|
|
|
|
|
|
About Us
"Us" encompasses a broad ad hoc coalition of individuals and organizations who engage in promoting healthy dialogue. This broad base includes mediators, facilitators, dialogue advocates, educators, ministers, peacemakers, organizational development consultants, restorative justice advocates, community mediation centers and other forward thinking citizens from the general public. The catalyst and project architect is Cathy Gilmer, a mediator, facilitator and coach.
Fiscal Sponsorship
Following September 11 I started giving free workshops in conflict resolution in the spirit of "change yourself, change the world." The workshops end with an invitation to each person to resolve one conflict in their own lives. I don't ask people to "give Peace a chance"; I ask them to pursue it actively, in their own lives. I ask them to get down in the "peace trenches" to experience what it feels like to let go of one's "views" in order to meet actual needs. I know what it feels like. I teach these skills, I mediate with these skills...and yet I learned I could not resolve an important conflict in my own life without the help of a mediator. Interdependence Day is a way in which we can educate people to better meet the challenges of conflict and the habitual patterns of thinking and language that escalate rather than resolve conflict. Another stimulus for the project emerged from those workshops. Even though there are at lease half a dozen agencies that provide free mediation services in the state of Maine, no one in my workshops, knew they existed. Interdependence Day would like to change that. There are more than 500 Community Mediation Centers. Check out free mediation services to find an agency offering community and family Mediation in your area. Neutrals are a vital resource for helping people work through conflict peacefully and without outside authorities. Equally important is the need for Neutrals to take an active role in educating people to the critical role listening plays in a peaceful society. I look at the scope of the change required to shift cultures from war to effective dialogue and I remind myself it is not my responsibility to change the world. I can look at the history of war and see dramatic changes in recent generations. My responsibility is to keep walking that path, to place one foot in front of the other on the generational strategy of dialogue. Please join us in the spirit of Interdependence, Cathy Gilmer
The following people and organizations have provided
collaborative assistance in spreading the word about Interdependence Day, September
12, Next day, Next Step. We gratefully acknowledge their support. For links to the above friends click here. Interdependence Day would also like to acknowledge the significant
contributions of time, materials or small miracles generously given by the following
individuals: Others who have helped Interdependence Day grow from
its seedling idea to robust reality are also greatly appreciated for those gifts
of caring: Sarah Campbell, Laurel Frye, Jane Haskell, Sandy Hierbacher, Anita
Jones, Susanna Liller, Karl Rogers, John Selser, Tracy Quadro Walk, Elaine Walsh
and Dave Webb.
|
|
|
