Caucus: Summer 2016
The Center for Conflict Resolution
In This Issue of Caucus
Book Club Discussion
CCR and CCT - On the Table Event
Warm Welcome to New Member of the CCR Family
You Two are Stars!
Upcoming Trainings
CCR's Reflective Practice Group
Congratulations to Our Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients
A Letter from Cassie Lively
Cocktails for Communities: 15th Annual Gala Celebration
Volunteer Appreciation Party
CCR's New Videos!
Book Club Discussion
July 19, 2016
5:30PM at CCR
 
 
 
Between the World and Me, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, is a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son. Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation's history and current crisis.
CCR and the Chicago Community Trust - On the Table Event
 
On May 10, CCR participated in CCT's On the Table event, which offered us the opportunity to connect individuals and communities of diverse perspectives and backgrounds to talk, listen and take important first steps toward creating a more unified Chicagoland region. 

Discussions included the needs of the CCR community, as well as the broader Chicago community. We walked away with new insight and ideas about how CCR can address and help to improve conditions in communities throughout the Chicagoland area.



A Warm Welcome to the Newest Member of the CCR Family
 
Kathleen and Eric Carlson welcomed
  Claire Louise Carlson
Born April 15, 2016

 
 


You Two are Stars!


 
WomensForum hosted a casting call sponsored by Huggies diapers, and our own Israel Putnam and his wife Aisha were selected among thousands of applicants! Please click on the link below to see them share their experiences in navigating parenthood.
 
 
UPCOMING MEDIATION SKILL S TRAINING:

July 2016 MST
July 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23
 
  December 2016 MST 
December 2, 3, 8, 9,  and 10 
    
 
CCR's Reflective Practice Group
 
CCR will be starting a Reflective Practice Group in August of 2016. We will meet the first Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Training Room. Join us for a lively group discussion of case reflections, mediation trends and skills! This is a forum to talk about all different types of mediations and is not limited to work you may have done at CCR - although you're welcome to discuss those cases as well!
 
CCR Volunteer, Frank Hill, and CCR Staff member, Rae Kyritsi, will
facilitate discussions.
 
If you're able to join us on Wednesday, 8/3 for our first meeting, please RSVP to Rae at rkyritsi@ccrchicago.org .

 

      

  
  
Congratulations to our Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients!
 
Peacemakers of the Year
Melissa Mitchell
Jennifer Scott
 
Trainer of the Year
Margaret Loisel
 
Hall of Fame Honorees
 
5 Years
Neda Brisport
Anne Fan
Erin Kelly
Katie Kolon
Nancy Krent
Tim Love
Mary Novak
Brianna Zielke
 
10 Years
Anthony Anscombe
Jack Block
Daniel Gandert
Morgan Rosenberg
Kyle Nash
Arnold Romero
Scott Seagren
 
15 Years
Mark Bergner
Leon Fox
Liz Simon
Margaret Woulfe
 
20 Years
Kathryn Gordon
Kent Lawrence
 
25 Years
Mark Marquardt
Rocky Perkovich
Julie Stratton


LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CASSIE LIVELY   
  
  
Dear CCR Community:
 
In last quarter's newsletter, we announced a significant increase in case numbers for calendar year 2015 - this quarter, we are happy to say that the growth continues! Thanks to the continued efforts of our entire community, in FY 2016 CCR received 1,925 mediation referrals, compared to 1,762 in FY 2015. The biggest areas of continued growth have been in evictions and family mediation programs.
 
On June 2, CCR held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Party at Jefferson Tap. This fun event is a great chance for us to show our appreciation for all of the work our volunteers do each year. This year, we honored Peacemakers of the Year Melissa Mitchell and Jennifer Scott for their work at our Bridgeview court program, as well as Trainer of the Year Margaret Loisel. Additional honorees can be found in the evening's program book found  here .
 
CCR's training staff and coaches continue to be busier than ever, and on June 7 Pari trained 12 new coaches in a "Train the Trainer" session. These new coaches will help to ease the burden on our existing coaches, and will help in our expansion efforts. Our deepest thanks go out to our experienced coaches, and also to the newly trained individuals!
 
CCR is excited to be holding our first-ever "Ambassador" training on June 30 from 5:30 -7:30. This training is designed to give people the necessary tools and information to make outreach connections on CCR's behalf. We are always looking for new case referral sources, and Ambassadors will be a key part of our strategy in developing new partnerships. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please RSVP to Rae at rkyritsi@ccrchicago.org .
 
Special thanks go out this month to the Chicago Bar Foundation. CCR has been awarded a renewed 2-year general operating grant through the CBF - this funding is vital to our ability to continue to provide the highest quality mediation services and training throughout Cook County, and we are so grateful to the CBF for its continued support.
 
Please join us for a social hour at Greystone Tavern on July 14! Members of CCR's Auxiliary Board will be serving as guest bartenders, and tips and a portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to CCR. I hope to see many of you there!
 
Cheers,
Cassie
 
 
  
Cocktails for Communities: 15th Annual Gala Celebration
 
We hosted our 15th Annual Gala Celebration on Thursday, April 21 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at Kirkland & Ellis. It was a wonderful evening and successful on so many levels! We raised $138,996 and welcomed our strongest attendance to date. We secured over $111,000 in sponsorship and the silent auction gave our guests the opportunity to bid on some wonderful items and helped to raise $11,850.
 
For those who were in attendance, you may have participated in the Wine Pull and were treated to a fabulous bottle of wine. This was a new initiative for CCR and from the feedback we received, it was a hit! The wine pull generated over $1,000. We would like to thank our corporate and in-kind sponsors for their generosity and support.
 
We are truly grateful for the dedication and commitment we receive from the CCR community. Together, we will continue to help resolve conflict and make our communities a better place to live.
 
 
  
      
 
 

Volunteer Appreciation Party 
 
We celebrated and raised a toast to our amazing volunteers at our Volunteer Appreciation Party on June 2nd at Jefferson Tap.
  
Thank you for your ongoing contributions of time and talent to support CCR. We are lucky to have you!
 
 
   
   
 
w We're Excited to Introduce Two New CCR Videos!