Mayor James Joins the Peace Party

Rik Siro, myself and Mayor James

Conflict is inevitable, violence is not.   Many of us know that an effective way to curb violence is through skilled, professional mediation.  Mediation has a long history in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO).  About 30 years ago, at the prompting of Kansas City resident Alvin Brooks, and with the support of city leaders, a mediation service was embedded into the KCMO Human Relations Department.  For many years, Rhonda Harris and other staff and volunteers served the city through their mediation services.  When the program was cut from the city budget two and a half years ago, the Community Mediation Center (CMC) began receiving those calls from KCMO residents.   Due to referrals from 311, the Housing Authority, City Hall, the Mayor’s office and other city offices, intake calls to CMC increased 60%.

A large percentage of cases that are referred to CMC prevent homelessness by working with landlords and tenants to keep people in their homes.  CMC is called to assist neighbors due to problems as complex as language and cultural differences and as straightforward as a barking dog or a leak in the ceiling.  Another common issue involves visitation and custody of children whose parents no longer live together.  All of these situations have the potential to become violent, yet almost all are solved through mediation with a plan to move forward in realistic and peaceful ways.  Although helping to solve these issues is time and labor intensive for CMC staff, most of the clients referred from KCMO are not able to pay the minimum $35 on a sliding fee scale.  Funds to sustain the services to families and neighborhoods have not been found.  Creative funding is absolutely necessary if mediation services are to remain available to those who need it most. 

Last week, CMC Board member Rik Siro and I met with Kansas City’s new mayor Sly James, and the ‘Community Mediation Champions’ Initiative was born.  Because he has been an attorney mediator for many years, Mayor James knows the value of community mediation in solving conflict, and a plan is emerging to encourage partnerships for financial support with private community leaders.  Mayor James gave us his full attention, asked pertinent questions and offered valuable suggestions and support. His dedication to reducing violence in Kansas City with the use of community mediation is apparent.  Finding ways to solve our conflicts in just and peaceful ways is a priority.  Welcome to the Peace Party!

You are invited!  Watch for an upcoming announcement about the ‘Community Mediation Champions’ Initiative.  Join CMC and Mayor James in working to insure that conflict resolution services are available to every KCMO citizen.

Avila Students Join the Peace Party

Victor, Felicia, Jennifer and Jenifer with Diane Kyser, CMC Co-Director

For a non-profit organization, discovering community partners is always a thrill. Recently, the Community Mediation Center (CMC) stumbled upon a team of five Organizational Development graduate students from Avila University. Following the first meeting, one of the students was heard to exclaim, “This is exactly like we read about in our text!”

What began as a required project for Jenifer Wilson, Victor Mrosso, Marcel Carter, Felicia Black and Jennifer Flemons, morphed into a collaborative adventure . The students brought newly acquired theory and general process capabilities to the table and CMC brought a desire to find expression for their passion for peace and justice through organizational re-vitalization. As we began working together, my belief in the power and creativity of diverse contributions and perspectives was affirmed.

The students observed an Executive Board meeting and a four hour mid-week Board Retreat. Then they conducted individual, qualitative interviews with board members as well as with CMC staff. The team also studied many of the written historical documents of the organization.

From their research and observations, the Avila students were able to craft recommendations for strengthening the Board of Directors – the foundation for the professional conflict resolution services that CMC brings to the Kansas City area.  By invitation from the blossoming MSOD (Master’s of Organizational Development) candidates, the Board of Directors has embarked on a new phase of leadership for CMC, with a clear intent to create a board pledge, review and re-affirm the by-laws and develop active committees.

When asked her thoughts about the project with CMC, Felicia Black stated, “Working with CMC has allowed me to believe in community again”. She went on to say that at CMC she found a group of professional, passionate people who are willing to put aside individuality in order to progressively work together to support the mission of peace building. These are five young people who care about contributing to the success of a not-for-profit peace building organization. Welcome to the Peace Party!

You are invited! Be open to opportunities in your relationships, families and organizations for all voices to be respectfully heard and valued.

Kansas City Police Officer Joins the Peace Party

Marti, Don and Officer Cooley

Over the lunch hour last Wednesday, three Community Mediation Center (CMC) staff members met with Officer Jason Cooley, at the Hardee’s on 24 Highway in Kansas City. Officer Cooley is the Community Interaction Officer for Kansas City’s East Patrol. East patrol is an area that sometimes experiences what is called ‘Black Out’, no police cars available to respond to calls for help, because of the high rate of crime. Officer Cooley’s job is to promote crime prevention and safety in neighborhoods through his active presence. He builds relationships with residents by providing security training, block watch training and self defense training for women. Environmental design, lighting, landscaping, and other options that involve thinking outside the box are considered as ways to help alleviate crime and the appearance of crime. His father, also a police officer, was a Community Interaction Officer for many years beginning in the mid 80’s. Peace building seems to run in their family.

This meeting was arranged to discuss Neighborhood Accountability Boards (NABs), a Restorative Justice concept that has been shown to reduce crime and violence in communities. NABs are a form of Victim-Offender Dialogue, which provides offenders, often juveniles, the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions, putting a human face on those they have harmed. Trained members of the NAB stand in for victims of crime and often state fear, confusion and disruption as consequences of the actions of offenders. Restitution is agreed upon by all affected parties, in an effort to put things as right as possible. One of the focuses for restitution is keeping offenders involved in their community in positive ways. Offenders are supported by their neighbors to follow through with obligations and agreements to make future choices that enhance community, for the safety and benefit of everyone.

CMC staff members Don Ivans and Marti Resch have been supporting citizens in the East Patrol area for three years, as part of a Neighborhood Action Team through Aim 4 Peace, an organization dedicated to helping communities ‘Stop the Shooting’. Officer Cooley has seen the consistent support from the staff at CMC, and believes in the principles of Restorative Justice.

Officer Cooley has taken the idea of Neighborhood Accountability Boards to his Captain, using an example of a community with an active NAB that has seen decreased crime. The next step is to identify a receptive Neighborhood Association in the East Patrol area, introduce the concept of Restorative Justice to them, and with Officer Cooley’s participation, train 10 or more residents in the NAB format, referral criteria and process expectations.

A Kansas City, Missouri police officer, who recognizes the necessity to build stronger and safer communities from WITHIN. Welcome to the Peace Party!

You are invited! Look for unusual ways to solve conflict, think outside the box.  Your important relationships, family, neighbors, co-workers, are worth extra effort and care.  Ask for help when you need it.

If you would like to support the work of the Community Mediation Center go to www.communitymediationkc.org.