August is Back to School Month | | All About RSCCM's New Logo | | | | |
On July 29, RSCCM launched a new logo.
The new logo symbolizes inclusion and coming together as we increase our efforts to engage community members in our six county region.
For RSCCM, the orange symbolizes neutrality of our mediators. The circle is part of our message of welcoming inclusion and accessibility.
The logo emphasizes a deepening of our efforts to incorporate community at every step of our processes.
Want to hear more about upcoming changes? Be sure to follow us on Facebook.
| | Mediator Feature: Rob Schafer | | |
Pictured: General Civil Mediator Rob Schafer, RSCCM | |
Rob Schafer began working in the small claims division of RSCCM in January 2025. He values modeling professional, fair, clear-cut, and neutral mediation.
Rob explains, "I think mediation can be a scary word for people. I think people are not familiar with what mediation is…What I try to do is make them understand from the get-go that the whole process is going to be professional; it’s going to be fair; it’s going to be balanced. We are neutral, third parties. We work with the plaintiff and the defendant…to really make sure that both of the parties really come to an agreement they can live with."
Learn more about Rob and the rest of RSCCM's mediation team.
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Mid-September kicks off with our General Civil Mediation Training. Register now to learn how to become a mediator and grow in this important field of training. Visit www.rsccm.org/train. | |
Mediation: It's Not Just About the Courts
Mediation offers a cost-effective, timely, and confidential way for parties to resolve disputes without immediately resorting to the courts. Mediation outside of a courtroom empowers individuals to come to mutually acceptable agreements by allowing them to share their perspectives more openly and in greater depth than they typically could in a courtroom setting.
While many of our cases are court-referred, mediation isn't just about the courts. Pre-court Mediation gives people greater control over the outcome, helping them craft solutions that best suit their unique needs, rather than simply receiving a judgment from a judge. This process not only preserves relationships and reduces stress but also helps build a more collaborative, understanding community—with the ultimate goal of transforming conflict into future-focused conversation
Check out RSCCM's Mediation Page for more info about mediation.
| | | Restorative Justice: Back to School | | Pictured: RJ Program Manager Enrique Garza leads a facilitator training in preparation for facilitators returning back to school. | As the cost of school supplies has risen, so has parental anxiety regarding children going back to school. For more on back-to-school financial challenges for parents, see this press release from Governor Whitmore's Office. | | |
Supporting Students Through Back-to-School Pressures with Restorative Justice: A Conversation with Enrique Garza
In returning to school, students face several pressures including the meeting of relational, financial, mental, and behavioral needs. In this article, Enrique Garza, RSCCM's Restorative Justice Manager, and I discussed the pressures students face during the back-to-school season.
According to Garza, "Within RJ, we can support smoother transitions due to our ability to highlight strengths, and elicit accountability and empower students to feel good about themselves and who they are today." With RJ, students are able to be more successful this back-to-school season.
Read more about our take on back-to-school pressures here.
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Yarden Blumstein, Executive Director, RSCCM | As this season’s theme suggests, we find ourselves at a moment of transition—and, more significantly, a moment of inflection. It’s a time to take stock, look ahead, and embrace the natural tension between routine and change. | |
August Director's Note
Here in Michigan, there’s a familiar saying: there are two seasons—winter and construction. A more poetic version I’ve heard is this: the seasons of consistency and growth. Winter brings a rhythm of routine, structure, and focus—a grounding force that helps us move through the academic year. Summer, by contrast, invites exploration, creativity, and a bit of chaos—the kind that often leads to discovery.
Both seasons are necessary. And both can—and should—coexist beyond their literal timeframes. As we shift back into routines, I encourage you to hold space for spontaneity. Build structure, yes—but leave room for creativity to breathe.
Sometimes, our best ideas emerge when we step off the path, even briefly.
Talk about paradoxes, right? Yet it’s in balancing these opposing energies that we find momentum.
Wishing you a season of steady rhythms and inspired detours.
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RSCCM Talks Books
RSCCM is currently reading Never Split the Difference by FBI negotiator Chris Voss and Tahl Raz as part of our bi-weekly book club. The book discusses strategies for navigating tough conversations and obtaining your desired outcome. The communication strategies outlined in the book have led to many conversations in the office about mediation and its power to shift a conversation toward solutions. Here's a brief snippet from our Mediation Manager Ethan Campbell:
As a mediator, I’ve found that mirroring and labeling are invaluable tools for building trust and defusing tension in the mediation room. As Voss explains in his book, mirroring involves repeating the last few words or key phrases a party has said. In my experience this simple practice can help create a sense of connection between a party and a mediator and can also help people feel heard, especially when paired with intentional pauses and silence. Voss also explains the process of labeling, which goes a step further by identifying and naming the emotions you observe in mediation using phrases like (“It seems like…,” “It sounds like…”). This labeling paired with tactical empathy validates each party’s feelings and brings underlying emotions that drive conflict to the surface. In my experience, by labeling negative emotions, the mediator can help de-escalate anger or fear and create a space for more constructive dialogue. In both techniques, silence is key since it gives participants room to process and respond, allowing for deeper engagement which can shift the dynamic toward resolution.
Ethan's Favorite Quote: “The reasons why a counterpart will not make an agreement with you are often more powerful than why they will make a deal, so focus first on clearing the barriers to agreement. Denying barriers or negative influences gives them credence; get them into the open."
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Sign Up for Mediation Training
Upcoming Mediation Trainings
- September General Civil Mediation Training - Sept 16-22 from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
- October Domestic Relations Mediator Training - Oct 21-28 from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
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👉 Sign Up for Mediation Trainings
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