April 14, 5:30 pmMediator In-Service – Volunteer Appreciation Night!

May 9, 5:30 pmMediator In-Service

June 14, 5:30 pmMediator In-Service

June 22–24 8:30 am - 5:30 pm3-Day Negotiation Training

September 21–23 8:30 am - 5:30 pm3-Day Negotiation Training

October 28–30 & November 4 & 5 8:30 am - 5:30 pm5-Day Mediation Training

October 20, 7:30 am SAVE THE DATE!!!CDR Annual Fundraising Breakfast

IN THIS ISSUE

Thank you to all who are read-ing this newsletter! You care

about productive yet peaceful ways to approach differences. You appreciate the work of our highly trained volunteers, who make peace one mediation at a time. Thank you for your support of our mission.

At the Center for Dialog & Reso-lution (CDR) we have had a winter filled with changes. As we grow and adapt to our new name, we find new ways to sup-port our community. Feedback on the new name has been posi-tive, sharing “how wonderful to highlight what you DO: dialog & resolution, rather than the dis-putes that bring us to you”.

We listened to the many who said, “I want the mediator skills but don’t want to be a media-tor, nor do I have 5 days for your signature training.” This year we will be premiering a 3-day course (June & September) which in-cludes the crucial skills in com-munication, collaborative negoti-ation and the techniques used by trained impartials. Consider your professional development invest-

ments this year: bosses, supervi-sors, human resource managers, counselors, board members, volunteers in other organizations, church members, union mem-bers, and real estate profession-als… anyone who has to interact with other people. You will learn to use these skills through a high-ly interactive learning process. JOIN us in this new adventure. (See dates at left)

We have said good bye two of our dedicated staff team. Both Jeanie and Patricia have left their mark on this institution and will continue to contribute as media-tors. Please drop by, meet the rest of the amazing CDR team, join a training to experience how these skills can change your life, jump in and become a mediator, or tell people about our work. Look for more updates in coming newsletters!

UPCOMING EVENTS

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

MARALISE HOOD QUAN

RESOLUTION“The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.”

Spring 2016: Growth and Change

Consider your professional development investments this year: We can help!

• Our Center is Growing

• Community Gardening

• Quote Corner

• Staff and Volunteer Updates

GROWING AND CHANGING

QUOTE CORNER

Spring is here – and what bet-ter way to celebrate the sea-

son than gardening? The Center for Dialog & Resolution has been enriching the community by planting a few seeds of conflict resolution! Partnering with Har-vest Pierce County, a program of Pierce Conservation District, the Center offered a special leader-ship training to members of local community gardens. During the training, participants had the opportunity to learn new ways to recognize differences among individuals, handle interpersonal tension, listen attentively, and have tough conversations that can reach resolution.

Community gardens have an im-portant role in our county neigh-borhoods. Harvest Pierce County is working towards “reconnecting communities to each other and their food systems through gar-dening, gleaning, and educating Pierce County about their food and food systems.” Cultivating a healthy community isn’t an easy task and can sometimes cause tensions to arise, so they called in the conflict resolvers! On January 30th, Center mediators and train-

ers Patricia Frazer and Maralise Hood Quan invited community garden members, site coordina-tors, and more to discover their individual communication styles and practice effective commu-nication. Skills participants mas-tered included listening to op-posing viewpoints, summarizing issues surrounding the gardens, and reflecting.

Participants in the training felt the day helped them gain new perspectives, improve leadership roles, and acquire skills useful in the garden – and out of it! One gardener commented, “A great class! One of the most meaning-ful I’ve taken yet!” while an-other recognized that important equipment came in more than just gardening tool form and these were “tools you can use”, even outside of the garden! The Community Garden Leadership Training was a great day – and just like the seeds in the garden,

the sunshine came out to help effective leadership and commu-nication skills grow! What tools are you using to help you grow this spring?

DIALOG IN THE GARDEN

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RENEE MESCHI

Tools you can use, even outside the garden!

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest that you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”

– Robert Louis Stevenson

“Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let’s stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another.”

– Anne Raver

“Out of gardens grow fleeting flowers but lasting friendships.”

– Beverly Rose Hopper

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

– Audrey Hepburn

“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain.

If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees.

If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.”

- Chinese Proverb

January and February of 2016 have already sowed seeds

of change at the Center for Dialog & Resolution. Two of our beloved staff members, Jeanie Simmons and Patricia Frazer, re-tired as staff… but will reappear as volunteer mediators!

Thank you, Jeanie, for raising the level of grace, patience and attention given to every staff member, volunteer or client who contacts our Center for Dialog & Resolution. Jeanie Simmons, Director of Services, brought her educational administration ex-perience combined with years of professional experience in me-diation, group facilitation, cre-ative conflict resolution, training, organization development, and conflict coaching. She has been instrumental in the internal or-

ganizational development of the Center for Dialog & Resolution and has worked at the Center for over five years. In her retire-ment, she plans to spend more time with grandchildren and family, and of course, MEDIATE!

Thank you, Patricia, for your focus on quality mediator skills and the client’s experience. Pa-tricia Frazer, Facilitative Media-tion Coordinator, brought with her years of experience working with non-profits. She is an active certified mediator and conflict coach and has managed me-diators, clients, and attorneys in family conflict mediation for four years at the Center. In her retirement, she plans to pursue her passions- sailing, gardening, and MEDIATE!

GOODBYE STAFF… AND HELLO VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS! CDR STAFF

Maralise Hood Quan Executive Director

Jennifer UngerAssociate Director

Whitney StaffordOperations & Business Manager

Amanda BucyTechnology & Communications Specialist

Keisha PattersonFacilitative Mediation Case Management Assistant

Monica AndersonSettlement Conference Case Management Assistant

Sonia WellsOffice and Marketing Assistant

Beth DoOffice Assistant

Daily and Event Support

Donations:• Computers/Monitors

• Large TV screens

• Office Chairs

• Office Supplies

• Lamps

Gift Cards are always appreciated from the following businesses: Office Max, Office Depot, Costco, Best Buy, Target, Amazon, or our local merchants.

WAYS TO HELP You can make the difference!

ADDITIONAL LINKSHarvest Pierce Countypiercecd.org/190/ Urban-Agriculture

Center for Dialog & Resolution News Updatescenterforresolution.org/ category/news/