The Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Accord Consultants 3.0 present “Science, Politics and Governance: Constructing Better Dialogues and Producing Better Results”, a 2-day conference which will take place on November 12 & 13, 2015. This event is co-sponsored by ACR Hawaii and Scholars Strategy Network Hawaii Chapter. For more information and to sign up click here
Author: Lisa Nakao
In honor of Conflict Resolution Day, an annual international celebration sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution and held every third Thursday in October, Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is hosting an Open House from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. The event is free and open to the public. “The highlight of our Open House is our one-hour Brown Bag Series simulation from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. We will conduct a mock mediation session so that the public can see a live-action demonstration of a mediation in process,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. Various other activities are interspersed throughout the day. The morning line-up includes a 9:30 a.m. showing of the video “Mediation: An Alternative to Court,” a 10:00 a.m. live demonstration of “Got Conflict? What Happens When You Call Us For Help!” and a 10:30 a.m. presentation on “Foreclosure Mediation Program.” Afternoon activities include a 1:30 p.m. panel with volunteer mediators on “Why Do You Mediate?”, a 2:30 p.m. presentation on “5 Principles of Mediation,” and a 3:00 p.m. presentation on “Youth Peer-To-Peer Mediation.” On display will be proclamations in honor of Conflict Resolution Day 2015 from Mayor Billy Kenoi and Governor David Ige. “The public is invited to meet our staff, watch mediation videos, listen to mediation PSAs, browse literature, explore the office, make a donation, and more,” Mitchell stated. Open House visitors will also have a chance to sign the “Hawai‘i Mediation Pledge,” an aspirational document stating that signers will strive to resolve all disputes outside of litigation using alternative dispute resolution processes such as negotiation, mediation, ho‘oponopono, or other appropriate non-legal process. “We hope community members, parents, teachers, professionals, social service agencies, businesses, civil servants, and others will join us at our Open House,” said Mitchell. Conflict Resolution Day promotes awareness of…
In December 2014, the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Education Section received a 2-year grant from the JAMS foundation for a project called Online Peer Mediation Platform (OPMP). Virtual Mediation Lab, an online mediation project sponsored by ACR Hawaii, is one of the four organizations who participate in this innovative project, whose 4 goals are: Show how children from ages 10 to 18 can learn online how to become peer mediators. This feature will be available in 2016. Show how children can practice their peer mediation skills online with the assistance of qualified mentors. This feature is available now. Show how children can offer online peer mediation services. This feature be available in 2016. Provide anyone who is interested in peer mediation extensive information on this topic; for example, standards, useful links, research on peer mediation effectiveness, policies and laws, resources (e.g. curricula and videos). This feature is available now. The OPMP website (with the two features already available) will be launched during the upcoming ACR Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada – October 7-10, 2015
ACR Hawaii proudly supports the 2015 ACR Conflict Resolution Day 5th Annual Poetry Contest. Students – grade categories: 3-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th – interested in conflict prevention and resolution can win cash prizes by submitting a poem on “Building Peace”; for example: >> What is peace? >> Where is peace? >> How can I inspire peace? >> How can I build peace through conflict resolution? From October 1 to October 31, 2015 poems (maximum of 20 lines) can be submitted online, and must be in English. For more information you can view/print this flyer
Message from Bryan Hanson, Lead Tri-chair ACR 2015 ~~~ The 2015 annual conference for the Association for Conflict Resolution commences in three short weeks. This year’s conference will take place Wednesday, October 7th through Saturday, October 10th, 2015 at the Atlantis Resort and Spa in beautiful Reno, NV. I hope that we will see you there for this wonderful opportunity to connect with and learn from the leading practitioners and scholars in the field of conflict engagement. This year’s program has been crafted with the wisdom in mind provided by Dr. John Haynes concerning the importance of “thinking about our thinking.” You will find a detailed list of the programming that has been established on the interactive conference website . I invite you to explore the site and share it with your friends and colleagues as this conference promises to be rich in substantive content and opportunities to connect with your colleagues. You may listen to some of the conference previews here Keeping within the lines of this theme, ACR 2015 is excited to bring Ambassador Prosper as the keynote speaker for this year’s annual conference. AMB. Prosper is the former US Ambassador-at-Large in charge of the Secretary of State’s Office of War Crimes Issues. He will share how his capacity to work constructively with the existing dynamics of conflict were critical to his success in this role. It will be an inspiring presentation you will not want to miss. Please check out his information here There were many individuals who helped support the development of this year’s program including ACR 2015 Conference Tri-chairs Clare Fowler and Jeff Thompson . The results of these efforts provided a schedule with over seventy-five sessions in four full days of programming. Beyond the educational aspect of this program, the networking activities promise to be lively…
The non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts a free talk on September 17 as part of their “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” Brown Bag Lunch Series. Talks are Third Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 pm in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney at 655 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo. This month’s speaker is Diane Petropulos on the topic “The Cost of Conflict: How to Calculate its Impact on Your Workplace.” “Unmanaged conflict is the largest reducible cost in organizations today, and the least recognized,” states author Daniel Dana in Prevention and Early Resolution of Workplace Conflict. “Learn about the financial cost of conflict and the formulas for calculating its impact in your workplace,” said Petropulos. “Consider the potential for turning destructive conflict into constructive problem-solving.” Diane Petropulos, M.A., is a principal in ADRinACTION, offering mediation, facilitation, and training services in the areas of mediation and workplace conflict. She has developed and conducted workshops and trainings throughout Hawai‘i, and is a former lecturer at the master’s level in the Human Resource Management Program at UH-Manoa. She has mediated hundreds of court cases for Maui Mediation Services, and serves on their board. Ku‘ikahi’s Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch, enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session, and meet others interested in “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.” This lunch-and-learn series is made possible thanks in part to funding from the Atherton Family Foundation. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Gail Takaki at 935-7844 x 9 or gail@hawaiimediation.org
Ceeds of Peace workshops bring together community members, parents, families, teachers, school support staff and administrators to gain skills in supporting children and youth to be leaders in effective peacebuilding. Their upcoming 3-part Workshop Series will take place on Oahu and the Big Island from September 12, 2015 to January 23, 2016. For more information on the workshops agenda, speakers, and how to register click here Ceeds of Peace is a project sponsored by ACR Hawaii.
As part of its “Fuel Up. Do Good.” community giving program — giving a portion of every gasoline sale to support a worthy cause or group each quarter — Ohana Fuels donated $4,902.92 to Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center in Hilo, Hawaii. Read more Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald
As we face increased public scrutiny of the Compact of Free Association, and a rise in incidents of discrimination against Micronesians in Hawaii, it is time to re-consider our COFA agreement from both sides of the relationship. While popular discourse dwells on the “free association” clause of the Compact, on this Peace Day/Constitution Day, we will examine the contributions and sacrifices of the entire Micronesian region and what they mean to the US military security. This event is co-sponsored by the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and the William S. Richardson School of Law When and Where Thursday, September 17, 2015 • 3:30 – 4 pm reception • 4 – 5:00 pm talk William S. Richardson School of Law, Classroom 2 FLYER To view and print the flyer click here
This Free webinar is organized by ADRHub.com Werner Institute in collaboration with the International Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR). The presenters – Gail Ervin and Prabha Sankaranarayan – will discuss what it is to bridge from being mediators to peacebuilders through elicitive practice, using trauma informed principles, appreciative inquiry and mediation techniques to transform local capacities for peace in a range of contexts, from government institutions and universities, among tribal leaders and citizens, and in the practice of civil society organizations, to our practices at home. Gail Ervin is Principal of the Ervin Consulting Group and is Co-Team Leader for the Mediators Beyond Borders Kenya Initiative. Prabha Sankaranarayan is the President and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders, an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to build local skills for peace and promote mediation worldwide. When: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 – 1-2pm EST (7-8am Hawaii Time) FREE Admission – To sign up click here