ACR National announces a Request for Initial Proposal Ideas for the 2015 funding cycle of the ACR/JAMS partnership in supporting Conflict Resolution Education. The funding focus for the 2015 funding cycle is to support projects that advance the development, implementation, and/or assessment of conflict resolution education serving special needs youth populations in formal or informal educational contexts. Read more
Tag: News
On June 10, 2015 Pacific Business News published an article written by Lorin Eleni Gill and titled “Mediation Center of the Pacific Starts Memorial Fund to Aid Hawaii Seniors”. It reads ~~ The Mediation Center of the Pacific is establishing new mediation fund for Hawaii seniors and their families as a memorial to one of its most successful mediators, Charles “Chuck” Hurd, who died last month. The Charles H. Hurd Memorial Fund for Kupuna Pono will allow the center to reach more families encountering conflict when caring for an elderly family member. Tracey Wiltgen, executive director of The Mediation Center of the Pacific, says Hurd championed the Kupuna Program, which is still developing after its creation in 2012. Read more
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ACR National New Executive Director
Cheryl Jamison, Esq. is ACR National new Executive Director. Cheryl is well-known to the ACR and the larger ADR community. Over her years on the ACR Board, she has held leadership positions, and most recently as ACR’s Immediate Past President. Cheryl brings her dedication and wealth of knowledge to her new role as ACR’s Executive Director. Her critical skills in organizational, management and outreach work will continue to serve ACR and its membership well. Read more
To the Community of Conflict Resolvers, One of Hawai‘i’s leading advocates for ADR, Charles “Chuck” Hurd, passed away during the night of May 20, 2015. The sadness of this loss to the ADR community cannot be measured. Chuck was a mentor, fixer, compassionate listener, committed trainer, and friend. His list of credentials would fill the page and a summary can hardly do justice. Chuck devoted his skills to public talks promoting the need to use mediation alternatives and the counterproductive nature of litigation, and spent decades mediating or arbitrating a wide range of cases. His most recent efforts, besides his commitment to the Board of Directors of the Association for Conflict Resolution, were put toward helping resolve disputes about inheritance and guardianship of elderly persons and related estate planning issues. Chuck was a master, and too humble to ever wear it on his sleeve. We all know his value, and will notice the hole his absence leaves in Hawai‘i and our hearts. Please read (below) the tributes by colleagues who honor Chuck’s life with their shared thoughts. With appreciation and highest regards to a colleague, Anne Smoke Matsuda President, ACR-Hawai‘i ~~~ “Chuck has been a close personal friend for almost 40 years, and his contributions and value to so many and the community, professionally and personally, will be with us, as he will be in spirit, for many years to come. He has without exception exhibited the highest degree of integrity, honesty, compassion and character, and the courage of his convictions.” Chuck Crumpton ~~~ “He was an exceptional professional and wonderful person. This is a great loss to our community. Chuck faced his illness with his usual positive attitude and determination to beat it.” Frances Mossman ~~~ “I remember serving on the Program committee of ACRH with him and finding out how creative and fun he was. I am grateful for knowing such a very good man in our community.” Karen…
Hawai‘i Island’s Foreclosure Mediation Program has helped 172 homeowners to stay in their homes. Through a partnership of Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center and West Hawai‘i Mediation Center, along with the Third Circuit Court, lenders and borrowers have the opportunity to utilize mediation services while in judicial foreclosure. Read on
The JAMS Foundation / Association for Conflict Resolution Initiative for Students and Youth provides grant funding for conflict prevention and dispute resolution programs for K-12 students and for adults working with youth populations in ways that directly transfer CRE skills from adults to youth. The JAMS Foundation is currently providing grant support for the following initiatives: Online Peer Mediation Platform $38,500 per year for two years to fund the development and launch of a comprehensive online peer mediation website, enabling children aged 10-18 to learn about, participate, receive mentoring in, and share their experiences with peer mediation. Please Note: ACR-Hawaii sponsored Virtual Mediation Lab provides the online mediation know-how for this project. Conflict Resolution Education for Children of Incarcerated Parents Sponsored by the Good Shepherd Mediation Program in Philadelphia in collaboration with state and local, prison administrators, juvenile justice advocates and child welfare organizations, this $50,000 grant supports the development of a unique program providing conflict resolution education to children of parents who are currently in prison or returning home after a period of incarceration. For more information about the JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative for Students and Youth click here
NEWS RELEASE Hilo, Hawai‘i – March 23, 2015 – This April, May, and June, the general public can support the non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center by purchasing gasoline at any Ohana Fuels (Minit Stop) in East Hawai‘i. “We are so honored to be selected as the beneficiary for Ohana Fuel’s ‘Fuel Up, Do Good’ program,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “This spring, we ask that folks please consider fueling up at one of the four Minit Stops in East Hawai‘i.” Participating Ohana Fuels (Minit Stop) gas stations include two in Hilo, both located on Highway 11. The first is at the corner of Puainako Street, and the second is at the corner of Leilani Street. The third is located in Laupahoehoe on Highway 19. The fourth is located in Kea‘au on Orchidland Drive (off Highway 130). “At Ohana Fuels, ‘family’ is our first priority – which means we’re proud to support the organizations and needs important to the neighborhoods we serve. Each quarter, we donate a portion of every customer purchase to a local charity in the community,” said a company spokesperson. Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center empowers people to come together–to talk and to listen, to explore options, and to find their own best solutions. To achieve this mission, Ku’ikahi offers mediation, facilitation, and training to strengthen the ability of diverse individuals and groups to resolve interpersonal conflicts and community issues. Please help support Ku’ikahi Mediation Center by making your fuel purchases at any of Ohana Fuels four convenient locations. For more information, visit www.hawaiimediation.org or www.ohanafuels.com # # #
An estimated 40,000 British Columbians who are fighting small claims or strata disputes each year will soon be able to use their laptops or handheld devices to access a government system that aims to resolve legal matters quickly and cheaply. Attorney-General Suzanne Anton said the government is set to introduce Canada’s first mandatory online tribunal system to settle minor disputes involving small claims court and strata councils without setting foot in local courthouses. She said “We’re actually the first in the world to be doing this. You can start your claim at midnight from your desktop at home. The online tribunal will involve a three-stage process, starting with attempts by both sides to resolve the issue on their own, progressing to mediation and concluding with a tribunal member with powers to decide the matter.” Read on PS: Interested to learn more about online mediation? Sign up for Introduction to Online Mediation, a 1-hour Free webinar for members of ACR Hawaii and the Hawaii State Bar Association ADR Section. It will be held on April 8 (from Noon to 1:00pm), and will be presented by Giuseppe Leone, founder of Virtual Mediation Lab, an online mediation project sponsored by ACR Hawaii.
The February 25, 2015 event “The Future of Mediation: A Dialogue with Ken Cloke and Peter Adler” was a great success. Here are some comments we heard afterwards: “I really like the informal interview approach – it seemed to draw out something deeper about the work we do.” “I was struck by the breadth and depth of conflict resolution experience revealed as Peter and Ken talked together.” “The examples Ken Cloke gave from his practice and writing over the years, made me think about the influences in our lives and how I have also evolved as a mediator.” If you didn’t attend that event, you can now watch its 100-min video recording
Instead of settling in court low-value civil cases in England and Wales, a new report from the Civil Justice Council says these disputes should be settled online. National Public Radio Scott Simon talks to the author Richard Susskind