Caucus: Winter 2017
Center for Conflict Resolution
In This Issue of Caucus
New Customizable Training: Hearing the Unheard of...
Congratulations!
Chicagoans of the Year!
CCR Chosen as project by Compass!
Help Us Plan an Upcoming Continuing Ed Program
Guest Bartending Event
A Letter from Cassie Lively
Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Program Comes to an End
Congratulations!
Sweet New Additions to Our CCR Family
New Customizable Training: Hearing the Unheard of...

On November 16 th , CCR debuted a new training program called "Hearing the Unheard of: Managing Difficult Conversations." The premise of the training is that we all have conversations that we dread. They may be conversations about lifestyles or beliefs, boundaries we must draw, or even just difficult feedback that we know we have to give. 

This 2-hour program gave participants a chance to workshop a conversation that they were anticipating at the holidays. The goal of the training was to plan ahead on how to manage the challenges and barriers that might arise in order to set the conversation up for success. This training covered a variety of skills, from de-escalation, to interest-based bargaining, to framing conversations for success. Participants walked away with a well-thought out action plan and had a chance to practice a variety of techniques. 

This program is perfect for managers, HR professionals, attorneys, students and faculty, or anyone that has to have challenging conversations with others. If you are interested in hosting a customized workshop for your group, please contact the Training Department at 
training@ccrchicago.org.
 
Congrats to Volunteer Shana Jones on her new position at Purdue University!

As the Diversity Initiatives Director for Purdue University's College of Education, Shana will work on the coordination and administration of strategies that will assist in the recruitment and retention of under-represented students in teacher education. This position will build a community that fosters diversity through support, unity and guidance within Purdue University's Teacher Education programs.
Congratulations to Matt Pryor, among those named 2017 Chicagoans of the year by Chicago Magazine for work helping persons affected by the travel ban!
Read more here.
 
Thank you, Compass!




CCR is excited to announce that we have been selected to receive free consulting services in the area of funding strategy by Compass Pro Bono for 2017-2018. Learn more about Compass  HERE.


Help Us Plan an Upcoming
Continuing Ed Program!
 
Do you have a great idea for
a speaker or topic for
an upcoming 
Continuing Ed Program? 
If so, we would love to hear
your thoughts.
 
Please contact Continuing Ed Committee Chair,
Jonah Orlofsky
at
    
Guest Bartending Event
guestbartendingevent
Thank you to our Auxiliary Board and all those who attended our December 7, 2017 Guest Bartending Event. We raised $1,350 to help support CCR services!
  

  



 
LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CASSIE LIVELY   
  
Happy Holidays!
 
It's not too late to join us for CCR's annual Volunteer Holiday Party! This year's party will take place at CCR tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 19. If you are able to join us, please RSVP to Carolyn Agee at cagee@ccrchicago.org . Please indicate if you will bring a side dish, dessert or drinks to share. We always look forward to gathering with members of our volunteer community to celebrate the season.
 
On Thursday, December 7, CCR's Auxiliary Board hosted a night of guest bartending at Kincade's Bar and Grill, and we raised $1,350 to support CCR's services (see photos of the event here!). Thanks to the members of our Auxiliary Board, volunteers, and staff for coming out to enjoy some food and drinks with friends for a good cause. And big thanks to Kincade's for hosting us and supporting our efforts!
 
We are still in the midst of our year-end fundraising push, and this year we have $20,000 in matching funds offered by generous contributors to match any donation to CCR made through December 31. As government funding continues to contract, support from individual members of our community is more important than ever. To contribute to support CCR's free mediation services, please click HERE .
 
Best wishes for a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
 
Sincerely,
Cassie 
  

Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Program Comes to an End

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the Circuit Court of Cook County's Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program ended effective November 30. The recent Cook County budget cuts in the wake of the sweetened beverage tax repeal led the Cook County Board of Commissioners to end funding to the program.
 
This program was a truly innovative way to impact the foreclosure crisis in Cook County, and brought together mediation services with legal assistance, housing counseling and community outreach. CCR was honored to provide the mediation services component of this program, working closely with other organizational partners, for the past 7 years. During this time, CCR held more than 4,500 foreclosure mediation sessions. In more than 800 cases, borrowers and lenders were able to work together to create agreements that allowed homeowners to retain their homes. In other cases, homeowners and lenders were able to create plans for dignified exit.
 
We extend our deepest thanks to the Chicago Bar Foundation for their incredible work in administering the program, and to our foreclosure volunteers who dedicated so much time to making the program a success. I'd also like to thank our current foreclosure staff members, Colleen Stevenson and Britt Bartholomew, for their hard work and commitment to running such a high quality program, and to former foreclosure staff members Tina Cooper, Shana Jones and Whitney Trumble (now CCR's Finance & Operations Director) for their skill and determination in building the program.

Congratulations!
Congratulations to volunteer Jonah Orlofsky and his wife, Joan Polacheck, on the marriage of their son, Jacob, to Lauren Braun (now Orlofsky)! 
 

Sweet New Additions to Our CCR Family
 
____________________________________________  
 
 
Congratulations to 
Cathay and Ryon Lancaster on the birth of 
Veronica Ayesha
August 25, 2017!
 
Congratulations to Mark Flagel and  Allison Plebanek-Flagel on the birth of Max Daniel Flagel 
November 9, 2017!
 

Congratulations to Sarah Nichols Heffron and Scott Heffron on the birth of Corrine Belle Heffron
November 18, 2017
Ways to Support CCR


Shop Amazon Smile ! A portion of the proceeds goes to CCR.

 

Shop through Giving Assistant, you not only score great deals, but a percentage of your purchases can be donated to CCR!


For other ways to support CCR, please visit our website .