WHO WE ARE

In 2002, the former coordinator of the IAF Community Outreach Initiative, Lenny Diamond with Mirja Hansen, Jim Troxel and Francisco Fernandez, brought together a small group of interested energetic facilitators to form GFSC. Since GFSC’s incorporation in 2002, the demand for our distinctive disaster & crisis intervention (DCI) facilitation model has grown dramatically.

Our model and “cascading” delivery philosophy,(training and mentoring local facilitators in their own communities so that they can then share techniques and train others throughout their communities), began in 1986. The key concepts of the GFSC model were developed by Drs. Gilbert Brenson-Lazan and María Mercedes Sarmiento Díaz (1947-2003), who focused on psychosocial reconstruction after natural and social disasters. They worked with the victims of  the 1986 Arenas Volcano eruption and the ensuing avalanche that buried Armero, one of the most beautiful towns in Colombia. Twenty five thousand people lost their lives and another two hundred thousand people were affected by the human and financial loss. Gilbert and Mechas wrote several self-help manuals for adults, children and professionals assisting in recovery efforts. Over the years these manuals have been updated to reflect new research and effective techniques and are available in the GFSC Online Library.

Since the Armero tragedy, nearly one thousand professionals have been trained and mentored in these techniques in Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela), Europe (Spain and Poland), Australia, Asia (Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Taiwan),  Canada, and the USA. GFSC facilitated a dynamic and successful process of building community capacity in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We have also worked with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, training community volunteers.

All over the world there are tremendous challenges: economic upheaval, social changes, natural disasters. Facilitation techniques are some of the most effective intervention tools for managing change, grief and building individuals’ as well as community resilience and self-reliance everywhere.
 
The success of our support to the communities, institutions and professionals that provide help to victims and others affected by tragedy, directly or indirectly, is made possible, in great part, by the hundreds of professionals and other volunteers who have trained to work in this area, and who have donated time and money to train hundreds of facilitators and distribute thousands of manuals.
 
Our process and distribution system apply in many more situations of change than originally defined. Together, they help communities build resilience and self-reliance necessary to face future challenges in more positive and productive ways. Ideally, our goal is to reach out to communities before a disaster strikes, rather than in reaction to a tragedy. To address the needs of communities everywhere around the world, GFSC tries to take advantage of existing technology to communicate, mentor and consult with organizations, communities and facilitators, where ever they are.

Our workshops are designed to build community resilience and self-reliance and emphasize effective facilitation techniques, specifically designed to address the needs of people and communities facing changes, challenges or crises.

All workshops are customized to meet the needs of the requesting group. They can vary in length from 1/2 day to 2 full days (or more), depending on audience and community needs. All workshop participants receive a handbook and documentation of workshop proceedings. Please contact us to discuss working with local agencies or organizations in your area.
 
The GFSC Comprehensive Foundational Workshop is titled “Crisis > Change > Choice – Building Personal & Community Resilience” (formerly Facilitative Disaster & Crisis Intervention). It is addressed to facilitators, organizations and community leaders. Basic elements of this of this workshop are: learn how to learn as a community, remember and understand initial reactions, identify effective and ineffective behaviors and strategies, apply effective leadership styles, care for oneself while caring for others, help the local community plan how to share the model (cascade the model, sharing effective techniques throughout the community).
 
GFSC can also offer, upon request, virtual workshops or webinars on topics related to community resilience building and psychosocial recovery after disasters and crises, designed to meet participant/community needs.

To live in a world of resilient and collaborative communities.

GFSC is dedicated to enhancing local resources and skills.

GFSC believes that people and communities are capable of self-determination and that facilitation is an effective catalyst to build, rebuild and sustain self-reliant communities. By sharing our knowledge, experience and caring, we enable communities, agencies and organizations to identify and achieve their goals.

 
Build Capacity: increase individual and community knowledge and competence.
 
Motivate Participation: so that each group member contributes his/her unique perspective.
 
Maintain Neutrality: in all our work with no political or religious agenda.
 
Promote Sustainability: share strategies, skills and techniques to meet future challenges.
 
Serve Communities in Need: even if they lack sufficient resources to pay for our services.
 
Mentor Local Networks: to meet the needs in their own communities.
 
Encourage Altruism: so that volunteers develop opportunities that improve the quality of community life.
 
Take Care of Ourselves and Each Other: to accept, to learn, to grow as individuals and as a community.