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January/February 2026

Mediation Musings: Ideas

by Sara Barnes

This month I ask you to get out your reading glasses and absorb some new ideas from various authors. I’d like to introduce you to writers who are expanding knowledge in the field of conflict resolution and connected topics. Happy reading!

"7 Amazing Facts About Emotions — What Science Reveals about the Way You Feel" by Michael Miller & Alexandra Tanon Olsson. Strong background knowledge about emotions is crucial for all conflict resolvers. Read the article here.

"3 Types of Conflict and How to Address Them" by Katie Shonk. Shonk writes about workplace conflict; the ideas can be applied in many life areas. The article.

"Disagree Better" by Tammy Lenski. Lenski suggests our conflict mindset impedes our ability to come to agreement. Here’s the article.

"10 Things Great Bosses Do Every Day" by Travis Bradberry. Being optimistic about others is a great way to prevent conflict whether you are a boss or not. Here’s the article.

"How to Give Feedback That Motivates" by Leapsome. Most people feel uncomfortable with feedback; it’s always helpful to have a process to follow with something that seems risky. Take a look at the article here.

"‘Flock’ and ‘Fix’: Proposed Additions to 'Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn'" by Kenneth Cloke. Cloke posits a new and optimistic way to frame these reactions. See Cloke’s article here.

Conclusion

My mom used to cut out articles from the paper and give them to me; sometimes I didn’t understand the purpose, and maybe I have replicated that here for you. If these articles don’t strike your fancy, take a look on mediate.com and or on LinkedIn. Those are the two places where I tend get mediation and conflict resolution articles. The conflict resolution world is a vast one, with many new ideas coming along all the time—take a look and keep adding to your own knowledge. We are never done learning, and I love reading a new idea that I never thought of—it keeps my brain nimble. I hope you find the same for you.

Read a slightly longer version with more description and some more writing by these authors here.

🎳 We had a great Community Bowling FUNraiser! 🎳

Our Community Advisory Board met for one of its twice-yearly meetings in the upstairs meeting room. Downstairs many members of our community bowled, ate, chatted and laughed. We sang "Happy Birthday" and made fun of ourselves for our bad bowling skills. Thanks to Jonah for donating back his winnings in the 50/50 raffle, and big ups to the staff of the Barn who were taking great care of us. We had fun, raised a little money and helped strengthen our commitment to our local community. Let's raise more fun soon!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH

We are searching for our next Executive Director. Maybe you? Sara Barnes is not going anywhere–– she will continue to be our Education Director and train the incoming leader. Final date for submissions of resume and cover letter is January 31. Look here for details and application process. https://www.mvmediation.org/career-opportunities

We are here to serve our community, all residents, regardless of immigration status. See information about immigration here.

Estamos aqui para servir nossa comunidade, todos os residentes, independentemente do status de imigração. Veja informações sobre imigração aqui.

Recent Grant Awards

Martha’s Vineyard Mediation has been awarded a 2025 Community & Impact Grant of $5,000 for our Youth and Family Matters Programs from the Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation!

This grant will support MV Mediation’s expansion of youth conflict resolution programming into sixth-grade classrooms on Martha’s Vineyard, while sustaining our Family Matters mediation services. Together, these efforts foster constructive communication, leadership, and stronger skills for youth alongside more resilient family units across the Island.

We’re deeply grateful to the Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation for recognizing our work.

We’re thrilled to share that the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation has awarded Martha’s Vineyard Mediation a $2,500 grant to help expand our Youth Mediation Program into the sixth grade!

This support means even more Island students will get hands-on tools for navigating conflict, listening with empathy, and working things out respectfully—skills that make a real difference in classrooms, friendships, and families.

Thank you to the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation for believing in this work and for investing in our young people.

Join Us for the Annual Virtual Legislative Briefing on the Massachusetts Community Mediation Center Grant Program

We hope you’ll join us and be part of this statewide show of support!

Topic: Legislative Briefing

Time: Jan. 27, 2026, 11 AM to 12 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Https://umassboston.zoom.us/j/97843193672?pwd=BxTmzxa2gmacuRNMJUj7la7qp69HlK.1

Meeting ID: 978 4319 3672 Passcode: 978464

We invite you to attend the Virtual Legislative Briefing on the Massachusetts Community Mediation Center Grant Program on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 11 AM. The MA Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) and the 12 state-funded Community Mediation Centers will share an overview of community-based and court-connected services offered statewide, including housing, reentry, youth and DEI initiatives. This is an important opportunity to demonstrate the value of community mediation. By logging on, you help show broad community support for the Grant Program and its positive impact across the Commonwealth.

Board of Directors Corner

At our December 16th meeting, the Board met in person at the Oak Bluffs Library to celebrate a successful 2025. Updates were provided on year-end outreach and fundraising, mediation caseloads, program activity and grant progress. Onwards and upwards in 2026!

WHY NOT SIGN UP FOR A COURSE THIS WINTER/SPRING?

Intro to Mediation Evening Course

April 7 – May 12 Intro Basics

May 19 – June 23

Tuesdays 5–7:30 pm on Zoom

Productive Conversations Working with older adults and their families

April 13 – May 18

Open to all including families, professionals, older adults

Mondays 1–2:30 pm on Zoom

Advanced Mini Courses

Improvisaton for Mediators Jan 26 – Feb 13

Summarizing Superpower Feb 20 – Mar 16

Feelings Are Welcomed Mar 23 – April 13

Mondays 4–5:30 on Zoom

Divorce and Family––Experienced Mediators

Advanced Qualification

8 sessions + practicum

March 19 – May 7

Thursdays 4–6 + hours tbd

Conflict Coaching

Next offering in September 2026

9 sessions plus practicum

Begins Sept. 13

Mondays 10–12:30 on Zoom

Go here for complete Courses at a Glance and registration links.

Events & Calendars

Join us at:

The annual virtual Legislative Briefing. Jan. 27 at 11 am. See above
MV Wellness Day at Slough Farm Feb. 7, all day
"Weaving Generations" cross-generational conflict resolution and panel. Saturdays March 20, April 11, April 25
Fall River "Spring into Wellness" day, 10–1 pm
Look for our upcoming presentation of our Peace Curriculum for 3rd and 6th grades. TBD.

Our Friends’ Calendars:

MEDIATORS’ CHECK-IN

A weekly drop-in for those in the conflict resolution field including local, national and international mediators, facilitators and coaches. New topics weekly. Donations appreciated. Wednesdays at 4 pm––all welcome!

January 14 –– Metaphors for conflict
January 21 –– Listening better
January 28 –– Detecting interests
February 4 –– Exploring conflict avoidance
February 11 –– Exploring conflict accommodation
February 18 –– Conflict de-escalation
February 25 –– Co-mediation: Planning
March 4 –– Co-mediation: Working it out in the mediation
March 11 –– Co-mediation: Debriefing and peer feedback

Email education@mvmediation.org for the Zoom link.

Do you have a topic or series suggestion for Mediator Check-in?

Send us your ideas here: https://forms.gle/J7mFfw99awtKKsS

SPECIALIZED TEAM MEETINGS

Wednesdays 9–10:30 am

January 14 • Housing

January 21 • Family/Divorce

January 28 • Small Claims

February 4 • Bristol Expansion

February 11 • New Mediator Policy Orientation

February 18 • Workplace Conflict

February 25 • Confict Coaching

March 4 • Elder/Multigen

Email info@mvmediation.org for the Zoom link.

DEIJ+B: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, JUSTICE + BELONGING

Learning through

a Conflict Resolution Lens

January invites us to begin the new year with intention, reflection and a renewed commitment to equity, inclusion, justice and belonging. As many of us set goals and envision change, this month encourages us to consider how our values show up in our relationships, workplaces and communities.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 19) – Dr. King’s legacy challenges us to examine injustice while also strengthening our capacity for nonviolent communication, empathy and collective action. Honoring his work means not only remembering history, but also practicing dialogue that centers equity and mutual respect.

New Year & Goal-Setting – The start of the year offers an opportunity to reflect on personal and organizational intentions around inclusion and belonging. As we set resolutions, we can ask ourselves: How do we create space for voices that are often unheard? How do we respond to conflict with openness rather than defensiveness?

International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan. 27) – This day calls us to remember the devastating consequences of hatred, dehumanization and silence. Honoring the victims and survivors requires ongoing education, reflection and a commitment to confronting bias and discrimination wherever it appears.

February celebrates Black History Month – Black history is American history. We celebrate love in all its forms on Valentine's Day. Then mid-month is a week with President's Day, the Lunar New Year, the beginning of Ramadan and Ash Wednesday. February is a month of celebration as we work toward a more peaceful world for all.

OUR PROGRAMS & SERVICES:

CONFLICT COACHING

A voluntary, confidential and self-determined one-on-one process designed to assist individuals to gain a new perspective. Conflict coaching can be an alternate service when one person requests mediation but the other party declines. Clients, along with their coach, review healthy conflict-resolution tools and strategies, leaving clients with a self-determined plan to productively resolve conflict.

LOCAL CONSUMER PROGRAM

MV Mediation’s Local Consumer Program (LCP) is part of a statewide network of agencies working together in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office to help protect consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices. If you’re facing challenges with retail purchases, utility bills, home improvement contracts, car sales and financing or any other consumer transaction, our LCP staff can provide advocacy and an opportunity to work with the business toward a solution—without going to court. To file a complaint against a business, the first step is to fill out the complaint form through the Attorney General's Consumer Advocacy & Response Division.

FAMILY MEDIATION PROGRAM

Divorce, Family & Conflict Resolution

We offer help talking with your spouse or partner about divorce, parenting issues, custody schedules, financial decisions and communication itself, and can help you to renegotiate existing plans. We also work with reconciling couples and those who have conflicts they need help to resolve. Listen to this description of Divorce and Family Mediation.

MEDIAÇÃO EM CASOS DE FAMÍLIA E DIVÓRCIO

Divórcio, Disputas em Familia e Resolução de Conflitos

Conflitos entre marido e mulher, pais e filhos, problemas conjugais, com parceiros ou entre familiares, divórcio, custódia física e legal, planejamento para os cuidados do menor, visitação de menores, revisão do suporte financeiro e plano de visitação, divisão de bens e possível reconciliação. info@mvmediation.org or call 508-693-2999

HOUSING MEDIATION PROGRAM

Tenant or Landlord Conflict?

We offer FREE MEDIATION for housing cases in Dukes and Bristol Counties and information about RAFT––rental financial assistance for back rent or moving out. Take a look at this article from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reporting about erroneous information about tenants being used and affecting homelessness and evictions.

MEDIAÇÃO EM CASOS DE MORADIA

Conflitos entre o proprietário e inquilinos?

Mediação GRÁTIS para qualquer tipo de conflito relativo a sua moradia nos Condados de Dukes e Bristol, e informações sobre o RAFT- programa de assistência financeira.

admin@mvmediation.org or call 508-693-2199

RE-ENTRY PROGRAM

Easier Transition from Incarceration to Community

Re-entry Mediation is FREE to incarcerated individuals, pre-release, and recently released individuals, post-release. For more information, check out our flyers for pre-released and post-released individuals.

IN-COURT AND COURT-REFERRED

MEDIATION SERVICES

MV Mediation provides free mediation services for eviction cases in Bristol and Dukes Counties. We are present at District Courts in Attleboro, Fall River, Taunton and Edgartown for summary process cases. MVMC offers free services for civil cases and small claims in advance of the court date. We are also qualified to provide in-court and court-referred services for Dukes County District, Superior, Probate and Family Courts. We provide mediation for pre-criminal and 286 E harassment cases. Our Juvenile court mediators help with cases referred from the Juvenile Court. MV Mediation waives fees for cases referred by court or with an active docket number.

WORKPLACE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

MV Mediation provides support to resolve conflicts in the workplace. We provide workshops and develop conflict resolution projects with workplaces, nonprofit organizations and municipal and trades workplaces. Our confidential Workplace Management Cohort for supervisors and managers is a popular offering.

FACILITATION SERVICES

MV Mediation provides facilitation services for groups, boards of directors, organizations, companies and families. Neutral and confidential facilitation allows those who are attending the meeting to fully participate. If you need facilitation services, please reach out to discuss your needs. Read this article that describes how a facilitator can help you or your organization.

“We are in a much better place since we had a facilitator help us to pull things together. Thanks to the mediation program for all your help.”

–– A recent facilitation client

SOCIAL MEDIA

Following us on social media is a great way to support MV Mediation! Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Don’t miss out on helpful tips about managing conflicts in your daily life. You will also get the latest information about community events, workshops and courses.

Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

THANK YOU, DONORS!

Thank you for being part of our important conflict resolution work for 41 years. Your generosity helps us to further our impact and support community needs.

Donate here