement, faith and community-based organizations, and local business communities. Leaders in the African American, Asian and Latino communities, as well other important and culturally diverse groups, will be invited to help develop the training for the CPD that will improve police-community relations and develop a resource team for the city of Chester.

The National Coalition Building Institute is a leadership development organization that has was established in 1984. The NCBI approach, which includes leaders from all sectors of society, proven leadership training, and an international network of local resource teams, has proven to be essential for long-lasting social and institutional change. The effectiveness of NCBI and its teams has resulted in numerous awards, favorable media coverage, and noteworthy testimonials. Visit the international website at www.NCBI.org.

You are invited to attend focus groups during which NCBI will be listening to you as we design a training program that takes into account the concerns of both community members and members CPD. We will announce the dates and locations. After the focus groups are completed, we will be conducting workshops for police officers and residents.

The workshops will provide a unique opportunity to develop new relationships and seek collaborative solutions to interactions between law enforcement and the community. By participating in this planning and assessment session and providing your input, you will help the CPD and community residents do the following:

• Recognize triggers and other obstacles that prevent building relationships with community members.
• Appreciate the power of personal stories from community members and to gain insight into their experiences;
• Listen for and respect the emotional content in what community members express.
• Use a practical conflict resolution process to find common ground in dealing with an issue that would otherwise lead to continuing tension;
• Acquire a toolbox of ways to improve interpersonal communication by decreasing defensiveness, with particular attention to tone of voice and body language.

As a result of such broad cooperation, we are confident that we can build bridges that will help increase safety for community members and law enforcement.

Feel free to call Guillermo Lopez if you have any questions or need any additional information. You can reach him via email at glopez@ncbi-cops.org or by phone at (484) 450-NCBI (4224).