PCRC Gets Ready for
New Beginnings

Twenty years ago this November, the Redwood City Neighborhood Boards Program and the San Mateo Neighborhood Boards Program merged under the umbrella of a new nonprofit organization, the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC).

Today PCRC is well known for its solid mediation programs and a number of innovative applications of the core mediation skills of facilitation, training and civic engagement, as well as our collaborative spirit. Many of our programs are models for other organizations and PCRC’s staff members are often asked to speak at conferences throughout the United States to share their insights and experiences.

PCRC has flourished under the guidance of Patricia Brown, executive director since 1992. Pat is widely lauded within the community and has shown exceptional leadership in making PCRC the dynamic, responsive and highly regarded organization that it is today. Under her leadership our programs have grown and our funding base expanded. The success of our recent and ongoing work with the Tongan Interfaith Council, the North Amphlett Strengthening Neighborhoods Program, the extension into family and complex mediation services, and especially the growth of our civic engagement work in our cities along with the expansion our Schools Program, all occurred under Pat’s careful management and innovative direction.

The high regard and admiration in which the Board holds Pat is shared by the staff, our clients and civic, community and business leaders throughout San Mateo County.

It has been an exciting 20 years for PCRC and now as we prepare for the next 20 years, we are transitioning into new leadership. Pat, who began with PCRC as a program administrator for the cities of San Mateo and Belmont in 1987, is retiring at the end of December.

The PCRC Board of Directors and staff have been preparing for Pat’s retirement for two years. The official transition process started in May of this year when we hired Emily Hall of Olive Grove Consulting to conduct an organizational assessment and see us through the executive search process. The Peninsula Community Foundation is supporting the process with a generous grant.

Emily’s assessment of PCRC, which included meetings with over 55 board members, staff, volunteers and clients, concluded that PCRC is a strong organization and well prepared to weather the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of the executive director transition.
It is because of Pat’s contributions not only as the executive director of PCRC but as a visionary force in San Mateo County that we are able to proudly say that our mission has become even more compelling and timely since PCRC was founded in 1986.

I want to assure you that the strong history, culture and values that define PCRC will remain in force. The Board of Directors is confident that the new executive director will bring a set of skills that will provide a fresh look at the way PCRC can continue to grow and thrive in the future. The Board is also confident that the current staff of PCRC will continue to expertly carry PCRC’s programs into the future. We look forward to sharing that future with all of our constituencies – staff, volunteers, clients, funders, and the wonderful community of San Mateo County.

Pat will be sorely missed, but she leaves behind an organization with a strong track record of innovation, flexibility and responsiveness to the community. Our tradition of collaboration and in San Mateo County will continue.

We will celebrate PCRC’s 20th anniversary at a Gala Dinner on November 2 at the The Westin San Francisco Airport. We hope that you will join us then to launch of PCRC into the next exciting 20 years and to honor Pat’s invaluable contributions.

Should you have any questions please feel to contact Allan Jaffee at 650-342-8545, email: allanj@comcast.net, or Patricia Brown at 650-513-0330 or email: pbrown@pcrcweb.org.