Community Mediation Concepts

Mediating Community Conflict

Here's where we began, over a decade ago. We initially contracted with the City of Denver to resolve neighbor-to-neighbor issues. Simple things like barking dogs, trash, property lines, drainage, parties, kids, foxes, pigeons, driveways, landscaping, fences, home businesses, parked car, the changing complexion of block composition, noise, HOA issues, etc. Simple things - RIGHT!

Now we contract with a number of municipalities; Denver, Westminster, Thornton and from time to time others. We receive our referrals from individuals who hear about us, Neighborhood Associations, City Departments, the Police, Individual City Council members, Neighborhood Inspections, the Mayor's Office, one neighbor who has a complaint against another neighbor, etc.

Mediation is . . . a communication process managed by a trained professional mediator who will encourage and empower people in conflict to meet together, identify their issues and interests and to resolve their disagreements in a cooperative manner.

•	Effective because it is solution based, and saves time, money and is successful.
•	Focuses on real interests and issues. Too often we approach the situation with our list of what we don't like. Our "if-you'd-just-do-it-my-way-we-wouldn't-have-a-problem" mindset. We don't know how to talk about the real issues in a constructive manner. CMC's professional mediators help people talk about the real issues and find lasting solutions.
•	Creativity is sparked. The best solutions don't always fit within someone else's boxes or preconceived ideas. You have the chance to step back and honestly consider a wide range of solutions in an environment that is safe, confidential, voluntary and convenient. You get to try the ideas on before you buy them. There is no better way to find resolution to the conflict in front of you.
•	People take personal responsibility. They are empowered to discuss and search for their own solutions, the solutions they know will work best, rather than just complaining and expecting someone else to fix it for them. And in the end to make decisions they are comfortable making. Personal responsibility = personal satisfaction.
•	Better communication tools for the future. We'll give you a chance to see how to communicate through conflict and to practice. We'll talk about what you're going to do when we are gone and the two of you are living next to each other. Mediation provides an opportunity for you to discover that conflict can be constructive.

Constructive Conflict? Hard to Believe, but . . .
•	Better ideas are produced when we are pushed out of our comfort zone and required to think of collaborative solutions.
•	We're forced to look for new approaches.
•	We're asked to think about and clarify our positions and what is really important to each of us.
•	Tension and conflict stimulated interest and activity.
•	We have the opportunity to test our capacity.

Who Should Mediate?
•	Do you have an ongoing relationship, whether you want one or not. Do you live next to each other?
•	Is it important for both of you to find resolution that is acceptable, lasting and reasonable for the situations you find yourself in?
•	Maybe it really isn't the responsibility of your city of enforce. Or maybe the problem never changes, not matter who you call.

We don't see things the same way, but we live in the same community. Mediation preserves relationships. It is all about "Helping People Talk to People".