For
years, professional facilitators have been called upon to serve community
needs in places and situations where the communities do not have the economic
resources to pay for these services. Global Facilitator Service Corps,
is an outgrowth of the Community Outreach effort of the International
Association of Facilitators (IAF). In 2002, the former coordinator of
the IAF Communtiy Outreach, Lenny Diamond (currently the President of
GSFC),
Larry Meeker, Mirja Hansen, Jim Troxel and Francisco Fernandez brought
together a small group of interested, energetic facilitators to form GSFC.
Our first 2 day meeting, facilitated by Tim Karpoff, resulted in our mission,
vision and some Big Hairy Audacious Goals. We wrote our Bylaws and obtained
our 501 c 3 charitable status, rolled up our sleeves and got to work.
Our
Board members each bring not only their energy and dedication,but also
their ideas, experience and perspective to GFSC. We are grateful for the
contributions of all our volunteers and particularly our Board members,
past and present for their contributions to shaping Global Facilitators
Service Corps.
Founding
Board Members:
Melaku
Abozen
Gil Brenson-Lazan
Karen Brill
BJ Diamond
Lenny Diamond
Francisco Fernandez
Mirja Hansen |
Tim
Karpoff
Larry Meeker
Maria Begona Rodas Meeker
Ofelia Ruiz
María Mercedes Sarmiento Díaz
Deborah Starzynski
Jim Troxel
Wayne Vick
|
Since our
incorporation in 2002, the demand for our distinctive disaster & crisis
intervention (DCI) facilitation model has grown dramatically. This model
and our "cascading" delivery philosophy, whereby we train and
mentor local facilitators in their own communities so that they can then
share the model, train others and spread effective techniques throughout
their communities began in 1986. As we continue to work with this model
and process, we realize that this process and distribution model applies
in many more situations of change than originally defined. Together, this
process and distribution model helps communties build resilience and self-reliance
so that they can face future challenges more positive and productive ways.
Drs. Gilbert
Brenson-Lazan and María Mercedes Sarmiento Díaz (1947-2003)
were very focused on psychosocial reconstruction after natural and social
disasters. They worked with the victims of the eruption of the Arenas
Volcano 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 that
tragedy, nearly one thousand professionals have been trained and mentored
in these techniques in Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela), Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Taiwan and the USA. Most recently, GFSC has facilitated a dynamic and
successful process of building community capacity in New Orleans after
the disaster of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We have also worked with
the Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Emergency Preparedness.
All over
the world we face some tremendous challenges: economic and social changes,
natural disasters. Facilitation techniques are some of the most effective
intervention tools for managing change, grief and building individuals
and community resilience and self-reliance everywhere.
The success
of our support to the institutions and professionals that provide help
to the victims and those affected by the 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 hope
and goal is always to reach out to communities before disaster
strikes, rather than in reaction to a tragedy.To address the needs of
communities everywhere around the world, GFSC takes advantage of existing
technology to communicate, mentor, consult with facilitators, communities
and organizations where ever they are.
GFSC
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
Donations are tax deductible in the USA.
gfsc
© 2006-08
