MV Mediation is pleased to announce a $2,500 grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation to support the Youth Mediation Program and Peace Curriculum. The Peace Curriculum, developed by Executive Director Sara Barnes, is a 10-week conflict resolution and positive communication program designed to teach conflict resolution to the students of Martha’s Vineyard. Using integrative and hands-on activities, students learn to apply skills to resolve conflict in their day-to-day lives.
In the 2023–24 school year, MV Mediation is looking to work with all third graders on Martha’s Vineyard. Some schools are including older grades as well. Current teaching staff includes Kiki Homer, Kim D’Arcy, and Coordinator Gail Gardner. So far this year, the program is in the Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Chilmark Schools, as well as the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, serving over 400 students in grades 2 through 8. Students participate in games, stories, role playing, and other age-appropriate activities. The Peace Curriculum approach is meant to enhance and augment core Responsive Classroom Practices in elementary and middle school levels and Restorative Practices for high school. New this year is the addition of a classroom poster and toolbox for each classroom teacher which is designed to reinforce the core concepts, which are: Conflict, Feelings, Put-Ups and Put-Downs, Belonging, Perspective, Peaceful Communication, Effective Listening, Calming the Conflict, Win-Win, and Peace.
Martha’s Vineyard Mediation is grateful to the Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable Foundation for its generous support. To learn more about this valuable program, as well as Martha’s Vineyard Mediation’s other services, please visit www.mvmediation.org.