From Conflict to Collaboration
Building Ethical, Trauma-Informed, and Sustainable Partnerships
This training was produced by The Enitan Story under 15POVC-22-GG-01575-MUMU, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this training are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the office position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition, the Addressing Conflict, Harm and Repaid in SME-to-SME Section of the training was produced by a Safe Harbor Supportive Services grant from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Recognize common sources and dynamics of conflict in professional and collaborative relationships.
- Prepare for and navigate difficult conversations with respect, clarity, and transparency.
- Apply strategies for preventing, addressing, and repairing conflict and partnership ruptures.
- Strengthen collaboration through equity, accountability, and meaningful SME engagement.
- Understand the SME Impact Forum Model as a framework for fostering connection, dialogue, and collaboration among SMEs with lived experience, government and nonprofit professionals, and other system stakeholders and partners.
To receive a certificate of completion for this training series, you must complete all 3 modules, module evaluations, and training feedback. A certificate of completion will be emailed once you have completed these steps.
Introduction
This training is designed to help Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with lived experience, government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses navigate conflict as an opportunity to identify gaps, understand root causes, and strengthen partnerships through respectful, ethical, and collaborative practices in the anti-trafficking and exploitation, and related fields.
Conflict is information, not judgment or failure. When approached with curiosity and accountability, it can deepen relationships, strengthen trust, and improve collaboration. Likewise, the absence of conflict does not always indicate a healthy partnership. It may reflect inequity, power imbalances, or environments where individuals do not feel safe expressing concerns without fear of suppression or retaliation.
This training provides practical strategies for navigating conflict with professionalism, transparency, and mutual respect. Rather than focusing on who is right or wrong, participants will learn how to repair relationships, address challenges collaboratively, and build survivor-informed, trauma-informed, and sustainable partnerships. The training also includes guidance for addressing conflict among SMEs with lived experience in ways that promote accountability, healing, and long-term collaboration.
The training covers the following sections:
- The SME Impact Forum Model
- Building Sustainable Collaboration
- Conflict Resolution Training for Staff
- Preventing Unnecessary Conflict through Communication
- Repairing Partnership Ruptures
- Navigating Funding Conversations with Equity and Transparency
- Preparing to Lead Difficult Conversations as an SME or Agency
- The Administrator’s Role in Conflict
- Addressing Conflict, Harm, and Repair in SME-to-SME Engagement
Download the instructors’ bio here.
- Amanda Colegrove: HT Taskforce Coordinator, Safe Haven Ministries
- Honorable Ronny Marty: Independent SME Consultant
- Honorable Bella Hounakey: SME Consultant & Psychotherapist
- Bukola Oriola: Founder, The Enitan Story and CEO, Bukola Oriola Group, LLC makers of Ewa Hair & Skincare
Do not Click the YouTube Icon below.
Register for the training by clicking “Start Now” on the right side bar to access the videos. The training workbook is available for download in Section 1.
Requirement: Please complete the 2.5-hour training, including the video, workbook, and evaluation, within four weeks from the date you click “Start” on the course. Please enroll using the name you want displayed on your certificate.
Please keep in mind: After four weeks, your access will expire and you will need to re-enroll and start the training again from the beginning, as your progress will be lost and your profile may be deleted. Once you complete the training, please visit your profile page to download your certificate immediately.
Curriculum
- 7 Sections
- 8 Lessons
- 4 Weeks
- Section 1: Conflict to Collaboration, Introduction & Building Sustainable CollaborationSustainable partnerships are built through intentional collaboration, shared responsibility, and proactive communication not simply by avoiding conflict. By establishing clear expectations, building trust, and maintaining transparency from the beginning, SMEs with lived experience and their partners can strengthen long-term relationships, recognize early warning signs of challenges, and create resilient collaborations that adapt and grow over time.1
- Section 2: Conflict Resolution Training for StaffThis section is aimed at agency or government staff. Recognize the power you hold as a representative and take appropriate action to balance and share that power. A Native American partner once told me, “No matter how much the elephant wants to do the right thing by the mouse, it is still an elephant.” Do not downplay the authority you hold in the eyes of others. Do make efforts to create safe spaces and multiple methods for people to communicate their problems with you. Using conflict to create better partnerships requires one to step outside of their ego and allow for others to have their emotions and opinions without taking it personal.1
- Section 3: Repairing Partnership Ruptures & Navigating Funding Conversations with Equity and TransparencyPartnership ruptures occur when trust, communication, or working relationships are damaged because of conflict, misunderstandings, unmet expectations, or harmful actions. While not every partnership can or should be repaired, many relationships can recover when all parties are willing to acknowledge the rupture, take responsibility for their role, and intentionally rebuild trust. Repair is not about pretending the conflict never happened; it is about creating a healthier path forward when continued collaboration is appropriate. Funding decisions can strengthen partnerships or become a source of conflict depending on how they are communicated. Open and transparent conversations about funding, expectations, compliance requirements, and organizational capacity help build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and support meaningful collaboration. While not every funding request can be fully supported, clear communication and equitable decision-making can help preserve relationships and create opportunities for future partnership.1
- Section 4: Conflict Within Survivor - Agency Partnerships & The Administrator Role in ConflictConflict in survivor-informed work can be complex, particularly when lived experience, professional responsibilities, and institutional power intersect. Instead of beginning with, “How do I resolve this?” consider a different question: “How do I show up to this well?” This section will guide you through understanding your role, managing your reactions, and listening with intention before moving toward resolution.1
- Section 5: Addressing Conflict, Harm, and Repair in SME-to-SME EngagementThis section does not define one “right” way to communicate, collaborate, or lead. Instead, it explores how SMEs with lived experience can establish shared expectations that promote respect, accountability, and sustainable collaboration across different experiences, identities, and ways of working.2
- Section 7: The SME Impact Forum ModelMay 13, 2026, marked a turning point. The SME Impact Forum demonstrated what is possible when we work collaboratively toward a shared purpose, focusing on solutions rather than blame. Throughout the event, we witnessed genuine engagement between SMEs, organizations, and agencies, with active participation, mutual respect, and meaningful dialogue from beginning to end. The Forum fostered an atmosphere of trust, learning, joy, and support, proving that authentic collaboration leads to stronger partnerships and lasting impact. It showed that when everyone has a voice and works toward a common goal, extraordinary outcomes are possible. The SME Impact Forum Model is organized around six interconnected principles represented by the acronym IMPACT.1
- From Conflict to Collaboration Training FeedbackThank you so much for taking the Conflict to Collaboration: Building Ethical, Trauma-Informed, and Sustainable Partnerships Training. Kindly take a minute to fill out the Feedback via this link. Once you finish the survey, click the Complete button below to finish the training. To receive a certificate of completion for this training series, you must complete all 7 sections and training feedback. A certificate of completion will be in your profile once you have completed these steps.1
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