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Events News

Welcoming February with Mindfulness

Happy February everyone! It’s been a turbulent start to the year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but as vaccines are distributed and numbers begin to lower, it seems like there might be an end in sight. This is a reminder to go about each day with conscious understanding, a kind and open mind, and to live with compassion for yourselves and for others. This month we have an event on Thursday, Febuary 11th  from 10:00am to 11:30am on Zoom. It’s entitled “Aloha Response Call” and we will be hearing from speaker Pono Shim, a gifted storyteller who plans to share his leadership philosophies as well as offer opportunities to exercise your aloha muscle in order to help out our communities in need. We’d love to see you there! In the meantime, continue to promote peace within each of your lives. As Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh says, “If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace” Have a wonderful day!

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News Tips for Mediators Training

Aloha Response Call

Hawaiʻi State Judiciary • Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution Aloha Response Call  Speaker: Pono Shim CEO, Oahu Economic Development Board & Gifted Storyteller Presented in Partnership With:  Conflict Resolution Alliance (CRA); Hawaiʻi State Bar Association-ADR Section; Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution; and The Mediation Center of the Pacific  Zoom Meet-up • Feb. 11, 2021 • 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.  “The world will turn to Hawaii as they search for world peace because Hawaii has the key…And that key is Aloha!” –Auntie Pilahi Paki (treasured kupuna and author of the Aloha Spirit Law) During this time of imminent change, when words like unprecedented,existential, and challenge permeate social media and news headlines, the people of Hawaiʻi must rise to a call to aloha. Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes 5-7.5, “Aloha Spirit” obliges our leaders in state government to “contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the “Aloha Spirit” which is defined as “the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.” It is the kuleana of all residents of Hawaiʻi, and especially those of us who work in state and city and county government, policy-making, and the field of Conflict Resolution, to embrace and model this native Hawaiian working philosophy in our personal and professional lives. Join Pono Shim in a special Zoom session where he will share his leadership philosophies that are rooted in his knowledge of aloha passed to him from Auntie Pilahi Paki. Mr. Shim will steer participants to see the pressing social issues individuals, organizations, and communities face today, and offer participants an opportunity to exercise their aloha muscle at the core of these issues where the real work must be done. REGISTER:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AlohaResponseCall  Inquiries? Call: CADR (808) 539-4237 or email CADR@courts.hawaii.gov Speaker bio: Pono…

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Events News

The Value and Perils of Nonverbal Communication

Special Zoom Training Event The Value and Perils of Nonverbal Communication Hosted on Zoom by The Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution • In partnership with Conflict Resolution Alliance  Free and Open to the Public The Value And Perils Of Nonverbal Communication • Jan. 26, 2021 • 12 Noon – 2 PM Guest Trainer: Lisa Jacobs, Esq., Pono Divorce; Co-taught with Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution Trainer Anne Marie Smoke   REGISTER NOW Or, copy and paste the following link in your browser search box to register: https://courts-hawaii-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApf-uhqDgoH9x3jOjiQXd7npWz3LTiFKuS After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information or questions, please contact the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at (808) 539-4237, rather than simply replying to this message — Thanks! If you wish to request disability-related accommodations, or obtain directions, please email the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution  at cadr@courts.hawaii.gov or call the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution at 539-4237.   The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the speaker. Nor do the speakers’ remarks necessarily reflect the opinions of the Judiciary. We hope to see you there!

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Articles

3-2-1 Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone. The year 2020 brouht many challenges and made us all realize our true core and priorities in life. We are ready to start the brand new year to break walls and build bridges to foster peaceful and collaborative community strength. Wising you all a healthy year 2021 & hope to see you in person this year! Conflict Resolution Alliance

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News

How can a Collaborative Divorce help me and my spouse separate in a more cost-efficient, private, swift & peaceful manner?

Among life events causing the most stress and resulting medical illness, divorce ranks as second, only after death of one’s spouse holding the number one spot. Given this reality, if your marriage is beyond repair, you are faced with a stark choice. You can enter into the violent world of adversarial divorce—with its often long-term, extreme expense, and children-damaging results—or discover the more mindful and appropriate process called Collaborative Divorce to end your marriage in a more peaceful, cost-effective, private, and sustainable way.   The challenge for most people detaching from a marital relationship is to be able to peacefully process the emotional divorce rollercoaster. This rollercoaster consists of extreme feelings of loss, rejection, anger, fear, sorrow, insecurity and anxiety on the one hand, while often mixed with positive feelings of separating from your spouse. The Collaborative Divorce process helps couples separate with more mindfulness and clarity.   In the Collaborative Divorce process, the spouses and their respective Collaborative Attorneys all work together mindfully and appropriately to problem-solve and reach an agreement that meets the needs of everyone involved.  At the beginning of the Collaborative Divorce process, the spouses and their Collaborative Attorneys sign a contract committing to resolve all issues without resorting to litigation or threats of court intervention.  A Collaborative Divorce also addresses the financial issues and emotional rollercoaster, so the couple is highly encouraged to use a financial specialist and mental health professional whom expertly and efficiently support the family through the divorce process.   Additional advantages to the Collaborative Divorce process are that it is faster and more economical for complex divorces, particularly where considerable financial assets and children’s needs are involved.  All relevant information is shared in team meetings, transparently and in a timely manner, so the divorce moves forward swiftly and privately. Hawai’i litigated…

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Tips for Mediators

Conflict Resolution Alliance Annual Meetng Is This Friday!

We have a keynote speaker, Dr. Brian Jarrett*, presenting on “Integral Mediation”, at the annual meeting. We are gathering virtually to help you connect with fellow peacebuilders safely from the comfort of your home as all other events we have done since earlier this year. This is the first annual meeting since our organization became independent and changed the name to Conflict Resolution Alliance. We are excited to share what we could accomplish in our first year. We hope you can join us! In case you haven’t registered, below is the information: What: CRA Annual Meeting When: Friday, November 20, 2020 3pm – 5pm (Hawai’i Time) Where: Via Zoom Register at https://annual.eventbrite.com Please see CRA2020AnnualMeetingFlyerAndAgenda for more information. *About the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Brian Jarrett is a Professor and Chair of the Department on Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, & Peacebuilding Program at California State University Dominguez Hills. Dr. Jarrett is a lawyer and professional mediator and arbitrator in both the United States and Canada. He also holds a Ph.D. in Sociology. His interests include Mediation, Arbitration Dispute Systems Design (DSD), Restorative Practices and Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ). In recent years he has originated work in Integral Mediation, which promotes interdisciplinary practices in mediation. His practice ranges from work with local communities to international organizations. In both his written work and classroom teaching, Professor Jarrett works to bridge theory and practice in the field of Dispute Resolution. Dr. Jarrett’s talk will be about the sociological aspects, and how the professions and guilds are shaped, and how mediation is subject to some of these “forces” as a “field”. Will discuss the field theory of sociology by Pierre Bourdie.  

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Articles Events News

Local Organizations Aim to Shift the Buzz from Bad News to Good Deeds

With the 5:1 Kindness Challenge Commemorates Annual Intl. Conflict Resolution Day October 15, 2020 The Conflict Resolution Alliance (CRA) and four partnering organizations are asking the Hawaiʻi community to take a pledge of kindness—that is to perform five random acts of kindness each day for one month starting Oct. 15. Pledgers also commit to recognizing the kindness of others by posting videos or photos on social media that capture kind gestures happening around the community. The idea is to start a buzz about human goodness on social media, at the dinner table, or at the water cooler (at a safe distance of course) and to shift the collective focus away from the stories of disaster, destruction, and divisiveness we hear about in the news every day. There is science behind the challenge that shows how impactful one act of kindness can be. What separates healthy and happy relationships from miserable ones is a balance of positive to negative interactions. Think of it as a simple formula for building healthy relationships: It takes five positive interactions to make up for every one bad encounter you have with someone, a 5:1 ratio. Social psychologists call it the Golden Ratio. Even small simple kind gestures like a smile, a “thumbs-up” or holding a door open for someone can be banked for that one time your lesser angels take over. Beyond maintaining relationships, researchers from the University of Portland show that when we witness profound kindness our autonomic nervous system triggers an impulse to act altruistically toward others. This emotional state, called moral elevation, precipitates the urge to pay a kind act forward. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the 5:1 Kindness Challenge. By signing the pledge, participants also commit to spreading the word and getting at least one more person to pledge. The…

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Events Tips for Mediators Training Webinar

Celebrating International Conflict Resolution Day in October!

There are so many events scheduled in October in commemoration of Conflict Resolution Day, October 15, 2020. All events are done virtually, which gives us great opportunities to attend more events and connect with people from various parts of the world! Check out our events page for upcoming conflict resolution & peacebuilding events at https://www.crahawaii.org/events/.  

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Events News Training Webinar

Encore Presentation – “Indigenous Conflict Resolution: Practice and Integration”

Please join us for a special event that Conflict Resolution Alliance (CRA) is sponsoring! This will be an encore presentation of “Indigenous Conflict Resolution: Practice and Integration” followed by a live questions and answer via zoom with the speakers on Friday, October 23 from 12 PM to 2:30 PM Hawai’i time. This event has been approved by the Hawaiʻi State Board of Continuing Legal Education for 2 CLE credits (1 CLE credit hour and 1 Ethics credit hour). Register at https://indigenousconflict.eventbrite.com. Program Summary: Indigenous conflict resolution practices, including Hoʻoponopono and native peacemaking, have been used by both Native Hawaiian and Native American groups to address conflict in families and the greater community. A distinguished panel of legal academics, practitioners, and peacemakers will probe the possibilities and implications of integrating indigenous conflict resolution practices in the practice of law and the court system. Co-Sponsors: Hawaiʻi State Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Ku’ikahi Mediation Center, Matsunaga Institute for Peace, Maui Mediation Services, The Mediation Center of the Pacific, and West Hawai’i Mediation Center. Special Thank You: The Hawai’i State Judiciary Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, The King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, Native Hawaiian Bar Association, and ‘Ōlelo Community Media A copy of the event flyer is attached below.  For questions regarding event logistics, please contact us at info@crahwaii.org.  

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Articles

Reinventing Government: Solving Houselessness Through Partnering BY GERALD (JERRY) CLAY & ZOE PAYNE.

Sharing a White Paper of one of Conflict Resolution Alliance members, Jerry Clay, and Zoe Payne. Message from Jerry: Get informed and get involved below: if you like what you read, sign our petition and subscribe to stay updated on our progress and to find out how you can help us reinvent government. In order to solve houselessness, we must ensure every stakeholder–people experiencing being houseless, the nonprofit agencies working to assist them, the government, and citizens in communities who are impacted by houselessness–has a seat at the table when formulating a solution. This can be accomplished through a process called “Partnering.” In partnering, every stakeholder must attend a workshop designed to build a shared solution for the project. Workshop facilitators encourage the various parties to form relationships that act as a basis for collective brainstorming and problem-solving. At the end of the workshop, the group details their agreed-upon solutions in a document known as a “compact”–an aspirational agreement that provides specifics as to how the group will carry those ideas forward. Unlike our legal system, which assumes everyone coming into the system has access to the necessities of navigating it, partnering doesn’t require externalities like lawyers and paralegals or an in-depth understanding of law. Instead, it merely asks for participation, and its non-adversarial approach allows disparate groups to come together to problem-solve without concerns about power imbalances. It’s time government departments went through a partnering process with all groups both using and providing houseless services so that real solutions can happen together. I have been involved with partnering for over 20 years, and have worked with groups ranging from the Hawaii visitor industry to the Hawaii State Bar Association. To further explain how partnering is far better suited than our legal system for addressing civic problems, I will expand…

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