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 peaceful means of resolving disagreements and encourages the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, government, and the legal system.
This event is co-sponsored by the Hawai‘i County Bar Association as part of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution’s 2015 Mediation Week.
Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center’s October 15 Open House takes place at The Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite PH 1014 B-2. For more information, call 935-7844 or visit www.hawaiimediation.org
