Update Report: Community Mediation Services

2010: In July, 2009, Commuity Mediation merged with Volunteers of America Northern New England (VOANNE). The Board of Directors became an Advisory Board, with new members added and a new Program Director, Nancy Markowitz was hired. Since that time, Community Mediation has began offering the 40 hour mediation training twice, added new Mediators to the roster and presented workshops, mediations, town facilitations, strategic planning sessions to meet its mission. 

Here’s what we heard from our stakeholders:

• Mediation works.

  • It brings people together to find common ground.

  • People are empowered to solve their own problems.

  • It saves time and money, as compared with the legal process.

  • Results last. Participants are more likely to follow an agreement they devise themselves, even over a court order. They carry what they learn in the process into their future lives.

• CMS does good (mediation & facilitation) work.

• We need to make Mediation more appreciated and utilized with greater frequency.

• There are MANY needs & opportunities for community mediation services.

• CMS needs to always continue to grow, and diversify its funding base, to meet these needs.

The need and focus of CMS needs to emphasize:

• Outreach/Advocacy

  • Working to raise the visibility & utilization of mediation

  • Strengthening collaborations with natural allies

  • Promoting CMS as a resource to those who won’t otherwise have access

  • Expanding the capacity to respond to the resulting demand

• Assertive intervention

  • Continue to offer current services, plus

  • Adding the capacity to anticipate -- and offer assistance -- when their are community conflicts that mediation/ facilitation can help

  • Teach folks to better resolve their conflicts

• Mediator Development

  • Continue to provide mediators who have completed training with “seat time” -- on-the-job training, teamed with more seasoned mediators

  • Expand the availability of mediation opportunities

  • Expand specialized (USDA/other) trainings

  • Expand opportunities for continuing education & peer support

To continue our good work...

• The core of our funding (and work) is our agricultural mediation program, and we can do only as much “community” mediation as excess capacity, one small grant, and individual contributions can support.

• The good news is that volunteers do our mediations. Our roster of talented volunteers keeps growing and we now do our own 40 hour mediation training.  

How can you help, you ask?

• Contribute financially to help us meet our needs and fulfill our mission. Contributions can be mailed to: Voluteers of America Northern New England (VOANNE) c/o CMS, 14 Maine Street Suite 301, Brunswick, ME 04011

• Join our Advisory Committee to help us meet our future goals. Nominations, including self-nominations, are welcome.

We thank you for all your past/current/future support!

Nancy Markowitz▪ Sanford Jorgensen ▪ Leslie Manning ▪Chris Wright

Mary Beth Paquette  ▪Gretchen Robbins ▪ Joann Schaladale ▪ Stiling Kendall