Spring/Summer 2015

Why Change to Resolve?

D ear Friend of Resolve (formerly Mediation Works),

Our Center will be formally 25 years old on July 10, 2015. Over

this time, there have been many conversations about changing the name. Our services have greater breadth than only mediation, as the former name suggested. Mediation would get confused with meditation, and of course Mediation Works sounded a lot like our sister organization, Community Works. But these points of confusion were not the most significant reasons for the change. The choice to change our look and our name to Resolve was made to give this organization name and brand recognition.

When faced with a dispute, we want the people of our region to think of Resolve. When schools want to engage students in dialogue, conflict resolution, and restorative practices, we want them to call Resolve or go to the Resolve webpage. For businesses seeking employee training, for student interns and volunteers and developing practitioners of mediation, facilitation and restorative justice, we want Resolve to be the first resource to contact.

Resolve is the Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice for all of the people of southern Oregon. The crisp blue symbol or wordmark has been coined “the meeting of the minds”. This multilayered blue marble represents our shared humanity, where people join through community, the common ground--our sometimes beautiful and sometimes challenging human relationships. The symbol is round, like the earth and like the restorative circle processes that help people see and listen to one another. The color blue is calm and hopeful.

Resolve will be here for the next 25 years because we need it. We need it to help us restore our communities when harm has been done. We need it when the fire of conflict seems insurmountable, or when conflict just seems unmanageable and we need a little support. We need it so we can learn the skills of conflict resolution and restorative practices to help us with successful communication and relationship in our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods, and our workplaces.

Board of Directors Jon Lange Chair

Sally Wise Vice Chair

John North Treasurer

Christine Herbert Secretary

Liz Shelby

Benjamin Bloom

Mike Mastroni

Isis Contreras

Lance Reyes

Pam Westland

Robert Boggess

Staff Deltra Ferguson, Executive Director Brian Graunke Director of Mediation and Facilitation Cara Walsh Director of Restorative Justice Raphaelle (Raphi) Kunkel Director of Education and Training Colleen O’Sullivan Restorative Justice Practices Coordinator Chad Woodward Center Operations Coordinator Louise Parke Front Desk, Experience Works

Transforming the way the people and communities of southern Oregon manage, resolve, and heal from conflict.

The Feather and Stone

~ Deltra Ferguson ~

Page 2 Spring/Summer 2015

Businesses

2015 Imagine Awards Thank You

Individuals

Ashleigh Adams

Bill & Melody Ashworth

Brandon Atkins

Bessie Azari

Alan & Laurie Bates

Edwin Battistella**

Anne & John Batzer

Manju Lynette Bazzell

Claudia Beausoleil

Harvey Belsky

Michael Belsky

Asante

Avista

Ashland Homes

Brown & Brown

Dutch Bros. Coffee

Lithia Motors

Roe Motors

Fayegail & Lance Bisaccia

Benjamin Bloom

Robert Boggess II

Janet Boggia

Kathy Bryon

Ellen Craine

Patti Diehl

Lisa Dobson

Judi Drais

Shoshanah Dubiner

Aimee Elko

Dawn & Andrew Elsbree

Cory Falls

Dan Fennell, MD

Kirsten Ferguson

Kay Godwin

Anne Golden

Donald Gordon

Keri Green

Vicki Griesinger

Jeanette (Jani) Hale

Mike & Jan Murphy

Jennifer Mylenek

Henry O’Dougherty

Fred Perloff

Marina Piacentini

William Purdy

Darren Ravassipour

Lance Reyes

Virginia (Ginger) Rilling

Sarah Robbins

Christina Sanz

Teresa & Joe Sayre

Bob & April Sevcik

Sarah & Jack Seybold

Grady Singletary

Patsy Smullin

John & Jane Stromberg

Sylvia Surratt

Kevin Talbert

Pattie Trepanier

Anna Lyn Uschold

Alissa Weaver

Lorraine Werblow

John Wiege

David Wright

Gregory Yechout

Karen Zerger

Medford Fabrication

Pacific Corp.

Providence Medical Center

Rogue Credit Union

Southern Oregon Pediatrics

Southern Oregon University

Elizabeth Hallett

Marilyn Hawkins

Lyn & Reeve Hennion*

Christine Herbert

Lorinda Holliday

Lisa Horwitch

Mary Hough

Cecelia Howard

Carol Hwoschinsky

David Kanner

Charles Kochlacs

Leslie Lanes

Jonathan Lange

Julia Levison

Valerie Ljungkrist

Michael Mastroni

Donald Mayo

Cameron McCandless

Michael McCaw

Lorenzo Mejia

Melissa Merryman

Mary Miller

Caprice Moran

Diana Morley

Diana Murdoch

* In honor of Bill Thorndike,

Darren Ravassipour and Lee Murdock

** In honor of Michael Belsky

Cpl. Alex Huff delivering his heartfelt testimony about VAYA

Isis Contreras presenting Emma Di Fruscia with a

Young Peacemaker award

Jon Lange presenting an award to

William Thorndike

Tables awaiting guests at the 2015 Imagine Awards

Page 3 The Feather and Stone

25 Years Ago

D ear Mediation Works:

Twenty-five years ago, it did not occur to me that this day would one day arrive.

I was just a pup myself, operating on a shoestring budget out of a church basement. CDRC was fortunate to have a strong board, with a vision and energy to initiate and carry out a new dream.

We somehow managed to recruit and train 16 brave souls to go out in the world and resolve conflicts. Some amongst that group were CDRC board members, judges and therapists, an ODRC member, bus drivers, neighbors, government employees, and one became CDRC’s next executive director when I left.

It was an exciting time, a happy time, and most assuredly, a simpler time.

I now stand in awe of what the Conflict Dispute Resolution Center to Mediation Works to Resolve Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice has become and will become.

My happiness extends to everyone who has ever been a part of this movement, in any capacity large or small, in deed or in thought. How did we do this? One idea, one person at a time, together cooperating and collaborating to achieve a collective dream.

I am forever grateful to be part of this circle of community betterment. Here is to the next 25!

With sincere best wishes going forward,

Keri Green

“CDRC” Executive Director, 1992-1994

Thank You Imagine Awards In-kind Supporters

Harry and David

The Ashland Food Co-op

101.9 Lite FM

Southern Oregon Media Group

KOBI-TV NBC5

People’s Bank

Keri Green Executive Director

“CDRC” 1992-1994

Page 4 Spring/Summer 2015

I was sitting at my desk one day when I received a phone call from a young man who graduated from the VAYA program four years prior. I clearly remembered who he was, the crime he committed, and the powerful dialogue that he participated in with the victim of his crime. When I

answered the phone, he introduced himself as Corporal Huff and said that he was calling to say, ‘thank you.’ He acknowledged the impact that the program had on his life and the forward direction it gave him. After a gracious conversation and several e-mail exchanges, this young man voluntarily flew across the country excited to share his story at our annual Imagine Awards.

“There hasn't been a day that has gone by that I didn't think of VAYA, the impact it left upon me was tremendous. I constantly wonder how different my life would look behind bars in a cell in Portland. My biggest "take-away" from VAYA was understanding that my actions don't only affect me. Actions have a splash effect. You make your own choices, and you will be held accountable for all of them, whether they are positive or negative.

After learning about the ripple effect, I realized that serving has always been something I have aspired to do, I wanted to do something greater than myself, so I am thankful I have gotten this opportunity to give back to the community that believed so much in me (and other troubled teens) that I could become successful.

I want my career after the military to have affiliations with restorative justice programs similar to that of Mediation Works. Restorative Justice is something I whole heartedly believe in, and there isn't a day that goes back that I don't smile at the

thought of how I grew from it.”

~ Cara Walsh ~ ~Cpl. Alex Huff, U.S. Marine Corps ~

VAYA Graduate Flies Across the Country to Say, “Thank You”

Spring Training with Sharon Strand Ellison

T his May Resolve, in collaboration with Oregon Mediation Association (Portland), Center for Dialogue and Resolution (Eugene), and Central Oregon Mediation

(Bend), hosted full day trainings across the state with Sharon Strand Ellison, founder of the Institute for Powerful Non-defensive Communication and author of the book Taking the War Out of Our Words.

During the training Sharon explored various questions and statements and supported participants in learning to adjust the format and tone of their language to encourage better communication and eliminate defensiveness. One participant wrote, “I feel like I had a personal break through today. I have been saturated with communication and accountability training, but today bridged all that learning into concrete, simple and accessible steps.”

For more information about Powerful Non-defensive Communication and to access free resources, visit www.pndc.com.

Cpl. Alex Huff with his guest at the 2015 Imagine Awards

Sharon Strand Ellison working with a participant during the

2015 Spring Training

Restorative Response at Phoenix High School

Page 5 The Feather and Stone

O ver the past school year Resolve has been working with Phoenix High School to train and implement restorative practices. In response to feeling disconnected from his school community, a 16 year old youth intentionally created a malicious Facebook statement so

that he would get suspended and not have to attend school anymore. He had no idea how far his social media blitz would ripple out and the consequent harm that it created amongst his peers, teachers, and administrators. Typically this type of action would result in a suspension, however because the administrators of Phoenix High School were trained in restorative practices, they recognized that his behavior was a symptom of something else out of balance.

Subsequently, this youth was engaged in a process where he was given the opportunity to be heard, feel understood, identify what was at the root of his actions, learn how his choices impacted others, and be part of a plan to make things right. With a natural proclivity towards music as a form of expression, this youth wrote the following song for his school and Principal as part of his agreement for taking responsibility and acknowledging the harm that his actions had caused his school community.

(Lyrics to the right)

Dear You, I’m Blue

I made my choice and

You heard my voice and

It must ‘ve spoke too loud

I said the words and

Now you have heard and

My head was in the clouds

Dear you

I apologize for my crime

I just didn’t see that words can hurt

Dear you

I am feeling bad I was mad

I hurt you with my regretful words

I spoke my mind with

Words so unkind and

It was a big mistake

Now I feel blue and

I have hurt you and

The consequence I’ll take

I didn’t think first

‘Bout my mistake with

Words harmful as a gun

My mind was turned off and

My sense was lost and

Then I was on the run

Dear you

I apologize for my crime

I just didn’t see that words can hurt

Dear you

I am feeling bad I was mad

I hurt you with my regretful words

Northwest Justice Forum

T he Northwest Justice Forum is an annual regional conference that takes place each year to foster the gathering of individuals committed

to, or interested in learning about the principles and values of Restorative Justice. The theme for the Forum this year is on “Honoring the Place and Voice of Victims/Survivors: The Role of Restorative Justice.”

Registration is now available for the conference which will be taking place in Clackamas County on June 23rd (pre-forum) and June 24th and 25th (Plenary, Workshops, and Dinner).

Visit www.nwjusticeforum.com to register or for more information.

~ Colleen O’Sullivan ~

Page 6 Spring/Summer 2015

A Tapestry of Peace

I n 1989, several Rogue Valley residents working in the legal, judicial and conflict resolution fields got together to explore how our community

could resolve problems in a way that healed us, instead of tearing us apart, thus strengthening the fiber of our local culture. Soon there were a dozen or so people attending these brown bag lunches and the seed for a local community dispute resolution center was planted.

The vision of building a peaceful community grew. The first Mediation Training

was offered in the fall of 1992 and the Daily Tidings featured A Sensible Approach to Resolving Conflicts. A flyer printed in the year 2000 listed 11 programs offered through Mediation Works, and Peer Mediation Brings Peace to Phoenix High was in the local paper in 2001.

Many colorful designs are woven into this ever-stronger community tapestry…two neighbors who had a good relationship for decades ran into a conflict that tore the fiber of their trust. After mediation, they walked away arm and arm, with a greater understanding

of each other and a resolution that made their relationship stronger than ever before…a daughter who had gotten into trouble was hopelessly alienated from her mother, yet after a mediation, there was love and understanding that had been unimaginable…a teen in conflict not only benefited from peer mediation, but went on to become a leader and help others…a detention center youth expressed appreciation for the community volunteers who helped him see how he could use his life experience to help others avoid the same fate…a Marine stationed in Washington, D.C. called to say that VAYA had turned his life around five years earlier.

There are hundreds of stories in a tapestry that is still being woven. This article is a love letter to the not-so-small group of thoughtful, peaceful, committed citizens who have and will continue to strengthen our community. With immeasurable gratitude we thank you for the thousands of hours you have given and the millions of dollars you have contributed through these 25 years.

~ Manju Bazzell ~

“Never doubt that a small group of

thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that

ever has.”

-Margaret Mead

Helen Wallace pictured on the first Mediation Works Newsletter

Summer 1998

Student group working to build Student Peer Mediation

program at their school

Page 7 The Feather and Stone

Facilitator Perspectives: Foreclosure Avoidance Program

Experienced Mediators We Need Your Help!

O ur Jackson County Circuit Court FED (forcible entry and unlawful detainer) a.k.a. eviction mediation sessions take place every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at the courthouse. From July 2015 thru April 2016, staff and six volunteers have mediated 341 FED cases,

79% concluded with agreements and 21% concluded with no agreements. If you are a mediator who has completed at least 35 mediations, have availability on Monday or Wednesday afternoons and are wanting to hone your mediation skills in a fast paced, focused setting where property managers and attorneys often represent parties, we can use your help. If you are interested or want to learn more about the FED program, please contact Brian Graunke at 541-770-2468.

T he Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Program (OFAP) was created in response to the aftermath of the housing market collapse. OFAP requires most banks to request facilitated

sessions with homeowners prior to beginning foreclosure actions. Resolve has been actively handling these facilitations for over a year and half and has watched the volume steadily increase. Currently we conduct up to 21 facilitated sessions per week and during the past year we have seen over 300 cases come through the door from Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake Counties.

How does this program help homeowners and banks deal with foreclosure? Volunteer Andre Allen provides a great summary, “OFAP provides a process for re-framing the situation so that the parties move from conflict to problem-solving, i.e., from the threat of home foreclosure to working together to find a mutually acceptable

alternative. Even in cases where home retention is not an option, OFAP provides the understanding and tools the homeowner needs to move through the stages of loss and heal from the experience.”

While the outcomes of these sessions vary greatly, long-time volunteer Mike Smith notes that the value of the program is in the process not the solution “Sometimes the homeowner will get an affordable mortgage, and other times they walk away knowing that a foreclosure is the best option for them. In both cases, they have a hand in shaping the decision, and that can make all the difference.”

This sentiment is shared by many facilitators including active volunteer Laurel Miller. She has observed that “Even in situations where the homeowner would be giving up their home, they had a forum to express what they needed to say and could then move forward from there...which would not likely have happened without the benefit of a facilitated conversation. For the homeowner to own their situation and recognize that they have a hand and choice in their housing is very powerful and to be a part of that process as a facilitator is very satisfying.”

The OFAP program is a great benefit to our community and it aligns very well with our mission to transform the way the people and communities of southern Oregon manage, resolve and heal from conflict. Resolve would not be able to accomplish this work without the help of our skilled facilitators! While the facilitations occur in our office, success in the process is only possible when both parties make the effort: the bank and their attorney, and the homeowner and their housing counselors and/or attorneys.

Evan Hanson working on foreclosure avoidance work

~ Chad Woodward ~

Gordon Elwood Foundation

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

…and of course, the United Way

Why Change to Resolve VAYA Graduate Flies

Across the Country to Say, “Thank You”

The 2015 Imagine Awards Restorative Response at

Phoenix High School Celebrating 25 Years … And Much More

“My happiness extends to everyone who has ever been a

part of this movement, in any capacity large

or small, in deed or in

thought.”

-Keri Green

Inside this issue of The Feather and Stone

Thank You So Very Much! Ford Family Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation

Frank L. Touvelle Trust Fund

Anna May Family Foundation

Formerly Mediation Works

Resolve Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice