In the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, I can’t think of a better time to evaluate how much of a part I play in the peaceful resolution of conflict or think of a better way to evaluate Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolence, than to discuss mediation. Mediation is a dispute resolution intervention tool used to resolve conflict. During intervention, a neutral party assists in facilitating a conversation between two or more disputing parties with the aim of finding a resolution.

 

All parties must decide if they are willing to participate in mediation because it is a voluntary process. The Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution (IMCR) is a mediation center that serves Bronx County. Such centers have been serving the New York City community for over fifty years. IMCR was the first mediation center in New York City, and the second mediation center in New York State. It is also home to New York State’s only certified Spanish speaking Basic Mediation Training trainer, Dr. Steven Slate, who serves as the executive director of the center.

 

IMCR has a diverse pool of mediators to serve the diverse communities in Bronx County. The center provides free mediation services and restorative justice practices, such as conflict coaching to name one. We mediate a wide range of issues, such as special education, workplace concerns, family (parent/child) situations, custody and visitation needs, small claims court matters, housing complaints (such as landlord- tenant, neighbors, roommates), child support modifications, etc.

 

Our center also has a program (Community Resolve) which collaborates with the Department of Probation to work with court-involved youth aged 16 and 17. This program works with youth to assist them in resolving any harm they may have caused. The center also gives fee-based trainings on anger management, diversity, conflict resolution, etc. We also provide training and an apprenticeship program for those interested in becoming mediators.

We are sensitive to the needs of our fellow community members. As a result, we provide mediation services during the daytime, and after work hours in the evening. Due to our concern for and compliance with public safety, we provide virtual and telephone mediation services only, at this time. This gives everyone an opportunity to have access to justice (for court cases) and the option of mediation services for other types of disputes.

Mediation allows people address problems without involving law enforcement or the court system. It also allows the parties to have an active role in deciding the outcome of the dispute. Mediation also gives community members the ability to address quality of life issues.

Finally, mediation can allow things not seen at a first glance, to become visible. The possibility of peace and resolution can inspire hope. The process can help parties see where the other side is coming from in the conflict. It can move you to a clearer understanding of the matter and can make feelings tangible.

The feelings of being heard and understood are valuable. When the neutral party summarizes what a person says, both in terms of content and emotion, it’s priceless. It can help move the impossible to possible. Dialogue can facilitate movement in a conflict. Sometimes it takes a neutral party for someone to have a productive conversation, moving the impossible to possible. Conflicts can be resolved.

If you are interested in mediation services, booking a fee-based training session or facilitation, please feel free to call us at (718) 585- 1190.

Lynn Williams is a mediator at The Institute for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, located near The Hub in the Bronx. She works with families in the community and in court. Williams provides fee-based dispute resolution and youth and women’s ministry development training to religious communities. During her hiatus from the classroom, she mentors law students and apprentices as they provide mediation through the court.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.