Blog Archives

Eye-Opening First Weeks at The Conflict Center

By
Eye-Opening First Weeks at The Conflict Center

By Joseph Do As a first-year social work student from Metropolitan State University of Denver, I am required to do a field internship, which I have started at The Conflict Center. I am excited to get started and contribute to our community. My first weeks at The Conflict Center have been busy and eye opening. So much is here! A team of staff and volunteers with years of experience. People to help and issues to address. A toolbox of programs, techniques, and approaches to use, including emotional intelligence, critical decision making, and restorative justice. Beyond the theories, actual practice in communication and conflict resolution. What inspires me most are the stories–especially the ones that bring a tear to my eye–because of the compassion, generosity, and gratitude of people. One of the facilitators describes how a belligerent teen after three classes turned around and thanked him for helping her to communicate with her family. I hear about a teacher driving at-risk students to school to help them attend and succeed. Even in a book I am reading about restorative discipline is a simple yet poignant gesture: I encountered a lunchtime problem in a classroom for elementary children receiving behavior support. I was

Read more »

Executive’s Perspective: The Inclusiveness Project

By
Ron_Ludwig

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

Read more »

Research Notes: Practice Makes Peaceful

By
Current Directions

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 »

Flexing Your Emotional Muscle In The Workplace

By
Flexing Your Emotional Muscle In The Workplace

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 »

Conflict Resolution Month – October 2012

By
Conflict Resolution Month – October 2012

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 Rita Hyland at Rita@RitaHylandConsulting.com for further details and to volunteer.   We stand ready to assist you in your endeavor.  We can provide

Read more »

The Value of Our Volunteers

By
The Value of Our Volunteers

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 »

A Lesson on Empathy From Playground Conflict Managers

By

By Melissa Drews One of my roles as a Conflict Center intern is to shadow and supervise the Playground Conflict Managers at a particular elementary school in the Denver area. Playground Conflict Managers (PCM’s), who are mostly 5th and 6th graders, take time out of class (per teacher permission) to assist and mediate in solving conflicts younger students have during recess. All PCM’s I’ve worked with so far this year have impressed me with their enthusiasm and desire to help their younger peers out. But one student in particular, due to his admirable skill set, has challenged my preconceived notions about young boys his age. In the middle of recess, a kindergarten boy walked over to the two PCM’s, reporting that he had been pushed down by another boy, but he wasn’t exactly sure who had done it. Both of the PCM’s were very responsive to the boy, asking if he was hurt, whether he knew who had done it, and so on. But what impressed me is that one PCM in particular went out of his way to show concern and help the kindergartener feel safe. When talking to the younger boy, the PCM put his arm around his shoulder and talked to him gently

Read more »

Cultural diversity

By

by Lorena Garcia April 2007 Cultural diversity and competency is often a vague and sometimes controversial topic.  But what is it?  Is it possible to achieve cultural competency, or is it something we must constantly strive to meet? The word diversity means differences and variations.  I believe there is much more involved than this presence of variations, and differences.  I recently spoke in a cultural diversity class for Masters Students at the University of Northern Colorado.  Needless to say, all the students in the class were Caucasian. These students were adamant that they did not have a culture. If this group, all very different in their own right did not think they had a culture, who were they?  How did they identify themselves?  I asked them questions about their hobbies, family traditions, likes, dislikes. I pointed out their style differences; glasses, hats and those who had blond hair or brown.  I asked them where their last names originated from.  Many had Irish, Scottish, German or English names.  “Do these countries have Culture?” I asked them.  After some thought, a voice from the back replied, “Yes.” Cultural competency is the embrace of diversity.  This is an acceptance and respect for those

Read more »

Ever Needed a Vacation from your Vacation?

By

July 2007 With the arrival of spring and preview of summer, many families are planning their vacation activities. A change in routine can bring adults, parents, kids and teachers some much needed relief.   It will also bring conflict. Remember that there is both good and bad stress associated with vacation time. The good stress (known as eu-stress) is the kind that keeps you from sleeping the night before a trip; it motivates us to plan ahead and reconfirm all of our arrangements. The other stress happens when things don’t go as planned or negative events occur…such as car trouble or discord with a relative or longtime friend. Here is our simple R-E-L-I-E-F plan (a jump start to brainstorming) to make your next vacation more like a true vacation:  R- Realistic: Be realistic in your summer and vacation planning. Try not to take on too many activities. If this is a pattern for you, cut back your schedule by one third to one half. E- Expect some conflict: Talk with your family or travel mates in advance about how you can manage differences on your trip. Remind folks along the way to stop and brainstorm solutions when they get stuck. With

Read more »

“Why They Kill” by Richard Rhodes

By

A book review by Tiffany Plumley July 2007 Violence is a part of our world. Some would even argue that it is simply a part of life. When we hear of stunning and horrific acts of violence, the tendency is often to explain it as “senseless,” “random,” and “inexplicable.” But if we believe these descriptions, then we also have to accept that violence can’t be predicted or prevented. Research today indicates that there are many contributing factors to violence. Some of the most popular are poverty, lack of education, emotional instability, history of abuse and overexposure to violence. The problem with this research though, is that it does nothing to truly explain and predict violence. When we look at statistics, we find that most people who grow up in poverty, who do not have access to adequate education do NOT actually go on to become violent people! The argument could be made, then, that perhaps it’s not mental instability, drug abuse, or having a violent parent that causes someone to become violent. Perhaps we’re asking the wrong questions! Perhaps there’s another, outside influence that could better explain the origin and predictability of violence. In his book Why They Kill, Richard

Read more »