Who We Are
Negotiation Works provides negotiation and self-advocacy training for people emerging from difficult and often traumatic situations–such as incarceration, homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence–so they develop the skills to navigate everyday challenges and live the next chapters in their lives confidently and productively. By equipping individuals and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with conflict resolution and self-advocacy skills, our programs offer tools that individuals can use to navigate life’s stressful situations--involving employment, housing, health care, and family relationships--with confidence and creativity so they can have an equitable shot at building stable and successful lives for themselves, their families, and the broader community.
What We Do
Our signature program, a multi-week negotiation course, trains historically-marginalized individuals in foundational negotiation and self-advocacy strategies including identifying personal priorities, considering various perspectives and solutions, and taking initiative to achieve one’s goals. Participants have weekly opportunities to practice negotiating by taking part in role plays designed to address realistic issues they face in their lives, such as a food stamp recipient persuading her caseworker to reinstate her benefits after a wrongful termination; a formerly incarcerated individual persuading a potential employer that he has the requisite professional experience for the position; or extended family members determining who will care for children whose parents are struggling with mental health issues, homelessness, addiction, or incarceration. Each class session includes interactive activities and role-play simulations to engage participants in practicing these new skills.
We provide these negotiation skills classes to the clients of our community-based partner organizations, which include residential programs for people experiencing homelessness, educational and workforce development programs specifically targeted for women or individuals returning to the community post-incarceration, and correctional institutions. Led by staff members and trained volunteer instructors, our courses typically consist of four to eight classes, depending on the needs of the partner. We customize the curriculum for each group served.
Nonprofit Opportunities
