Mediation center hosting open house: Event part of Conflict Resolution Day

In observance of Conflict Resolution Day, Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is hosting an open house from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday at the Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni St., Suite PH 1014 B-2.

The event is free and open to the public.

“The highlight of our open house is our one-hour Brown Bag Lunch Series simulation at noon,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “We will conduct a ‘live-action mediation’ to demonstrate how mediators empower people to find their own best solutions.”

Various other activities are interspersed throughout the day. The morning lineup includes a 9:30 a.m. showing of the video “Mediation: An Alternative to Court”; a live demonstration of “Got Conflict? What Happens When You Call Us For Help!” at 10 a.m.; and a live demonstration of a “client intake” leading up to the mediation simulation at 11 a.m.

Afternoon activities include a 1:30 p.m. panel with volunteer mediators titled “Why Does Mediation Work?”; a 2:45 p.m. mini-workshop, “Active Listening”; and a 3:45 p.m. mini-workshop, “Inner Peace Techniques.”

The public is invited to take a quiz to win a door prize, sign the Hawaii Mediation Pledge, talk story with staff and volunteers, watch mediation videos, listen to mediation PSAs, browse literature, explore the office and more.

Conflict Resolution Day is an annual international observance that takes place every third Thursday in October.

The event is sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution, an organization that promotes awareness of peaceful means of resolving disagreements and encourages the use of conflict resolution in schools, families, businesses, communities, government and the legal system.

The open house is co-sponsored by the Hawaii County Bar Association.

For more information, call 935-7844 or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.