



Section:
Program Areas
Benefits of Peer Mediation & Conflict Resolution
Gang Intervention
Youth Peacemakers Club
For Teens
Social Networking
Youth Newsletter
Youth Pictures
Youth Events
Program Areas
- Peer Mediation (ages 12 to 18): This onsite 16-hour course trains young people how to mediate issues between their peers so they can become active participants in the peacemaking efforts within their environment. A peer mediation program can be established at Middle and High Schools, Community Organizations and Neighborhood Recreational sites. Our training includes onsite program implementation whenever appropriate to ensure program sustainability.
- Peace Corner (ages 5 to 11): A Peace Corner is a space within a classroom or recreational area designed specifically for conflict resolution. This onsite 8-hour training teaches children how to use the peace corner effectively to help themselves as well as their peers resolve conflict issues in a peaceful way. A Peace Corner can be established at Elementary Schools, After-School Programs and Neighborhood Recreational sites.
- Conflict Resolution Workshop (all ages): Our customized conflict resolution workshops deal with topics such as conflict styles, communication skills, brainstorming techniques, diversity, mentoring and parent-teen relationships. They usually last between 1 to 2 hours and can be taught independently of each other, depending on your organization’s specific needs.
- Gang Prevention & Intervention: Unmanaged youth conflict can increase the risk of substance abuse, gang-related activity, dropout levels, and low self-esteem among youth. We are currently working in Virginia Beach -- holding workshops that target youth that have displayed gang-related activity. These workshops help youth realize the decisions they make, how they can mend broken family relationships, and realize actions that can help them obtain their goals. These workshops are also accompanied by family mediations, in hopes to improve family communication and repair family relationships.
- Developing Youth Peacemakers - Staff Workshop: This onsite 3-hour course trains staff how to implement peer mediation and peace corner programs at their organization. The course includes the latest information on how to best engage and empower young people to become part of the peacemaking process in their community.
- Conflict Resolution & Anger Management Training : Our Conflict Resolution & Anger Management Training, which is held in Virginia Beach, teaches young people ages 12-18 how to develop strong conflict resolution and mediation skills. Our training is interactive and based on the specific needs of referred youth. Skills taught include: definition of conflict and violence, individual conflict styles, listening skills, I-messages, paraphrasing, dealing with anger, identifying personal needs and stress management.
How does mediation training benefit youth?
- Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation teach kids that it is possible to develop positive and powerful relationships with others, instead of violent and coercive ones. Meaningful relationships are based on honest and clear communication, not on power!!!
Peer Mediation trainers become positive role models in the lives of kids who often don’t have a trusted adult to lean on. The ability to trust is essential for kids to develop in a healthy manner.
- Peer Mediation training emphasizes the positive aspects of kids – their ability to make good choices, their capacity to empathize with their peers and their desire to live in an environment where conflict is dealt with in a peaceful manner, instead of using violence.
- Peer Mediation training teaches kids not to be simple observers in life, but actual contributors who can truly make a difference in the world! Therefore, peer mediation training offers kids an opportunity to become an active member of society!
Click here to read what one client says about using Peer Mediation!
Why should you want a conflict resolution program?
Did you know that almost 30% of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both? According to the University of Virginia, 100,000 students carry a gun to school and 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month. In one local high school, CMC's records show that 49% of students said they have used physical violence to solve a conflict, that 35% do not feel safe in their school and 51% see violence more than once a week at their school
Think about the last fight you or your teen had...it probably wasn't that long ago. Rumors, name calling, threats, and issues dealing with personal property are just some of the common causes of conflict among young people. Unless these disagreements are resolved, conflicts build with harmful consequences such as hurt feelings, lost friends, or more serious violence. Peer mediation is a process that helps reduce conflicts and fighting. It is an option you can choose instead of name calling, yelling, or letting conflicts grow until they explode into violence. Communities with Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Programs find they have fewer conflicts. When conflicts do occur they are usually resolved more quickly and more easily. Another plus is the more positive, productive, and more peaceful atmosphere.
How does conflict resolution work?
- Trained mediators help peers work out their differences for a Win/Win Situation!
- Peer mediators guide the process.
- An atmosphere of communication and cooperation brings mutual respect, which is another building block for a strong community.
- A mediator is NOT a judge and does not take sides in the argument. Rather, they keep information confidential, remain neutral, and help those in conflict come to an agreement.
Gang Intervention
Community Mediation Center is the only non-city agency involved in Virginia Beach's Changes Program - Gang Prevention & Intervention. Our Gang Intervention partnership with Virginia Beach includes a 24 week program, and the program has been offered 3 times.
Before entering the program, the teens are recommended by a community member, judge or probation officer. Then they participate in a screening process to asses their interest and commitment, and to get their parent(s) involved. Through the program they participate in workshops & they also have the opportunity to do a parent-teen mediation, aimed at repairing broken trust, damaged relationships.
The teens learn about anger, conflict styles, and spend a lot of time trying to understand why they need to change their current life path, identifying what’s missing in their lives, and preparing themselves for success in the next few weeks as they learn how to change.
We are so proud of the participants. Here are our most recent results!
- 100% of kids who just completed the program felt it made a significant positive difference in their lives
- 100% of kids stated their gang activity had completely stopped, even if they still talk/hang out with the same group of people in their neighborhood
- 100% are currently enrolled in school (or GED program) and doing better than they were before they started the program
- 100% of kids state they learned how to handle conflict in positive ways, and feel better prepare to deal with problems
- 100% of kids state they have a better relationship with their mothers than before program started
- 1 young man now plans to become a parole officer, so he can help others that might find themselves in the same situation he was in before the program
- 100% of kids would recommend the program to others
Youth Peacemakers Club
The program is open to all high school students in Hampton Roads. If you have completed peer mediation training through your high school, then you are automatically enrolled. If you have not, then just send us an email and we will get you signed up!
Teens should know...
- We don't always create the conflicts that enter our lives, but we can always choose how to respond to those conflicts.
- Good listening skills are important! Remember to keep eye contact, listen without interrupting, avoid giving your opinion or criticizing the person you are listening to, and always validate the person's feelings.
- Make a commitment not to contribute to violence in any way. Do not bully, tease, or spread negative gossip about others. Respect others and value differences. Try to broaden your social circle to include others who are different from you.
- Learn about ways to resolve arguments and fights without violence and encourage your friends to do the same. Many schools, churches, and after school programs offer training in conflict resolution skills.
Social Networking
Join us on MySpace
Join us on Facebook (log in and search for Jesse Peacemaker)
Check our Future Calendar of Events
Newsletter
Virginia Conflict Resolution Center Youth E-Newsletter
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| VCRC Youth E-Newsletter |
November 2009 |
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http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=123467&id=711844498&l=1880075442
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Greetings!
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter each month. We have so much good news and great events going on at the Virginia Conflict Resolution Center and we want to make sure that you don't miss out.
Again, as a note: We recently changed our name from the Community Mediation Center to the Virginia Conflict Resolution Center. This was to encompass all that we do here at the Center. However, we are still just as active as before and now even more equipped to provide the best conflict resolution services to individuals, youth, families and the community.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns and enjoy the rest of this good read!
All the best,
Mimi Mitchell
Youth Services Coordinator
Youth E-Newsletter Writer |
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Past Events
The Creative Clash @ Children's Harbour
November 18th We visited Children's Harbour in Norfolk, an afterschool center to bring them the Creative Clash Program - Resolving Conflict through the Arts. The kids in the program had a chance to learn what conflict is, different conflict styles they may have as well as what they can do when they are having a conflict. They were read a story about a conflict and identified themselves with this conflict through drawing and coloring.
Neighborhood & Community Clean Up
November 21st
Many volunteers came out to help us "keep norfolk beautiful" this holiday by "Giving Thanks to our Environment". For 3 hours, volunteers gave their time to help pick up trash, rake leaves, pull weeds and plant flowers in the peace garden. We want to thank our volunteers for all their hard work and dedication during this event!
Granby HS Crisis Training
November 16th- December 2nd
Recently, some of the students from Granby HS engaged in a physical altercation that resulted in them not being allowed to attend school. We were right there in the thick of it all. To help these youth as well as their families, we offered a Crisis Training, 26 hours, over several days. The students attended all of their workshops as well as their parents attending a 3 hr training. The training was much more extensive and thoroughly went over skills and techniques for anger and stress management, conflict resolution and communication skills. The students were also introduced lightly into mediation and once all workshops were fulfilled, could return back to school. They truly seemed to learn the skills and were receptive to using the techniques in the future. |
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Upcoming Events
Conflict Resolution & Anger Management Workshop
December 3, 10 & 17 6-8pm
We just had to fit one more in before the year is out! Students who participate in this training will gain valuable skills. They learn techniques to handle anger and stress as well as listening and communication skills. At the end of the training, they recieve a certificate acknowledging their completion. If you are interested or would like your youth to participate, please contact Mimi Mitchell, Youth Services Coordinator - 757-480-2777 maerinem@conflictcrushers.org.
MLK DAY - Week of Service Events January 18 - 23
Volunteer/Be Involved Opportunities
Health Fair @ Park Place Community Center
In conjunction with YMCA Community Services we are having a health fair. Come learn about health, health related issues and techniques to upkeep your fitness and wellness. If you would like to be a vendor or just want more information, please contact Mimi Mitchell, maerinem@conflictcrushers.org.
Open Mic Poetry Nite @ Virginia Wesleyan College
Come celebrate the arts and Speak Your Peace! What does Peace mean to you? We are hosting an Open Mic Night in honor of the arts and MLK Day. If you would like to volunteer with this event or speak some poetry, please contact Mimi Mitchell, maerinem@conflictcrushers.org.
A Day with the Elderly
How cool is it to learn and make a difference? Spend some hours making a difference in the lives of the elderly. In conjunction with The Hampton Senior Center, we will be volunteering and helping run the senior center for a day. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mimi Mitchell, maerinem@conflictcrushers.org
Conflict Resolution Training & Peace Pledge
What better way to honor Dr. King's teachings of nonviolence than to have a day where we learn peaceful ways to handle conflicts and problems and take a pledge to live a peaceful life and use peaceful means. In partnership with the Youth Council of Suffolk's Office on Youth, we will have a Youth Symposium, where the students will learn conflict resolution skills, take a peace pledge and perform a service project of their choice. If you would like to volunteer or be a part of this event, please contact MImi Mitchell, maerinem@conflictcrushers.org.
MLK Oratorical and Peace Stamp Contest
Martin Luther King Jr. was an eloquent speaker. It was a talent that was very valuable to him and is very valuable to our youth as well. For this event, co-sponsored by Youth Matter America, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth, Youth will give speeches they made on how Dr. King's teachings have influenced them and more. Younger students will engage in a design of a MLK Peace Stamp, which will be imprinted on a t-shirt displayed at the event. If you would like to volunteer to help this event or know someone who would like to be a part of the contest, please contact Mimi Mitchell, maerinem@conflictcrushers.org. The contest is open to students grades 3 through college. |
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Internship Opportunities
Are you looking for an internship? Do you have a large amount of hours you need to fulfill? Are you looking for a place where you can learn valuable skills and make a difference? Then, we are the place for you!
The Virginia Conflict Resolution Center is currently looking for interns to fill our Youth Services Department. We currently have several positions open to fit students of different majors.
If you are a Communications or Marketing major and enjoy helping the community, our
Street Team Intenship is the right choice. You and the rest of the team will be a visual representative for the center, engaging in outreach activities as well as direct service, community activities.
If you are an art major, or have any interest in art, then being our Creative Clash Intern is the right choice for you. The Creative Clash is a program we offer to afterschool programs working with youth aged 8-12, teaching basic conflict resolution skills and adding art activities.
If you are a music major, love concerts or have some experience in fundraising, our
Rock for Peace Internship is the right choice. Rock for Peace is a concert for youth aimed at promoting peace and noviolence. The money raised will go directly towards sustaining our youth programs.
If you are interested in any of these internships opportunities or more, please contact:
Jason Clevenger,
Youth Services Director, 757-480-2777,
jasonc@conflictcrushers.org.
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World Conflict Resolution News
According to Kids Health.org, although it may not seem that way, violence in schools, particularly crime involving physical harm, has steadily decreased in U.S. schools since the early 1990's. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fewer than 1% of all homicides among school-age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school.
The vast majority of students will never experience violence at school or in college.
Some of this is due to school curriculum changes. Lessons on conflict resolution have been added to many schools' courses to help prevent troubled students from resorting to violence. Peer counseling and active peer programs (such as conflict resolution and peer mediation) help students become more aware of the signs that a fellow student may be becoming more troubled or violent and the tools and techniques to use in a conflict situation. |
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FOLLOW US ON MYSPACE
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The Virginia Conflict Resolution Center
586 Virginian Drive
Norfolk, VA 23505
(757) 480-2777
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Virginia Conflict Resolution Center | 586 Virginian Drive | Norfolk | VA | 23505
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