Today’s post comes from one of the JAMS Weinstein International Fellows, Ximena Bustamante. Based in Ecuador, Ms. Bustamante is working to develop the field of ADR and train other ADR professionals in her home country. The Weinstein International Fellowship program is an opportunity for fellows from around the world to come to the United States to pursue a project of their own design that serves to advance dispute resolution in their home countries.

Mediators Beyond Borders (MBB) and the JAMS Foundation launched a mediation project in Ecuador, providing tools and resources to support growth and professionalization of ADR. At the same time, this project will offer Ecuadorian and American mediators an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning. With these objectives, the Ecuador Projectwas conceived with three main objectives: 1) an online virtual resource, 2) a series of symposiums, and 3) an outreach component.

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THE PLATINUM MOMENT OF CHOICE IN CONFLICT

Cinnie Noble- Many of us experience inner reactions to another person’s words, actions, attitude or behaviours, but do not let him or her know. Fear of retaliation, encountering some other sort of combative response, becoming more upset and oth

er perceived consequences often keep us from raising our concerns and pre-empting unnecessary friction. And suppressing our feelings does not help as inevitably they erupt somewhere along the road, and may even result in situations that can be even more unsettling. Our physical and emotional health can suffer too.

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Fairly Legal Season 2 Returns

Listen LIVE on March 27th at 7:00pm CST at Blog Talk Radio. Call in to speak live with Pattie and Stephen at:(347) 324-3591

March marks the return of Kate Reed and the second season of the USA network television show Fairly Legal. Kate continues to mediate disputes on the small screen between estranged lovers to large corporations. Since the majority of real-life mediations are kept confidential, most folks won't know what is mediation fact or fiction. Join Pattie Porter and special co-host, Stephen Kotev, as they discuss how Kate solved the problem and what a professional mediator would have done.

The new season starts on 3/16 at 9/8 central. Here is a clip with highlights of the upcoming season:Fairly Legal Preview

Listen to archived radio shows: Fairly Legal: Mediation Truth or Fiction? and Fairly Legal: Is Fairly Legal Fairly Relevant - Part 2

First Impressions & Thin Slices

If first impressions are so important in a variety of interactions and professions, what role could it play in mediation sessions?

These first impressions are based on, and often are accurate yet done subconsciously, nonverbal communication cues and elements. Consider:
Did you shake hands of both of the parties when you first met them?
Did you smile?
How were you dressed?
How did you arrange the room?
Was your seat closer to one party?

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