Training

The Common Ground garden is a visible representation of the work of Common Ground, but the Common Ground training program entails much more than helping refugees understand how to work on the farm, or to offer home services, or to work in restaurants.

Common Ground uses these and other settings to teach job skills that can be used in a variety of jobs and situations. For example, we work on customer service skills. Whether they are learning to answer the phone and write down a “take out” order or are learning to accurately determine what a home owner is needing done around the house, the most important thing our trainees learn in these role plays is how to provide cheerful, respectful, helpful customer service.

Some job attitudes are engrained in every facet of training – be on time, take responsibility, be proactive, be accurate, be respectful and helpful, call in when unable to get to work (or class), listen to directions and ask questions. Most of the things we teach can be applied throughout the marketplace.  We are not preparing gardens, or housekeeper, or waitresses, we are working to prepare qualified, well-rounded workers who would be a benefit to any company in as many areas of the job market as possible.