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.
This month, MV Mediation Youth Program is excited to join the school communities of the Martha's Vineyard Charter School and the Edgartown School. The MV Mediation Youth Program will teach the processes of conflict resolution and interactive workshops, activities, games, discussions, and role plays, leading to students' awareness of conflict resolution tools and strategies.
The Introduction to Mediation course is a 30-hour course taught in two sections. The first 15 hours is Mediation Basics. The second 15 hours is Mediation Qualification. Participants who complete both sections will apprentice, if desired, with MV Mediation in order to become a qualified mediator in Massachusetts.
Celebrating light is the theme for November and December holidays across the world. The Hindu festival of Divali was celebrated last week with the lighting of candles to wish one another good luck, riches, and generosity. As the waning light of the sun in the Northeast US is heading us toward the shortest day of the year, many light candles and install lighting displays to brighten our lives and the lives of those around us.
Christina Simmons, Board Member
With the year wrapping up and looking ahead to the future this is a chance to take a step back and reflect on all that we have accomplished. 2019 was a big year for MV Mediation Program. Part of our mission is to use education to encourage constructive dispute resolution. We are proud to have promoted our mission through education and in 2019 expanded our educational programs.
Our educational programs and trainings grow both in the number of trainings and also in the variety of trainings offered. We were able to offer seven programs and courses with most trainings taking place over the course of many weeks. We were also happy to co-sponsor many of these programs with other local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA and local libraries. Here is a sampling of what we offered:
· Mediators Saturdays—Ongoing get togethers for mediators and apprentices to share best practices and build professional mediation skills.
· Conflict Coaching Training—A 15 hour qualification for new Conflict Coaches with an additional apprenticeship process.
· Introduction to Mediation Course—Offered in both the spring and fall each session was a 40 hour training and apprenticeship for MA qualified mediators.
· Spring and Fall Workplace Conflict Workshops—Seven two-hour workshops to support employees, managers and others in creating a healthy workplace with positive approaches to conflict resolution.
· Fall Conflict Management Cohort Course—20 hour course for Supervisors and Managers to develop proactive approaches to conflicts in the workplace.
· Landlord Tenant Workshop—A two hour workshop for landlords and tenants to resolve conflicts and avoid problems with tenancies.
We are working to develop programming for 2020 that meets the needs of our community. There are already an exciting array of offerings. Look above and register on our website or by calling our office.
Do you have an idea of what kind of educational topics we should be developing? Drop us a line and let us know what you would like to learn more about the in the areas of conflict resolution and alternative dispute resolution.
Christina Simmons, Board Member
As the holiday season kicks into gear and everyone is busy preparing and shopping we are thankful for the continued support of our donors. Consider how supporting local non-profits can be a meaningful gift that supports the community. Here at MV Mediation Program we never want to have to turn someone away because of their finances.
Here is how your generous donations have supported MV Mediation Program:
Workplace Conflict Workshops
· $ 100 pays for each member of a 10-week confidential cohort course for managers and supervisors
· $ 250 pays for a workshop on conflict management
Family and Divorce mediation
· $180 pays two mediators for one session
· $1000 trains one divorce mediator
Conflict Coaching: A new service available through generous support of the Newman’s Foundation. Two one-hour sessions of free 1:1 Conflict Coaching are available for any community member.
· $ 50 pays one conflict coach per session
Consultative and facilitation services
· $ 400 pays for a two hour consultation
Conflict Resolution Courses
· $ 600 pays for one student to be trained as a mediator
· $ 250 pays for one student to be trained as a conflict coach
Youth Mediation
· $225 pays for one youth mediator to be trained
MV Mediation is proud to offer our twice yearly Introduction to Mediation course. Conflict is part of everyday life. As a mediator you will learn to guide disputes toward mutually satisfying agreements. Participants will learn mediation skills, conflict resolution tools and strategies as well as gain approaches for successfully resolving daily life conflicts.
Mediation skills and training are applicable in many personal and professional contexts. Taught by our lead mediator, Sara Barnes, who has over three decades of experience with mediation and conflict resolution, the course is interactive and participatory. With a world full of conflict, this course offers involvement with an optimistic slice of committed individuals who want to make a difference.
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We are excited to be hosting two series about conflict in the workplace. Many local businesses over the years have sought out assistance with conflict they have encountered. In response we have created, in partnership with the MV Chamber of Commerce, two different series designed to help island business deal with daily conflict issues.
The first is a series of free lunchtime workshops co-sponsored by the MV Chamber of Commerce. These will cover the following topics:
· creating a conflict positive workplace
· conflict management action planning,
· toxic workplace-what to do?
· team building in a healthy workplace.
These 90 minute long workshops will send participants off with do-able tips and strategies to assist workplace conflict management. See above for schedule.
The second workplace conflict offering is a 8 session course on Workplace Conflict Management. This is designed for Vineyard managers and supervisors. The cohort will collaboratively review a workplace conflict management book. Participants will receive support and insight into their own business dilemmas through a case study model. This course is co-sponsored by the MV Chamber of Commerce and the YMCA. Call/email to register.
