Conflict Resolution Alliance (CRA)

The non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts a free talk on August 18 as part of their “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” Brown Bag Lunch Series.  Talks are Third Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 pm via Zoom. This month’s speaker is:Anne Marie Smoke on the topic “Communicating with Empathy: The Path to Seeing More Deeply.”  “How can we engage in communication that will help to establish a deeper connection with others?” asks Smoke.  “Empathy development includes emotional intelligence techniques such as perspective taking, staying out of judgement, recognizing someone’s emotions, and communicating understanding.” In this talk, you’ll take away tools to practice empathic communication in your daily life. Anne Marie Smoke is Appellate Mediation Program Administrator and Trainer for the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Hawai’i State Judiciary.  She holds a graduate certificate in conflict resolution and MS in Travel Industry Management (sustainable tourism), is a facilitator for multiple policy-development and strategic planning initiatives, and has 17 years of training experience including teaching conflict management practices. Ku‘ikahi’s Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public.  Attendees are encouraged to enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and connect with others interested in “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.” To get the Zoom link, register online at https://freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org.  Or visit www.hawaiimediation.org. This lunch-and-learn series is made possible thanks in part to funding from the County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Island United Way. CONTACT: Julie Mitchell Executive Director Ku’ikahi Mediation Center 101 Aupuni St., Suite PH 1014 B-2 Hilo, HI 96720 Phone: (808) 935-7844 ext. 5 Fax: (808) 961-9727 Web: www.hawaiimediation.org

Dear CRA Members: Now that I’m almost 100% retired, I’d like to give other mediators in Hawaii the opportunity to practice and improve their mediation skills by participating with other mediators in Free 1-hour online mediation simulations. As you can read on my new website – https://www.mediationskills.online/ – during those simulations mediators can: Practice what they learned during their basic of advanced mediation training Test techniques they haven’t tried yet Learn new techniques used successfully by other mediators WHAT’S NEXT 1 – If you are interested, please send me an email to mediationskills@gmail.com 2 – In my view, these online mediation simulations, which are Free for CRA members, should give CRA Hawaii a good opportunity to expand its membership. In other words, if you know other mediators in Hawaii – no matter if they are novice or experienced – who might interested to practice and improve their skills online for Free, just ask them to >Join CRA Hawaii >Send me an email 3 – Orientation Zoom Meeting As soon as there is a nice group of mediators to begin with, I will announce an orientation Zoom meeting, to explain in more details how these simulations work, at what time they will be held, which role mediators can choose to play, how mediators can sign up using a CRA Hawaii Mediators Calendar that I’ll set up for them, and so on. 4 – Any Questions? If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I’d like to hear from you. Please send me an email to mediationskills@gmail.com or call me at (808) 383-4117. Thanks. Giuseppe Leone  

Aloha! Hawaii’s ADR Partners Present:  The Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Mediation and Their Ethical Implications  Judge Lynn Duryee (Ret.) and Dr. Stephen Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D. With local ADR experts Honorable James Duffey, Stanley Majka, and Lisa Jacobs Wednesday, August 31, 2022• 12:00-2:15 PM (HST) on Zoom  Learn how to identify and parse the non-material interests from the material ones to guide parties through productive mediation, as well as how to develop negative capacity to bring your best “self” to the process. Expert mediators will share personal encounters of untangling conflated issues in highly emotional cases, and discuss how they dealt with the challenges.   2 CLE Credits for Attorneys. No charge. See attached flyer for more details.    Register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Emotionlegal  Call CADR (808) 539-4237 with questions. CADR Virtual Brown Bag Sessions – Skills for Problem Solving In collaboration with: Conflict Resolution Alliance (CRA) • The Hawai’i State Bar Association – ADR Section (HSBA-ADR) • Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (MIPCR), and Community Mediation Centers: Kaua`i Economic Opportunity, Inc. Mediation Program • Ku`ikahi Mediation Center • Maui Mediation Services • The Mediation Center of the Pacific • West Hawai`i Mediation Center   To request disability-related accommodations, call the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at (808) 539-4237 or send inquiries to Cadr@courts.hawaii.gov. The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the speakers. Nor do the speakers’ remarks necessarily reflect the opinions of the Judiciary.

Collaborent is looking for 1-2 Case/Contract Managers to support the DOI case management work. Here is the detail: Job Posting_Case & Contract Mgr_Collaborent LLC_2022

“CRA Speed Networking” Join us online for an opportunity to meet other peacebuilders and CRA members in a guided networking event, create connections among people who share interests in making our world better, and build bridges in our communities on June 30, 2022 5-6pm. We encourage you to bring another person who would be interested in participating or becoming a CRA member. 20220630 CRA, Speed Networking

Aloha! Sharing information about the event held by our friends at MCP: The Mediation Center of the Pacific is holding its first fully online fundraiser and silent auction right now! Help The Mediation Center of the Pacific celebrate its successful work in Oahu’s communities and raise the funds needed to continue providing accessible mediation services for everyone. Indulge in some fine wines, artwork, golf, and jewelry while also helping support a local non-profit meet its $50,000 goal.   Go to https://MCP2022.givesmart.com/ to donate and browse the items up for bid.   For the past three years, The Mediation Center of the Pacific (MCP) has managed and mediated an ever-increasing number of requests for conflict resolution. MCP’s growing services reinforce the important role that MCP plays in helping to address critical community needs in Hawaii.  It is only with your generous support, that we have been able to successfully meet those needs and serve even more people each year.   Mahalo for believing in the work of MCP!

Aloha, February seems to be filled with events to help us in dispute resolution field. We just learned about an online free event presented by William S. Richardson School of Law Conflict Management Institute this weekend: “Overcoming Barriers to Resolution: Strategies from Psychology, Communication, Negotiation, and Neuroscience” Presenter: Nina Meierding, MS, JD February 26, 2022 1:30pm – 3:30pm This interactive, skill-based training will deepen your understanding and elevate your skills in exploring why people get “stuck” in their day-to-day conversations, meetings, negotiations, and mediations. Learn proactive and responsive techniques that deal with specific barriers to agreements and resolution such as: • How people create psychological obstacles in decision-making • How proactive techniques can set the stage and eliminate certain types of barricades to moving forward • How customizes strategies can assist you in being more effective in reaching durable agreements See event details here: CMI – Nina Feb 2022 Check out all the upcoming ADR events on our event page at: https://www.crahawaii.org/event/

Happy February everyone! While Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, we think it’s important to bring attention to Black History, something that deserves more than a month to celebrate, educate, and to reflect on. Black History Week was started in 1926 and chosen in February because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, individuals who created historic change for African Americans, share a February birthday. A month long remembrance was created in 1969 by Black Student Union participants at Kent State University. The US government officially recognized Black History Month a few years later in 1976, and to this day it serves as an expression of Black independence and autonomy as well as a time for reflection on revolutionary thinkers and organizers who continue to inspire us and where our future is headed. We hope you’re having a lovely month so far and enjoy the rest of your week! #blackhistorymatters #blackhistorymonth #blacklivesmatter