Community Mediation Concepts

Over a decade ago we began working with conflict. Early on it came in the form of neighbors fighting with neighbors over how they would live next each other. This type of conflict often began around landscaping, barking dogs, noisy kids, parking cars; but quickly we discovered there was always more to the story.

Within a few months we were asked to provide conflict resolution for a successful business impacting their neighborhood. The room was packed with over 125 people, we helped them identify issues, pick representatives, work through their differing opinions and come to agreement over the next six weeks. They were successful!

We've grown from there. We provide conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation, training, and much more for municipalities, nonprofits, state agencies, and private companies.

CMC is committed to "Helping People Talk to People" in ways that encourage people in conflict to talk, listen and reach a cooperative resolution; often resulting in reestablishing an environment of trust and respect.

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CMC's approach to conflict resolution through mediation and facilitated conversations is -

Effective. Providing positive and lasting solutions because the people involved and affected by the conflict are those who create and agree upon the resolution. They care, because they have buy-in and commitment to the solution they worked to find.

Objective. CMC's mediators don't take sides, advocate for, make decisions for, or represent any of the people at the table. We're the objective, neutral, nonprofit, third party you call when you're caught in conflict.

Confidential. All those involved agree to a level of confidentiality required to create the "safe place" so necessary for working from positions to issues, and to finding options leading to lasting outcomes.

Voluntary. You're there because you choose to be, it's the best alternative.

Efficient. CMC can help you save time, money and energy working directly together to find your own solutions that work.

Beneficial. We'll help you stay focused on problem solving, expectations, communication and what it takes to resolve the conflict.

Professional. CMC's mediators are professional. They are trained, they are mentored and they meet regularly to maintain excellence. They're good!

Rebecca Weinstine, in her book, has explained mediation and what CMC does well -

•	"Mediation is a process in which an impartial third party assists people in conflict to resolve their dispute."
•	"Mediation is practical, strategic problem solving that also reflects the emotional and personal needs of the participants."
•	"Resolutions designed during mediation aim to produce long-term solutions; they seek to address underlying causes and do not merely address the superficial arguments."
•	"Mediation also focuses on strengthening relationships and teaching skills that will better equip people to address, or even avoid, conflict in the future."
•	"Mediated resolutions are designed for long-term success without future intervention because complex interpersonal and circumstantial issues are not overlooked in the resolution."
•	"Mediated solutions are not imposed."
•	"They are individually formulated to the mutual satisfaction of the parties."
•	"Interestingly, this personalized approach is time-efficient and cost-effective and used widely in diverse setting; less cumbersome than many other conflict resolution processes and extremely successful."
•	"Mediation has been dubbed "miraculous" by some observers, and it is true that to those trapped in a dead-end dispute, mediation may seem like a miracle."
•	"It is certainly clear that mediation has proved to be an excellent option for conflict resolution when other traditional approaches have failed."

Conflict Is Inevitable!

Conflict comes in many different shapes and sizes, but one thing is consistent - conflict brings about change. Our choice in how we deal with conflict determines if this change is positive or negative. A commitment to constructive conflict will often create positive outcomes. However, failure to deal with conflict in a constructive way damages individuals, organizations and relationships. Unfortunately our traditional adversarial process of conflict resolution has a negative influence upon us all. Unresolved conflict often escalates into avoidance, confrontation or violence - all having a very negative impact on everyone involved.

CMC provides, through mediation:

•	The opportunity to talk. People don't talk, not to their neighbors, co-workers, or the developer bringing a project to the block. The try to ignore the conflict or expect someone else to fix it. Finally, when the conflict is just to much to ignore, they stop talking, they stop working together, and they explode in anger and unproductive behavior.
•	The opportunity for constructive conflict. When conflict is constructively managed, creative ideas are produce, long-lasting resolutions are agreed upon because I take personal, face-to-face responsibility for my choices and am involved and committed to the outcome.
•	The opportunity to discuss real issues & interests. When we're in conflict we don't know how to discuss issues. I get stuck in my position, my solution. CMC will help you move from your positions to your interests, creating the opportunity for genuine resolution.
•	An alternative approach for dealing with many conflicts that are unlikely to find an adequate resolution in the courts, the HR department, avoidance, or the police station.
•	The opportunity to genuinely resolve conflicts. Life doesn't come in "one-size-fits-all". Everyone and every situation is different. Shouldn't conflict resolution provide us with the individuality needed, with resolutions that work for each of us?

CMC provides mediation for the following types of conflict

•	Land use issues. We work regularly with developers & neighborhoods, complex infill, historic preservation, and many other challenging project opportunities.
•	Citizen-Police complaints. We're a national leader in providing mediation for citizen complaints against the police, resulting in the best satisfaction rates in the country.
•	Groups. We facilitate complex taskforce groups, neighborhood association conflicts, planning sessions, and other multi-party situations.
•	Community conflict. Maybe it is two neighbors fighting over barking dogs, loud stereo's or parked cars. Maybe it is a block of unhappy people, a homeowner association, or community. We'll mediate it!
•	Workgroup disputes. CMC mediates with teams and workgroups in conflict, large or small. We do this in a confidential and forthright manner focusing on issues and finding resolution. We'll help you stop the unresolved conflict productivity drain.

"CMC - Helping People Talk to People"