By Ron Ludwig, Executive Director Earlier this month, The Conflict Center participated in our final activity as part of the "Inclusiveness Project" with the Denver Foundation.  In 2010, The Conflict Center and nine other local nonprofits were funded by the Denver Foundation to participate in a two-year “Learning Community" designed to help our organizations become more ethnically and racially diverse and inclusive.  In addition to focusing on ethnic and racial dynamics, the Conflict Center also considered issues of gender and sexual identity.  While recognizing that creating a fully inclusive workplace is an ever-ongoing process, we are proud of the significant steps forward our organization has taken over the past two years: We established a Committee to guide the work of this project that was comprised of staff, board members and volunteers. The Committee hired a consultant to help guide the effort and to provide training for staff and the board. The Committee has identified key indicators to measure our efforts to becoming more diverse and inclusive. Almost half of our staff members have participated in the national “White Privilege Conference” to examine how the roles of privilege and power work in our national society. All staff members (including our training

Read more »

Conflict Resolution Month 2012 is off to a fantastic start!! The initial momentum captured the Senate and House on March 26, 2012 with the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 12-026!!   Sponsors:  Senator Linda Newell, SD 26 and Representative Robert Gardner, HD 21. That momentum will now travel throughout the State as we engage citizens in every community to think CONFLICT RESOLUTION!!    To this end, various communities and organizations will be sponsoring events in October that generate awareness of the resolution of conflict in a non-confrontational & meaningful fashion. We have many volunteers that have obtained Conflict Resolution Proclamations in their municipality, county, college, high school, etc.  in the past.  Each year we add to this burgeoning list of supporters.  Is YOUR Community supporting Conflict Resolution Month?   Would you be willing to approach your County Commissioner, City Council Member, Mayor, College Dean, etc. and ask them to support October as Conflict Resolution Month? For more information you can visit the web site at:   http://www.conflictresolutionmonth.org .  Conflict Resolution Month is also on FaceBook – Become a Friend!  You can contact Mary Bediz at marybediz@comcast.net or Rita Hyland at Rita@RitaHylandConsulting.com for further details and to volunteer.   We stand ready to assist you in

Read more »

By Nikki Sterling, Mentor Trainer & Organizational Consultant at The Conflict Center I instantly go numb whenever I hear someone in an organization explain the necessity of keeping emotions out of the workplace. Okay, let me back up . . . Emotions in the workplace are not the culprit.  Mismanaged emotions that get the better of us are instead what damages relationships and curbs an individual and team from progressing to the next level in efficiency.  This is where my pal just mentioned up above makes their statement.  In a sense they have evidence: failed teams, hurt feelings, and broken relationships.  Pretty good empirical evidence. But, of course, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Many of us lead and work in conflict-savvy organizations where the culture demands straight talk be coupled with emotions in order to gain better insight and creativity in reaching business results. However, again, not all of us are so lucky.  So, lets take a look on controlling the one variable we know we can ALWAYS control – ourselves.  Lets focus on flexing our “emotional muscle” by practicing self-control when we are triggered. AUTOMATIC STRESS RESPONSE = LACK OF BUSINESS RESULTS When someone encounters a challenge

Read more »

By Kevin LaPoint, PhD, Volunteer Courses taught by the Conflict Center are designed to empower individuals to regulate their own anger, mediate conflicts, and build better relationships with others. One of the most important skills we teach is self-awareness, which provides the basis for enhanced self-control when dealing with conflict.  For example, students in the center’s classes are taught to recognize how their body and emotions change in response to anger–to know their internal "temperature" during heated situations.  Being alert to when you’re losing control in an argument provides a crucial opportunity for individuals to take charge of themselves, begin “cool down” practices, and make healthier decisions. Psychological research has long demonstrated the link between an individual’s capacity for self-control and the tendency towards aggression.  Those with low self-control during charged confrontations are more likely to react with angry outbursts of verbal, emotional, and/or physical violence. Last month, three psychologists published a summary of multiple recent studies that provide new insights into the power of self-control.  In the March 2012 edition of "Current Directions in Psychological Science," Dr. Thomas F. Denson and his colleagues wrote that increasing an individual’s ability to self-regulate during non-conflict situations indirectly leads to improved self-control when ultimately facing conflict. According to Denson, almost everyone prefers to avoid violence.  Even those

Read more »

By Mitzi Hicks, Fund Development & Government Contracts Specialist As The Conflict Center’s interim Volunteer & Intern Manager, I was surprised and delighted to discover that April is Volunteer Appreciation month, a time that nonprofits all over the United States pause to express their appreciation for the efforts of volunteers. In 2011, The Conflict Center served 7,628 youth and adults across the Denver metro area, including over 6,500 youth in 13 schools, providing a total of 2,575 hours of service. Staff and contractor hours represent just 31% of the service hours delivered in 2011. So who stepped up to deliver the rest? That’s right: volunteers. In 2011, an astonishing 69% of service hours were provided by volunteers and interns. If not for our volunteers The Conflict Center would have provided less than a third of the services that we delivered last year. That’s huge! Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization, and at The Conflict Center volunteers are a priceless resource. They serve as classroom instructors, read to children through the Reading for Peace program, help with fundraising, special events, marketing, and general office support. There are numerous ways that volunteers can and do strengthen our organization. Independent Sector, an

Read more »