for Autumn 2011
In this issue:
1) News from the Restorative Justice Department
2) Winter mediation training in Monterey
3) Custom workshops: suggestions?
4) CR Presentations: suggestions?
5) Next skills building clinic Weds Nov 9: Role Play!
6) Upcoming FAM workshop
7) Holiday donations welcome
8) A Hallowe’en treat
1) News from the Restorative Justice Department:
Lemi Gudeta, who was working with Vicki in our Restorative Justice Programs, has been offered and accepted a position as a college professor, teaching Peace and Reconciliation, in Virginia. We all enjoyed his brief time at CRC and wish him all the best in his new position.
Our newest staff member at CRC is Olga Ramirez Noffsinger, the new R5 Program Coordinator, who will work under Vicki's direction. Olga is a highly skilled mediator, trainer and facilitator. Read her full bio here. Welcome, Olga!
As we reported in our last newsletter, our Parent Teen Mediation Program has been funded again, and we are now offering free mediation to families who have a teen involved with the justice system. Vicki just provided training for 17 Parent Teen Mediators, a highly skilled and motivated group, and new cases are coming in from Probation.
CRC is part of another new Probation grant focused on Family Conferencing and Reentry Planning for juveniles returning home after placement. This program, which uses evidence based practices (EBP) is a collaboration between CRC, Probation, Community Action Board and Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance. This program, which will be run by Vicki, has funding for two years.
Restorative Justice Programs Director, Vicki Assegued, M.A. has been nominated as a United Way Community Hero for her Restorative Justice and Conflict Resolution work. Everyone is invited to celebrate with her and the other Community Heroes on Monday, November 21st at 10:00AM at Dominican Hospital Education Building, 1555 Soquel Drive. This event will be a United Way press conference and celebration to present the Community Assessment Project findings and to announce the 2011 Santa Cruz County Community Heroes. A light lunch is provided at 11:30.
2) CRC is conducting a winter Mediation Skills training in Monterey at the Mandell-Gisnet Center for Conflict Management. The 30-hour training happens over two Fridays and Saturdays, February 3, 4, 10 & 11, 2012. It’s the same 4-day training we’ll teach later this spring in Santa Cruz, but more convenient for Monterey-oriented folk. If you know someone who is interested in signing up, have them contact Sara Sturtevant at (831) 582-4000 or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
3) Our Training Committee, a group of real sleeve roller-uppers, is setting its sights on crafting customized workshops for groups who would like training in active listening skills. Real Estate Agents? Road associations? Folks on either side of the Barking Doggie Divide? If you have ideas of custom training recipients for the committee, contact Suzanne at 831-475- 6117 or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
4) Also in the works: presentations to area groups about the services we offer, with a little active listening skill training sprinkled in. Let’s drum up some business! Who should we talk to? Church groups? Resource Centers? Police Departments? If you know a community group that might be interested, let Bonnie know at 475-6117 or her This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
5) The next Skills Building Clinic happens Wednesday November 9th 6:00-8. Get some long-form practice, remember what the experience is like for the parties in conflict, or get a chance to watch mediation in action. We consistently get feedback from our trainees about the value of CRC’s role plays: how real they seem, how much there is to learn from the disputants’ side of the table, how nice it is to try things out when the stakes aren’t high. We’ll check in, set up & snack (OH YES: THERE WILL BE SNACKS) for the first half-hour, work the active listening skills using an actual scenario for the next 60 minutes, then have time to debrief at the end.RSVP to Bonnie by Wednesday Nov 2nd at 475-6117 or Bonnie’s This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
6) FAM workshop: attendees get an overview of how our divorce mediation service works, with tips on how to get started. It happens Friday November 4th 3:30-5, at the Law Library in the basement of 701 Ocean Street. Note that it is geared toward potential clients (vs potential mediators). Spread the word! Interested parties can find out more by calling the FAM line at 345-2891.
7) For the past few years, the adults in Bonnie's family have taken to exchanging holiday donations to each other’s favorite causes. If you would like to do something similar, or just feel like getting CRC a prezzy, think of us! Checks can be made to CRC at 1414 Soquel Ave #218 SC CA 95062; or, credit card donations can be made directly to our Paypal from here: http://www.crcsantacruz.org/crc-donation.html
8) Finally, enjoy this humorous horror, a conflict tying itself in more & more twisted knots, fresh from the Hallowe’en issue of the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2011/10/24/111024sh_shouts_semple?currentPage=all
