• Posted by ADRhub.com- Werner Institute on October 4, 2016 in Featured News & Articles (Change)
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What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly roundup of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions [HERE].

Weekly Conversation

ADRHub is now hosting a topic for discussion and debate!

In light of the recent events in Colombia, this week's topic asks

What role can conflict engagement/resolution practitioners play in promoting peace processes in their communities?

Click HERE to join the conversation!

Conflict Engagement and ADR in the News

Playworks Colorado provides learning through play, conflict resolution

By Joe Vaccarelli (9/29/16). Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post

During a typical recess at Denver’s Maxwell Elementary School, kids line up to play a game of four square. Encouraging words are heard throughout the game and questionable calls aren’t met with insults or punches thrown — a simple game of rock, paper, scissors will settle any issue.

“If you don’t know, roshambo” is the motto throughout the school. Roshambo is another word for the rock-paper-scissors game, and kids use it to resolve most simple conflicts.  Find out more about how students are learning about conflict resolution in Colorado HERE.

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Restorative courts expand, give victims, community a voice

By Vidushi Saxena (10/04/16)

With the goal of giving second chances and alternatives to prison, the Dane County Community Restorative Justice Court program has successfully helped young offenders re-assimilate into the community.

The program places 17 to 25-year-olds who have been arrested for a crime into a community court instead of the traditional criminal justice system. At this court, victims and other members of the community work with the offenders to allow them to understand the consequences of their actions. Victims can directly ask offenders to pay for their crimes through service and restitution, among other methods. Learn about other aspects of the program HERE.

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Local businesses 'Adopt-a-Court' to help state judiciary expand Hawaii’s mediation services

By Hawaii News Now (10/3/16. Image from Pixabay)

As part of its ongoing efforts to improve access to justice in Hawaii, the Hawaii State Judiciary is partnering with The Mediation Center of the the Pacific  (MCP) in an innovative program to help expand the availability of mediation services in the islands.  The MCP’s Adopt-A-Court Program provides opportunities for local businesses to “adopt” a district court and have members of their management team trained to serve as volunteer mediators for small claims and summary possession cases. 

The Adopt-A-Court Program was created by the Mediation Center of the Pacific in 2014 to expand the pool of mediators in the district courts throughout Oahu.  To date, the Mediation Center has recruited two companies to participate in the Adopt-A-Court Program.  The Islander Group adopted the Wahiawa District Court and Hawaiian Cement adopted the Ewa District Court.   

Can you imagine the possibilities of such an innovative program? We sure can. Click HERE to learn more about it.

Click HERE to learn more about the work of MCP.

Good Reads: Blogs, Books, and More!

Learning Bravery through Brāv: An Update

By Patricia M. Porter (Image from Brāv)

Updates on Brāv - the online platform to manage conflicts at school, work, home or more.  Brāv ultimately becomes the first option in workplaces, schools, in lieu of HRs, deans and principals' standard policies. In this way, there is less work for everyone! In addition, teaming up with groups including schools, workplaces, police departments and task forces allow for accountability, where all parties are ensured to come together. Learn more HERE. 

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     By John Bolch (09/27/16. Image from Pixabay).

    OK, I admit that I am not being exactly original in introducing this post with that famous quote (a quick Google will    find many previous examples). However, it is just as meaningful now as it was six years ago, even if the subsequent actions of Mr Clarke and his government may make the words seem rather hollow to many.

The term “access to justice” is bandied about willy-nilly these days, but what exactly does it mean?  Find out the answer HERE.

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Negotiation Book Club - Tower of Babel symposium

In the runup to symposium to be held at the University of Missouri on October 7: Moving Negotiation Theory from the Tower of Babel Toward a World of Mutual Understanding, Prof. Rishi Batra explains why the negotiation field needs to be familiar with Samuel Arbesman’s book, The Half Life of Facts: Why Everything We Know Has an Expiration Da....

I'm absolutely convinced. Read about it, here.

Upcoming Events

Conflict Resolution Day – Free Webinar on Online Peer Mediation – October 20, 2016

Original post by Giuseppe Leone

Funded by the JAMS Foundation, the Online Peer Mediation Platform (OPMP) is a 2-year innovative project for colleges, elementary, middle and high schools. OPMP is currently managed by the National Association of Peer Program Professionals, and was previously managed by the Association for Conflict Resolution Education, Research and Training Section. Click HERE for more information.

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