Letter From The Director

Dear friends,

The New Year always arrives quickly for us at The Conflict Center. It seems we are just slowing down for the holidays….and before it really slows…it is the New Year.

Some of the excitement here is focused on:

• January 29th follow up for Mark Gerzon’s idea about the Colorado Commons and a Circle of Conversation on the topic of diversity and the effect on you. Call the office if you’d like to attend.
• Planning for the Cost of Conflict Conference in April…please mark your calendars if you want to learn conflict skills for the workplace.
• Community and Family Mediation services now available at The Conflict Center.

It feels busy, and it feels good to be able to do the work of peacemaking. Stop by when you’re in our neighborhood. The coffee pot is on and the kettle is warm for tea. We wish you all good blessings in 2001, and a year full of peace.

Elizabeth Loescher

Mediate Don't Litigate

Need help solving a conflict?

Call The Conflict Center for our family and community mediation services.

Mediation consists of both you and the party you’re disputing with, voluntarily coming together to develop a mutually acceptable settlement. A third person serves as a mediator, who is neutral and has no decision-making power. The mediator assists you in reaching a settlement.

Mediation is a low-cost alternative to litigation and offers long-term benefits as those directly involved in the conflict have equal input in the settlement process.

Call Shay Bright at The Conflict Center, 303-433-4983, for more information or to schedule a mediation session.

But... That Was Yesterday
Making Positive Choices for Today

It is 2001, full of hopes, goals, and yes, regrets and resolutions. These are natural, human reactions. It is not unusual to have some anxiety about those times or events that were less than ideal. How about assigning a limited amount of time to go over events that you now wish hadn’t happened? If amends are indicated, do what needs to be done: a phone call, a note, a lunch with time to chat can boost your comfort level. Learn from those mistakes, but don’t dwell on them. Take the lessons learned into 2001 and make what mental resolutions need to be made.

On that same track, take some time to think through what your hopes are for the year ahead. Think about what the year might bring, how you wish to handle important parts of your life and briefly dream of expectations. The danger here is getting so caught up in “pie in the sky” future stuff that we don’t take time to do what needs to be done to lay the groundwork and secure today.

So that leaves today. While it is wise to be aware of tomorrow, today is the day. Now is the hour. Hearts and minds directed at today’s relationships lay the groundwork for tomorrow’s friendships and family times. In the same way, today’s efforts in our careers not only bring satisfaction to the present but work at securing futures.

One’s willingness to do a great job on today’s work, to go the extra mile in relationships or help where there is a need, brings peace to the individual and plants seeds for peaceful relationships in the workplace and society.

Volunteer News -
Now Look What You've Done!

Congratulations to each of us and to the Conflict Center! In the year 2000, one hundred and fifty Conflict Center Volunteers contributed 6,500 hours to violence prevention, conflict and anger management training and parenting education. The cost equivalent for your dedicated work, at $10 per hour, is $65,000! What better gift could any organization hope for? You make peace happen all year long.

An interesting note: These recorded hours are actually an underestimate of our contribution. All volunteers are reminded that our success can not be calculated with preciseness unless volunteer hours are turned in to the office. Hours which go unrecorded certainly strengthen our work but do not reflect an accurate picture to potential volunteers, supporters and funders. On special projects, for example Reading for Peace, Peace Days or workdays at the building, the project coordinator turns in your hours. Committee chairs hold the responsibility for submitting hours for participants at all of their meetings. Each time you work at the office we hope you will sign in on the volunteer clipboard. We believe the system for reporting hours conveniently is in place. If we are mistaken, please alert Mary Ann Tarpey, 303-433-4983, right away. Help us, as we begin our new year together, by resolving to turn in all the hours you so generously devote to peacemaking.

Volunteer Training Calendar

Plans for our 2001 Ambassador of Peace Award Event are underway, and we need many hands working together to have a successful celebration. Join our winning team - WE NEED YOU! Call Mary Ann Tarpey at 303-433-4983 or 303-753-6452.

Volunteers, supporters and friends, call Heather at
303-433-4983 to reserve your seat for...

• Volunteer Orientation
Thursday, March 22,
3:00-5:00 P.M.
Learn about our organization, programs and volunteer opportunities. If our regularly scheduled orientations do not fit your schedule, you are invited to contact Mary Zinn-Stewart to schedule a session.

• Volunteer Training for Anger Management

Volunteers Cary Leher and Katie Owens present these skill building classes as part of our volunteer training program. Increase your ability to understand and profit from the information anger offers. If you cannot attend these trainings, call the office, explain that you are a TCC volunteer and ask to attend a regularly scheduled conflict or anger management class series. Please call for 2001 training dates.

Kids Corner

It is 2001. Are you satisfied with the way you were able to solve the problems you had in 2000? Or are you still mad about some times when things didn’t work out the way you wanted them to? Are you having trouble letting go of last year’s hurts? Worried about how 2001 will work out?

Maybe it’s time for problem solving. If you feel you hurt someone, talk to him or her and say (and mean) you’re sorry, if that needs to be said. Put away unkind behavior and then start fresh with good resolutions and keep them.

Put most of your efforts into now. The past is over. The future will work out well with the good habits you are practicing. Concentrate on today, this moment. Your kindness and helpful, thoughtful acts will be an example to friends and make you feel happy with yourself.

Circles of Conversation

Please join us for Circles of Conversation, an hour of focused, civil conversation about an issue or concern identified by the group. Led by a facilitator from The Conflict Center, this is an opportunity to practice having difficult conversations. The focus of the group is to hear and be heard, to practice civility, and to understand diversity of opinions and perspectives. This forum can be used as a communication tool, a community builder or as a way to resolve an issue. We hope you will join us on the 29th or organize a Circle of Conversation on a topic that is of interest to you. To get more information or organize a Circle of Conversation, contact Liz Loescher at The Conflict Center, 303-433-4983.

2001 Calendar of Events

A Season for Nonviolence
January 30 - April 4

Arun Gandhi, grandson of M.K. Gandhi, and his wife Sunanda, created a Season for Nonviolence in 1998 to commemorate the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of M.K. Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The purpose of the Season for Nonviolence is to create an awareness of nonviolent principles and practices as a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives and communities.

Through an educational and community action campaign the Season for Nonviolence honors those who are using nonviolence to build a community that honors the dignity and worth of every human being. Enclosed in the newletter mailing was a flyer providing a list of daily practices and affirmations to guide individuals in observing the season. If you would like a copy, please call us at 303-433-4983. The Conflict Center is an active partner in the Season for Nonviolence, and we encourage you to become active, too. For more information about the Season for Nonviolence call, 303-312-1751.

Hamlet
presented by Denver Civic Theatre
721 Santa Fe Drive

• Thursday, March 8th, 6:00pm
  $20 Opening Night
  Reception and Performance
• Friday, March 9th, 7:00pm
  $18 Performance Only

This is a great way to spend an entertaining and relaxing evening with family and friends. A full 100% of the ticket price benefits The Conflict Center on Opening Night and 50% the second night. Throughout the rest of the run, $2.00 per ticket benefits The Conflict Center. We hope you will join us.
For ticket reservations or more information, contact the Denver Civic Theatre at 303-595-3800.

Conflict Management for the Line Manager
presented by The Conflict Center
Denver Marriott Southeast, Denver Tech Center

• Thursday, April 19th
  7:30 am - noon

Fee is $95 per person.
Includes continental breakfast, keynote speaker and a selection of two workshops from five, providing managers with hands-on strategies and skills for preventing and addressing verbal, emotional and physical violence in the workplace. Call Liz or Shay at The Conflict Center for more information 303-433-4983.

Volunteer Appreciation Event

Let us entertain you at...
The Conflict Center Volunteer Appreciation Event
Sunday, April 29th, 2:00-4:00 P.M.

We look forward to celebrating our good fortune, our successes and our incredible corps of volunteers. Please set aside this important date and plan to join us.

The Conflict Center Class Schedule
February - April 2001

Anger Management for Adults
Mondays 6:30-8:30 PM
$20 per session
Contact: Heather

Conflict Management for Adults
Mondays 6:30-8:30 PM
$20 per session
Contact: Heather

Parenting Classes & Support Groups
Thursdays 6:30-8:30 PM
$15 per session
Contact: Tammy

To register for classes or for more information, call The Conflict Center at 303-433-4983

Teen Girls “Challenges”
Wednesdays 3:30-5:30 PM
$35 for four weeks
Contact: Jen

Teen Boys “Choices”
Thursdays 3:30-5:30 PM
$35 for four weeks
Contact: Jen

1st Offenders
Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 PM
$25 per session
Contact: Vickie