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Peter Adler: Background of Ho'oponopono - Video (7/02/10)
Peter Adler Peter Adler describes the meaning of "Ho'oponopono," the practice in native Hawaiian culture that helps to restore harmony and normality among family members, extended families.
Millennials, The New Decision Makers (5/10/10)
Steve Mehta Yesterday, I had a conversation with a District Attorney (DA)who was about my age, about his shock at a new DA who wanted to lead the entire homocide unit within 3 years, and he expected to get a homocide case straight out of law school. (This was a shock to my friend because you have to at least been with the DA’s office at least 6 years before you are assigned a homocide, and have to first do misdeameanors to cut your teeth.) This discussion got me thinking about the Millennial generation — the Generation after GenX. This generation has started to grow and get into the work force, and I have been increasingly thinking about how to interact with such generation. In communicating with each person, you must take them individually, but you can also learn lessons on how to adapt to that person’s style if you wish to have better communications. As negotiators, you have to be able to understand the audience so that you can present better to them.
Nina Meierding: Cultural Sensitivity while Training - Video (5/07/10)
Nina Meierding Nina Meierding discusses her approach to mediation training in other countries. This involves being culturally sensitive, not imposing the Western model as it may not be useful for other cultures and their ways of problem-solving.
Women In ADR With A Wake Up Sound Track (4/19/10)
Victoria Pynchon Anyone who's known me for more than twenty minutes will realize the soundtrack to this Women in ADR video is a very very good sign that I'm regaining my sense of humor without losing my commitment to this issue. Rock on . . .
Praying People And Conflict Resolution (4/12/10)
Lester L. Adams This article is written to allow “praying people” to see the role and importance of continual prayer in helping us settle our differences with each other as we walk through different steps of the conflict resolution process.
Culture And Conflict Resolution (3/29/10)
John Folk-Williams Stephanie West Allen recently posted an informative article at Brains on Purpose on neuroscience research about the ways in which brains of people in different cultures function in distinctive ways. References to her own earlier posts, especially What’s Universal in Mediation, as well as the work of Geert Hofstede on cultural difference are well worth exploring.
May I Now Introduce John And Jane Doe And Other Sexist References We Still Make (3/29/10)
Steve Mehta Since March is National Women’s History Month, I thought it would be interesting to add a small contribution to the information regarding gender differences. Vickie Pynchon has been dedicating this month in her blog to writing about gender bias that continues to exist in the profession. Her theme has been to show that bias can be demonstrated in many ways in which we may not think about. Well another example of that potential bias is in the way we identify names. Think of the traditional introduction in a wedding. I now introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. Well a recent study shows that putting male names before female names in writing is a remnant of sexist thinking. This is the finding of a study published in the British Journal of Social Psychology by Dr Peter Hegarty and colleagues of the University of Surrey.
Nina Meierding: Gender and Culture in Mediation - Video (3/17/10)
Nina Meierding Nina Meierding explains putting theory to practice regarding studies of gender and culture in mediation. She describes being sensitive and respectful of diverse thought processes and communication methods.
Gender Bias in ADR (3/08/10)
Diane J. Levin, Victoria Pynchon This is the list of blog postings compiled by Diane Levine and Victoria Pynchon on Gender Bias in ADR which have been posted in celebration of International Women's Day and Women's History Month.
Update On Gender Diversity In The Judiciary And In ADR (3/08/10)
When I posted Negotiating Gender: Why So Few Women Neutrals? I had not yet found a source for the statistical representation of women neutrals on the American Arbitration Association Panel. I've now located an article on the AAA website from December 18, 2006 stating that women then made up 13% of AAA's national roster of neutrals.
Combating Implicit Gender Bias in ADR (3/08/10)
Victoria Pynchon Now you know the disappointing statistics. As women have populated the Bench, justice has become more privatized, lessening the benefits of diversity to those whose disputes lead them to Court; to arbitration panels and associations; or, to mediation panels.
Negotiating Gender: The Old White Men Speak (3/08/10)
Victoria Pynchon And they do so in favor of diversity. See commercial arbitrator and mediator F. Peter Phillips' November 2006 National Law Journal article: ADR Continental Drift: It remains a while, male game. I promised prescriptions for change and here are a few sent to me by Peter Phillips this morning. Peter was, as I am now, a member of the CPR Diversity Committee.
Diversity, Bias, Gender, And Race In ADR: A Hard Fight To Level The Playing Field (3/08/10)
Diane J. Levin As I was getting ready for the start of the mediation training I was teaching, one of the participants, just arrived, approached me to tell me to get him a cup of coffee. Despite my power suit and the flip chart markers in my hand, he had mistaken the lead trainer for a member of the support staff.
Negotiating Prejudice At U.C. San Diego (3/01/10)
Victoria Pynchon As the New York Times reports this morning, things are not going well at my old alma mater. Shades of my late-60's, early '70's campus life, students have actually "occupied" the Dean's office even though the trigger for the racial dust-up was not University policy but the activities of a few dunderheaded frat boys who staged a "Ghetto Night" to "mock" Black History Month.
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