Taking Peacemaking Public, Cyberweek 2007–EngagingConflicts.com

Posted October 18, 2007

istock_000001194779xsmall.jpgHere’s what’s posted for tomorrow’s Cyberweek panel– call in to the phone bridge for the call. Phone 1-605-475-8590 and when prompted, enter the conference room ID number 5650382, with a pound sign added to the end. If you are calling using Skype, the number is +990008275650382.

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We are talking ODR during Cyberweek, Online Dispute Resolution, people using the internet directly to get better at resolving disputes. This program is extends the discussion to focus more about directly giving the public tools and insights via the internet, not merely through institutions or individuals that they may find using the internet. And how can we use the internet better to give the public those tools and insights?
SOME EXAMPLES:
B. The public can already directly access here online resources published by conflict specialists (in the ADR sense):
  1. Diane Levin’s World Directory of Alternative Dispute Resolution Blogs
  2. Peacemaker’s Trust
  3. Beyond Intractability
    1. e.g., article resource on “Red/Blue Polarization” (note: this is “3.a.”)
  4. Mediate.com
  5. William Uri’s The Third Side
C. The public can already directly access here online resources published by professionals not conventionally thought of as conflict specialists (in the ADR sense):
  1. Public Conversations Project
  2. Tolerance.org
    1. e.g., article resource on “101 Tools for Tolerance” (note: this is “2.a.”)
  3. Peer Resources (a Canadian corporation that specializes in peer assistance, mentorship, and coaching)
D. What are our panel Conflict Specialists doing to directly give the public insight and tools through the internet, or thinking of doing?
  1. Vickie Pynchon, Settle It Now Negotiation Blog
  2. Diane Levin, Online Guide to Mediation, and the World Directory (above)
  3. Colm Brannigan, Mediate.ca website
  4. Gini Nelson, Engaging Conflicts blog and Engaging Conflicts Today newsletter
How are other professionals effectively speaking to the public and providing them direct access to information and tools in ways we conflict specialists aren’t practiced in? Might we want to innovate to communicate more like they do?

E. Our guests:

  1. Michael Skoler, Executive Director, Center for Innovation in Journalism, Minnesota Public Radio at American Public Media. MPR’s Public Insight Journalism (PIJ) model features online simulations and collaborative tools, a public source network of over 30,000 people, a contact database that tracks expertise and interactions, and knowledge management software. See also:

    www.consumerconsequences.org (online game to engage the audience in sustainability)
    www.marketplace.org/americandream (online collaborative tool asking for ideas on how to preserve the American Dream)

  2. Sandra Blakeslee, a regular contributor to The New York Times who specializes in the brain sciences. Sandra will talk particularly about the need to tell stories to reach people, especially when explaining complex and subtle subject matter in science. Her newest book (cowritten with her son, also a science writer), just released within the past few weeks, is The Body Has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps in Your Brain Help You Do (Almost) Everything Better. See also the book’s website: www.thebodyhasamindofitsown.com

  3. Ben Stokes, Program Officer in the Digital Learning and Media area at The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, previously a co-founder of Games For Change, a spin-off from the Serious Games Initiative that concentrates on advancing the use of digital games for positive societal change. Prior to this, he was the e-learning architect for Student Activist Community and a program manager overseeing digital learning projects at NetAid under the umbrella of Education for Global Citizenship. See also:spotlight.macfound.org (blog for digital media and learning initiative)

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