Congressman Cleaver Joins the Peace Party

“Yes, he is in town!”  The e-mail came from Congressman Cleaver’s assistant, Holly Jenkins, regarding an appointment Diane Kyser and I had to meet with the Congressman. 

Several days before, Ms. Jenkins contacted me to say there was a chance he would be called to Washington for a House vote on the Continuing Resolution to provide funding for the Federal Government.  Shutdown averted, we were able to spend a valuable 45 minutes with him and Kaeanna Wood, his Community Liaison who specializes in grants and education issues.

Three years ago, with the help of Congressman Cleaver, the Community Mediation Center (CMC) received a grant from the Edward R. Byrne Discretionary Fund to do Conflict Resolution and Bullying Prevention Training in schools.  This meeting was our opportunity to let him know that over 3,200 Kansas City area children and youth had interacted with conflict resolution specialists from CMC.  We wanted to thank him for his support and to look for ways to continue our work in schools.

In response to our stories about seeing the transforming effects of Restorative Justice, which involves face to face encounters to clear up misunderstandings, invoke self-responsibility and make a plan to move forward, Congressman Cleaver said, “I am fully on board with the Restorative Justice Concept and will support your work any way I can”.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet an intelligent, intense and compassionate example of leadership. Despite the many challenges he faces, Congressman Cleaver is dedicated to finding ways to provide conflict resolution assistance and training for the children and youth of Kansas City.  Welcome to the Peace Party!

You are invited!  CMC offers Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Training for adults.  Learning to manage daily conflict in peaceful ways is life-changing.  The next training is scheduled for March 2012.  Contact CMC to register.

 

Visual Storyteller Joins the Peace Party

Rob Hatem with 'Harmony'

“It’s the most fun assignment I’ve had all year!”  Rob Hatem calls himself a ‘visual storyteller’, evidenced by the five paintings he recently produced for the Community Mediation Center (CMC).  Along with a PEACE message, Rob used detail and humor to create an experience for the viewer. 

The first page of the PEACE calendar, showing the last three months of 2011, hangs on the wall in front of me.  The picture shows a blue Earth, a dove with an olive branch and a caption, “A BIG OL’ OLIVE BRANCH FOR A PLANET IN BIG NEED OF PEACE”.  What draws my attention is the expression on the dove’s face, hopeful, with a hint of worry.

Rob’s first contact with the work of CMC was through a conflict style profile course he took earlier this year.  He says he appreciates the learning he gained from the class and, when I approached him with the idea of the calendar, was very interested in contributing in some way to the work we do.

Rob’s favorite piece is one he calls ‘HARMONY’.  Inspired by childhood years of brothers and sisters taking piano lessons, Rob envisioned a circular piano with a widely diverse group of musicians, all ages, all colors, their body language stating that they are playing for all they’re worth.  Of this piece Rob says, “I’d love to build a piano like that”, and with his gift of art, he has.

This project was underwritten by Sounding House, a qualitative market research firm and CMC partner.  All proceeds from sales of the calendar go toward the conflict resolution work CMC does with children, youth, adults, families and neighborhoods.

Rob Hatem is a gifted local artist, contributing to a shared goal, a society where all address their differences in just and peaceful ways.  Welcome to the Peace Party!

You are invited:  Contact CMC for your own 15 month PEACE calendar, Oct. 2011 – Dec. 2012, or buy several for gifts!  Visit our website, CMC, stop in or call the office 816-461-8255.