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Our
Mission
The Mission of the Mississippi Mediation Project
(“MMP”) is to empower residents of targeted Mississippi Gulf
Coast communities with new capacities to work collaboratively
through the use of positive problem solving, effective
communication skills, Mediation services and other Alternate
Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) processes, in an effort to diminish
the conflicts which are impeding the resiliency and recovery of
Gulf Coast residents and communities following Hurricane
Katrina.
About the Mississippi Mediation Project
The Mississippi Mediation Project ("MMP") has grown from
dialogue between independent first responders in the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina and a collaborative group of professionals
from various parts of the country. All agreed that conflict
resolution skills bring significant and substantive value to
every person and community faced with the challenge of
rebuilding and laying groundwork for a stronger future.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, individuals, businesses and
governments are faced with unforeseen and continuing challenges,
which have set the stage for positive growth. Tasks which were
previously cumbersome (from the individual securing a home loan
to local leaders running a municipality), have now become far
more complex. Conflict resolution tools help decision-makers at
every level to sort out the details, clarify information,
understand the "playing field" and assess choices in a more
meaningful, productive and system-aware manner creating new
capacity for positive growth and effective collaboration within
any community.
The practice of conflict resolution skills set the stage for
shared dialogue, active listening, and solutions built on the
appropriate participation of all stakeholders, with the promise
of ensuring that the essential needs of individuals and
communities are more effectively met without waste of precious
resources. These tools provide stakeholders a process for
working through conflict with ease, compassion, intelligence and
dignity. The Mississippi Gulf Coast recovery effort is
ripe for the integration of these tools. The framing and
delivery system for implementation will be customized for each
community using input from local leaders, organizations (both
governmental and NGO), focus group and/or town hall forums.
Who is involved in the Mississippi Mediation Project?
Nationally recognized conflict resolution trainers and noted
mediators from Mississippi and many other areas of the country,
including the core group of project proponents from Southern
California and Washington, have donated their services and
expertise to the MMP in its formulation in order to launch this
capacity building effort. Local professionals from the Gulf
Coast area have agreed to provide in-kind donations, services
and discounted space for meetings and trainings, and assist with
outreach, coordination and logistics for the project.
Our Contributors
Board of
Directors
Advisory Board
Staff
Collaborating Organizations |
