May 24, 2016, 8:00 am Hawai‘i time
Presented by D.G. Mawn
In collaboration with the
International Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR),
The Community Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), and
The National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM)
Session Description:
“Our own culture is like the air we breathe, while another culture is like water — and it takes special skills to be able to survive in both elements.” Hofstede (2010). As seasoned professionals, we are aware of the complexity that culture brings to the table, and of the need to listen and learn as we facilitate the mediation process. To balance the need to be impartial and yet create a safe environment, to be neutral and yet trustworthy we need to appreciate how our experiences, attitudes and behaviors can impact our ability to be received in a manner that invites trust, allowing others to hear us and for us to accept what we hear from others. This presentation will blend the basic tenants of Cultural Intuitiveness™ into the webinar focusing on the need to recognize that culture, if not the heart of the conflict, is a major driver in exasperating the conflict. Our culture anchors for each of us what we see and then how we experience and react to the world around us. The key is to work to minimize the impact of our individual culture while allowing ourselves to appreciate and accept—while not requiring that we understand or agree with–what we hear from others. The participants will dialogue about: what is culture; Why should mediators care about culture; How cultural values are expressed through symbols, heroes and rituals.; and How culture impacts on your worldview and perceptions.
Presenter Bio:
G. Mawn holds an M.A. in religious studies with a concentration in counseling and a J.D. with a concentration in health. He is licensed in Illinois and Kentucky. He received his training in mediation in 2000. Mr. Mawn presently serves both the National Association For Community Mediation (NAFCM) and the Association for Conflict Resolution guiding the development and implementation of the JAMS Foundation resource allocation programs. In this role with NAFCM Mr. Mawn facilitates two learning communities, one focused on veterans and military families and the other on law enforcement and neighbor engagement. He also provides consultation and coaching to state, public and community-based organizations on human services/system development and effectiveness, team selection and development, leadership development, strategic planning and communication, cultural intuitiveness, sustainability, coalition/environmental strategies, and evaluation. He is the developer of the Cultural Intuitiveness™ process and teaches evaluation design at Sullivan University and in 2015 redesigned the university’s course on Culture and Conflict.
