From the ACR Hawaiʻi Board: Mark your calendars! Annual Meeting Friday, December 8, 2017 6pm-8:30pm Honey’s at Koolau Restaurant at the Koolau Golf Club 45-550 Kionaole Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744 “Apology” workshop by Lou Chang! Experientially learn the value of effective apologies, greet fellow members, and enjoy great food, all at a reduced price for members! Details to follow Hope to see you there!
Conflict Intervention Service (CIS) is a grant funded project of the City and County of San Francisco in partnership with The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Bay Area Mediation Services Program. This innovative program utilizes skilled mediators with diverse backgrounds in landlord-tenant law, psychology, addiction, mental health and housing conflict to resolve disputes in affordable housing that can lead to eviction or homelessness. On November 2, 2017 a group of those mediators participated in a Virtual Mediation Lab Hands-on Training in Online Mediation, which consisted of 2 parts: >> Part 1 – 60-min Introduction to Online Mediation (What online mediation means and how It works; how we (mediators) can do online everything we are used to do face-to-face; how to blend face-to-face and online mediation; which cases are suitable for online mediation; online mediation benefits; which video collaboration software works best for online mediation. >> Part 2 – 90-min Hands-on Online Mediation via Zoom (Each mediator practiced what they learned during Part 1) At the end of the training, Giuseppe Leone, founder of Virtual Mediation Lab, asked all mediators a simple question: “Has this 150-min hands-on training changed your view of online mediation?” Here are some of their answers: “Now I am not afraid of it” “I am eager to do it” “I am marveling at the capabilities of this software (Zoom). It’s incredible.” “I’m excited at the way people perceive technology and their relationship with technology. Online mediation may add an edge to mediation”. “This is extraordinary” “It opens up a whole new world!” This experience seems to show that a good way to respond to many experienced mediators’ initial (and natural) skepticism about online mediation is to let them try it and judge by themselves. …
A timely workshop conference presented by: The ACCORD3.0 Network The University of Hawaiʻi’s Public Policy Center The William S. Richardson Law School at the University of Hawaiʻi Ulupono Initiative ThinkTech Hawaiʻi Honolulu Civil Beat Part 1 – Taking Stock and Devising Solutions Friday, December 1, 2017 8:00am – 4:30pm Imin Hall, East-West Center, University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Part 2 – Public Consultation Strategies and Skills Saturday, December 2, 2017 8:00am – 12:00pm Classroom 2, William S. Richardson School of Law Too many public meetings have become perfunctory ‘tick-the-box’ compliance exercises, or simply fresh combat zones for old ideological wars. Many have evolved into formulaic productions by project proponents or well-organized opposition campaigns by opponents. Both represent an unfunded bureaucratic burden for agencies to endure. Further, as public discourse has become increasingly polarized and hostile, it gets harder to arrive at decisions that can be supported by a plurality of citizens. This full-day gathering, followed by a half-day skill and strategy workshop, will take stock of how public participation is faring, gather ideas for changes to the way public consultation takes place, offer techniques and approaches to improve public participation, and spark conversations that have consequences now and for the future. See the website for more information and registration details Download the Flyer Download the Community Voices description
My sincerest regrets for the incorrect link to the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution’s webpage posted earlier. Here is the corrected link: For photos and more information, see the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution’s webpage
HONOLULU – Hawai’i Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald issued a proclamation declaring October 19, 2017, to be Conflict Resolution Day in the Courts of the State of Hawai’i, and presented certificates of appreciation to the mediators of the Hawai’i Appellate Mediation Program. The October 19 ceremony was attended by representatives from the Mediation Center of the Pacific and the Community Mediation Centers, the Hawai’i State Bar Association – ADR Section, the Association for Conflict Resolution – Hawai’i Chapter, the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, judges and staff from the Hawai’i Intermediate Court of Appeals, and justices of the Hawai’i Supreme Court. Conflict Resolution Day was established in 2005 by the Association for Conflict Resolution to promote awareness and use of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful means of resolving conflict in schools, families, businesses, communities, governments and the legal system; and to recognize the significant contributions of peaceful conflict resolvers. During the month of October, the Hawai’i State Judiciary’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution collaborated with various community organizations and individuals on a series of activities and events to increase public awareness of conflict resolution and its many benefits. For photos and more information, see the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution’s webpage Also this month, “Native Hawaiian Peacemaking Concepts,” featuring Hoʻoponopono Haku Beadie Kanahele Dawson, will air on Olelo Channel 54. The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution presented the program on March 16, 2017. Watch for it on: Monday, October 23…. 6 p.m. Friday, October 27…… 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 28… 9 a.m. Sunday, October 29……4 p.m. • The Judiciary also produced a public service announcement on mediation, which will begin airing this month on Olelo Channel 53. To learn more about ADR services available throughout the Hawai’i, call the Hawai’i State…
Dear ACR-Hawai’i members – ACR-Hawai’i Board Member Tom DiGrazia has been working with the Kailua Neighborhood Board recently-formed Subcommittee on Homelessness, which had their inaugural meeting on October 7, 2017. Attached are notes summarizing what occurred at the meeting. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact Tom DiGrazia directly at email: digraziat001@gmail.com, or phone: (808) 262-0770. Please do not simply reply to this email. Mahalo – ACR-Hawai’i Summary Oct 7, 2017 mtg
From Nathan Nikaido, Mediation Center of the Pacific: Hello Fellow Mediators: In case you have forgotten to sign up, there are still seats available in next Wednesday evenings workshop: “Vicarious Trauma and Resiliency”. The workshop will be held in the downstairs conference room from 5:30-7:00pm at MCP’s location. Park for free in the building’s fenced lot! This workshop will be presented by Elizabeth Kent. Elizabeth is a mediator, facilitator, and trainer. She was formerly the Director of the Judiciary’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution. “Vicarious Trauma” can affect mediators and other service providers who work with clients who have, or are experiencing traumatic events in their lives. Even though we are not experiencing the trauma directly, we may still be affected by it. This is also called compassion fatigue. This workshop will review the symptoms of vicarious trauma, discuss successful coping techniques, and help participants design an action plan for resiliency. I know that mediating cases at MCP or the courts can be stressful, and emotionally draining. If you would like to participate, and learn more about this subject, please RSVP to me. As always, thanks for all of your help! Nathan, MCP 521-6767
Chai Time! Tuesday, October 17 2PM-3PM ACCESS Lounge, Dean Hall, Room 5/6, Ground Level Learn about special programs and opportunities for students through the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution. For more information, click here to see the flyer Click here to see the Visitor Zone Map for Dean Hall Microdemocracy: A New Vision for Strengthening our Communities and our Democracy Thursday, October 26, 2017 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Dean Hall, Room 5 Please attend a special opportunity to meet and participate in a discussion with Luz Santana, co-founder of the Right Question Institute. Santana is the co-developer of the breakthrough idea of Microdemocracy and co-author of two highly regarded books in education about activating students and building parents capacity to partner with educators. Luz will discuss how the “Right Question Strategy” that she and colleagues developed over the past two decades, can greatly increase the capacity of people in low-income communities to advocate for themselves and participate effectively in key decisions that affect them. A contributor to the Harvard education publishing blog, Luz will share her own experiences navigating systems and facing challenges, as well stories from the field that inform the theory and practice of Microdemocracy and the Right Question Strategy. This session includes an opportunity to participate and learn from each other. This event is co-sponsored by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Spark Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, UHM Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, and Ceeds of Peace. Light refreshments will be served. Speaker Biography Luz Santana, Co-Director of the Right Question Institute and co-author of Partnering with Parents to Ask the Right Questions(ASCD: 2016) and Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions (Harvard Education Press: 2011). In the late 1980s, as a parent of children in the Lawrence, MA public school system, Santana began to work with other parents as part of a drop-out…
FREE BROWN BAG TALK Conflict Resolution Day: Mediation as a Tool for PeaceThursday, October 19, 2017 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free (walk-ins welcome) Office of the Prosecuting Attorney 655 Kilauea Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720 with Julie Mitchell & Professionally Trained Volunteer Mediators “Conflict Resolution Day is an annual international celebration held every third Thursday in October. It promotes awareness of peaceful means of resolving disagreements and encourages the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, government, and the legal system,” says Julie. During this talk we will conduct a ‘Live Action Mediation’ to demonstrate how mediators empower people to find their own best solutions. Jule Mitchell is the Executive Director at Ku’ikahi Mediation Center. In addition to her administrative duties, Julie is also a mediator, facilitator, and trainer at Ku’ikahi. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from University of California, Irvine and a Certificate in Professional Development for Not-for-Profit Management from Hawai’i Community College. FREE WORKSHOP Dealing With Anger: Steps to Understanding & TransformationFriday, October 20, 2017 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Free (campus parking free after 4:00 p.m.) UH-Hilo Campus Center Room 301 200 W. Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720 with Mala’e Erickson “You can transform anger from blaming others to connecting with what is important to you,” says Mala’e. “Although it can be one of the most painful emotions, anger serves an important purpose, and we can use it to serve life.” In this interactive workshop, we will explore steps to understand and express anger using compassionate communication techniques. Transform yourself to transform your community. The evening begins with an introduction by Steve Yoshida and Lee Dombroski on “Heiwa: Rotary Hiroshima Survivor Trees,” spreading the message of peace, hope, and survivability. This event is the second in the “Kakou: Let’s Work It Out!” workshop series, co-hosted by…
Hilo: Thursday, October 5, 2017 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Waimea: Friday, October 5, 2017 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Suggested contribution: $20 (no one turned away for lack of funds) “How can you talk with your siblings about mom’s finances?” asks workshop instructor Elizabeth Kent. “Or ask your grandfather if it may be time for him to stop driving? Or tell your family doctor that you don’t like talking about your spouse as if he’s not in the room? Knowing when to bring up uncomfortable topics–and how to express your thoughts and feelings–is a challenge.” In this interactive workshop, learn some useful communication tools to enable you to share your concerns so people will hear you. This four-part process includes how to: ready yourself to have a productive conversation; explore the other person’s readiness and willingness to listen; plan your logistics and approach; and have the conversation using powerful and effective “I” statements. Elizabeth Kent, J.D., has helped people and institutions find solutions to sticky problems for over 25 years. A trained facilitator and mediator, she teaches graduate classes in conflict system design and negotiation at UH-Manoa and a variety of conflict resolution skills classes around the state. Pre-Registration Required Majidah: (808) 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org Ku’ikahi Mediation Center 101 Aupuni Street, Suite PH 1014 B-2 Hilo, Hawai’i 96720