SEEDS mediator conducts the training for the landlords of Oakland

By:Altynai Myrzabekova

On the 29^th of June, Sharon Tom, SEEDS Training Program Manager conducted training for Oakland landlords, teaching them conflict resolution skills for communicating with their tenants. During various exercises participants were facing different conflict situations and had to listen to their opponents, as it is one of the most important concepts of nonviolent conflict resolution. This was one of many trainings hosted by the Oakland Housing Authority on a monthly basis.

According to the organizers, the purpose of this particular workshop was to teach landlords how to deal with angry tenants who come to see them on the regular basis. One of the most important concepts of this training was to explain how to effectively listen to angry people and how to efficiently speak to them. As Sharon commented, finding out the underlying needs of angry tenants is the way to deescalate the anger. “I think that we achieved our purpose, because there were a lot of happy faces and people tend to be very receptive to the exercises. So, I know that they got what they needed out of it. In fact, we are planning to do some additional training for them, because of their need,” Sharon said.

Feedback from participants

“It was excellent. I think if this was out there more, a lot of landlords have an issue listening sometimes, they always think that they know better for the tenants but when you empathize with a tenant, I think they are more open to finding resolutions, because at least you are getting across with their angry. I think it was very valuable. I think I have some of these skills already but it clarified that I was doing the right things and also the paraphrasing also helps or even reusing the right words. Tenants feel that they are being listened too.” – Es Esposo, landlord

“I enjoyed the class, and I really would like to learn more as it is very useful to have phrases in a booklet. I think that prior to have scheduled meetings it will be important for me to bring the phrases and set my mind before going into a meeting. I really enjoyed and I will come to part two for sure.”- Patty Hernandez, property manager.

Rosa Parks Elementary School Welcomes Restorative Justice Team

By: Altynai Myrzabekova

The 4th grade students of Rosa Parks School had a chance to learn about the Restorative Justice program at Longfellow Middle School with the help of mediators and other students. The Longfellow Restorative Justice team went to several classrooms to demonstrate the circle process to 4th grade students, where they could share
their knowledge and experience in Restorative Justice.

According to the RJ team, the initial goal of this event was to change the discipline structure at the school level and to address the “school to prison pipeline” issue that takes place in public schools in the US. The Restorative Justice Coordinator of SEEDS, Lisa Abregu, comments that students get stuck in a cycle of negative behavior that eventually lands them in adult prisons, which is why it is called the “school to prison pipeline.” Restorative Justice provides a process for addressing conflict between students that focuses on building relationships. The distinctive feature of Restorative Justice is that it addresses more the emotional needs of these children, which does not look at them simply as the rule breakers. “When you have the ability to see a student for everything that affects them, their reaction to their actions are going to be different,” Abregu said.

Why do we need Restorative Justice in schools?

As organizers comment, the Restorative Justice helps to see children as individuals who have many different factors that affect them. “It helps the staff to see them in different light. And address everything related to them in a conflict in a totally different way which keeps them out of whole pipeline going to suspension. Once in suspension, a lot of these kids who are chronic detention or suspension goers do not have much support at home, so they wander around and get into more trouble, or maybe at home there is an adult, but he or she does not have enough influence,” Abregu said. Therefore, Restorative Justice circles keep them in a healthy environment that helps them develop into the people they have a potential to be. According to Abergu, this keeps them at school and the circle process gives them context to understand themselves. So, that is why it important to have Restorative Justice Process at school.

Feedback from Longfellow students:

One student on the Longfellow Restorative Justice team commented, "I have done a circle just with my friends, without teachers, and it was a really good experience."

Another member of the Restorative Justice team at Longfellow explained to the 4th graders that "Restorative Justice is learning to communicate positively."

During the circle with Longfellow students, a 4th grader said, "empathy is where you try to learn about how someone else feels."

The team at Longfellow explained their process as follows: "At Longfellow, we meet to talk about issues and think of community builders. The goal of the Restorative Justice team is to make better communication happen."

SEEDS Program Update: Restorative Justice

SEEDS’ Restorative Justice Program has two major focus areas at the moment. The first is a synergy of Longfellow Middle School and the surrounding community in South Berkeley, the other is a providing Restorative Group Conferencing (RGC) to cases referred by the Chief Juvenile District Attorney.

Longfellow Middle School & South Berkeley Community
SEEDS’ Restorative Justice Coordinator, Lisa Abregu, is working at Longfellow Middle School where SEEDS will change the model of discipline from one that can be punitive, isolating and alienating, to one that values relationships and seeks to understand the harm caused by an incident. This will result in accountability for the offender, true victim satisfaction and stronger school community with increased empathy. Our restorative circles will not only deal with discipline, they will also be used to celebrate and create shared values and guidelines. While we are in the school, we will train, mentor and support neighborhood community members as they learn restorative practices to effectively discuss current issues in their community. SEEDS will establish a neighborhood registry of facilitators that can be accessed when issues arise in the community and train Berkeley Police, Parks and Recreation, City leaders and others in our quest to make Berkeley a restorative city.

Restorative Group Conferencing (RGC)
The other major focus for our RJ program is Restorative Group Conferencing (RGC) by way of referrals form the Chief Juvenile District Attorney. When a youth is accused and arrested for a serious crime, they are diverted to our program. We meet together with the victim(s) and other affected parties to discuss what led them to commit the crime and how everyone was affected, with the possible result of creating an action plan relevant to the crime in order to repair the harm as best as possible. When completed, the referred case will be dismissed. This program removes youth from the cycle of incarceration that can start when they first have contact with the justice system thereby disrupting the school to prison pipeline.

For more information about Restorative Justice at SEEDS, go to: www.seedsrj.org

Message from Volunteer, Claudia Mar Ruiz

Dear SEEDS Friend:

I’m writing to you today because I care about SEEDS, and I know you do too.

Right now, thanks to a generous offer from SEEDS board of directors, you and I can make a donation to SEEDS and see that gift doubled. For every dollar you and I give this month, board members will match it, dollar for dollar, for the first $1,000 in donations received.

I’m very motivated to help SEEDS thrive, and I hope you are too. You see, SEEDS unlocked a new world for me, a world based on effective communication practices so that we can all live in a more peaceful community.

As a non-profit, community-based agency, SEEDS has provided free and low-cost conflict resolution services since 1983. These programs are offered to people from diverse backgrounds throughout Alameda County. While SEEDS is open to any resident who needs them, I never thought I’d be walking through their doors and asking for help.

But two years ago, that’s what happened. I had just completed a three-year teaching certificate program that taught nonverbal communication through dance. I was stressed, hurt, and overcome with frustration due to an unresolved conflict I had with the director in my school.

Eventually, these feelings manifested in me physically and I was bedridden for three weeks. As you can imagine, I knew I needed help.

A friend recommended I call SEEDS. I learned that SEEDS helped thousands of people just like you and me to resolve a wide range of conflicts every year. And the need for SEEDS is growing – in fact, so far this year alone, SEEDS has handled more than 400 cases and worked with 900+ clients.

As I shared my situation, SEEDS’ skilled and supportive case developers and mediators made me feel heard, supported,validated and safe. The mediation that followed gave me a new understanding of a conflict that I realized had been brewing for years. At the end of the mediation, I left feeling at peace.

As I thought about how profoundly SEEDS had helped me, I realized I wanted to use my newfound sense of peace to help other community members find peace too, so I called SEEDS to volunteer. I now volunteer at SEEDS in the Community Mediation and Training programs, and help out with fundraising drives and events.

I deeply believe that if you transform enough individual lives, you transform an entire community. I believe in SEEDS’mission because I’ve seen first hand how it can transform a person’s life. That’s why I’m supporting SEEDS with my donations and my volunteer time, and that’s why I’m asking you to join me in supporting SEEDS too.

This year, I was invited to be on the coaching team for SEEDS’ 2010 Conflict Resolution & Mediation Skills training. As you can imagine, this was a personal highpoint for me. After all, it was just two years prior that I sat before a mediation panel myself, desperately needing help. And now, I was training participants to provide the same service – skilled mediation – that changed my life.

At SEEDS, we pride ourselves on providing our training to a diverse pool of people at affordable costs. SEEDS has already held 12 trainings so far this year. At our popular 40-hour Conflict Resolution & Mediation Skills training, SEEDS awarded full or partial scholarships to two-thirds of the participants – in fact, no one was turned away due to lack of funds thanks to the financial support of people like you and me.

I’ve realized that conflict resolution work is my forte.
As a mediator, I find I am more deeply integrated into the world. I now see myself as an instrument to promote peace. My long-term goal is to take SEEDS’ teachings to my native Colombia, so that I can offer skilled conflict resolution trainings – and ultimately, a sense of peace and possibilities – to women and even entire communities displaced by violence.

You see, this is the magic of SEEDS. When you and I make a donation, those funds not only help people in conflict right now – but also train and empower the next generation of peacemakers throughout our community, and even across the globe. As you can see, every dollar you donate today will have a peaceful impact in our society.

This is why SEEDS needs your support today – to continue fostering effective communication and conflict resolution
principles in Alameda County, and beyond.

Please visit out website, http://www.seedscrc.org/support.php, to make your gift today. And remember, SEEDS’ board of directors is providing a dollar-for-dollar matching gift for the first $1,000 in donations we receive. By giving today, you can double the impact of your gift!

Here is how your gift will make a difference for SEEDS and the people we serve. Your support will help SEEDS to:
-provide need-based scholarships for our training programs
-continue building our Restorative Justice Program
-provide complimentary training and seminars for our volunteers
-provide our services on a sliding scale
-design and launch a Spanish-language Conflict Resolution training

I believe in SEEDS, and I hope you do too, and that you find it in your heart to express that support – to invest in SEEDS’ mission – by joining me in making your donation today. While gifts of any amount are deeply appreciated, I urge you to give as generously as you can, so that others may find peace too. Thank so very much for your generous support.

In peace and gratitude,

Claudia Mar Ruiz
Volunteer at SEEDS Community Resolution Center

P.S. Please give as generously as you can today to help foster peace in our community. And remember – the first $1,000 in donations this month will be matched by SEEDS’ board of directors – a great way to double the impact of your gift! Thank you so much for your support.