The Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) is an independent, not-for-profit 501(C)(3) organization with a mission to work with individuals, communities, courts and other institutions to manage and resolve conflict. Since 1979, CCR has accomplished this mission by offering pro bono mediation services and conflict management training to Chicago area institutions, organizations and businesses.
Tales from CCR Mediators
Zhang came to mediation because he had been arrested for using a BB gun to shoot out the windows of his old elementary school. Zhang and his mother, Li, met with Patricia and Bernice, the principal and dean of students of the school. Patricia and Bernice had helped Zhang through some behavioral issues when he was a student at the elementary school.
After meeting individually with the parties, the mediator brought them together for a group discussion. Zhang explained that the incident was unrelated to his old elementary school, but due to personal frustration about the fact that his mother and father had separated a few years ago and he felt things had been deteriorating in their home life ever since.
Patricia and Bernice were relieved to understand that it wasn’t something more sinister or dangerous to the future of the school and its students. However, they still felt betrayed, disrespected, and disappointed that Zhang would do something like this after all they had done for him and his family, and that Li avoided them. Li was able to address this by describing how she had been angry at Zhang for having the BB gun in the first place and embarrassed that she hadn’t been more aware of his behavior. Additionally, she was told by the police that she should hire an attorney and not talk about the case until she had done so.
By being given the opportunity to tell their story and have it heard by the school representatives, Zhang and Li were able to express remorse about their actions while providing context for them. This allowed Patricia and Bernice to mitigate their fear and anger around the lack of communication and to begin to focus on restoration rather than punishment.
The mediator helped the parties craft an agreement that outlined a specific schedule of service work that Zhang would do at the school on a weekly basis until the cost of the damage had been worked out. When the mediation was over, they all hugged and promised to stay in communication should anything change or need to be adjusted.
After meeting individually with the parties, the mediator brought them together for a group discussion. Zhang explained that the incident was unrelated to his old elementary school, but due to personal frustration about the fact that his mother and father had separated a few years ago and he felt things had been deteriorating in their home life ever since.
Patricia and Bernice were relieved to understand that it wasn’t something more sinister or dangerous to the future of the school and its students. However, they still felt betrayed, disrespected, and disappointed that Zhang would do something like this after all they had done for him and his family, and that Li avoided them. Li was able to address this by describing how she had been angry at Zhang for having the BB gun in the first place and embarrassed that she hadn’t been more aware of his behavior. Additionally, she was told by the police that she should hire an attorney and not talk about the case until she had done so.
By being given the opportunity to tell their story and have it heard by the school representatives, Zhang and Li were able to express remorse about their actions while providing context for them. This allowed Patricia and Bernice to mitigate their fear and anger around the lack of communication and to begin to focus on restoration rather than punishment.
The mediator helped the parties craft an agreement that outlined a specific schedule of service work that Zhang would do at the school on a weekly basis until the cost of the damage had been worked out. When the mediation was over, they all hugged and promised to stay in communication should anything change or need to be adjusted.
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Upcoming Events & News
Check out THIS ARTICLE from Illinois Equal Justice Foundation's October 2018 newsletter featuring CCR! Check out THIS ARTICLE featuring CCR's own Training Director, Pari Karim! Check out THIS ARTICLE found in the Chicago Bar Foundation newsletter. Thank you to the CBF for their continued support and for highlighting our work! _____________________ MST Trainings: June MST (6/10, 6/11, 6/17, 6/18, 6/19) July MST (7/11, 7/12, 7/17, 7/18, 7/19 _____________________ Reflective Practice Group Join us for a brown bag discussion the first Wednesday of each month from 12:00 -1:00 p.m. at CCR. Participants will chat about case reflections, mediation trends, and skills. This is a forum to talk about all different types of mediations and is not limited to work that may have been done at CCR – although mediators are welcome to discuss those cases as well. To RSVP or for more information, please email Maia Buess at mbuess@ccrchicago.org. ______________________ 
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CCR is excited to have reached the final round of consideration for an Impact Grant. Impact Grants Chicago awards organizations “addressing critical needs and social issues facing Chicago.” CCR is proud to have advanced to this level, and will participate in a final presentation on May 28th.
Domestic Relations MediationCCR has been providing services in partnership with the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County for more than 20 years. Through its domestic relations programs, CCR helps parties discuss initial parenting agreements, changes to parenting agreements for both divorced and never-married parents, as well as issues of child support and other divorce-related financial issues. The topics addressed in these mediations include communication, parenting time schedules, education decisions and expenses, child support, healthcare decisions and expenses, religious affiliation and extracurricular activities. Mediation allows the parties to resolve many disputes before they go to court and, in some cases, before a court case is even filed.
For more information, or to start a domestic relations mediation case, email cm@ccrchicago.org. CCR is excited to announce two new partnerships - United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and Polk Bros. Foundation!
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Watch the video below to learn more about CCR
To watch other videos about CCR and our services, listen to Rae Kyritsi interviewed by Karen Conti on WGN and learn more about CCR, please click here.
Recent Events
(Please see our Past Events at CCR page for more!)
There's No Place Like CCR: 40th Annual Gala Celebration
Thank you to all those who attended our annual gala on April 18th! A special thanks to Jon Allegretto Artistry for these amazing photos, Grant Thornton for hosting, and all the volunteers, sponsors, donors, Board members, Auxiliary Board members, staff and guests who made it all happen. All of your hard work helps provide free mediation to the Chicagoland area!
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With Generous Support from
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