After a very rewarding three years as president of KMC, it is time for me to pass the torch to our very capable new board of directors. I am happy to announce that Anne Sawyer was voted in as the new KMC President at our board meeting on December 12th. We also welcomed Emily Dixon as our Secretary and Grant Committee Chair and Andrea Avila as our Treasurer and member of the Grant Committee. Thank you to our other board members, Wendy Kramer and Chuck Ervin. Also to our Communications and Development Supervisor, Madeline Wall.

I also want to express my gratitude to Ariella Morrison for her faithful service over the past 3 years. Ariella was instrumental in helping us fundraise and Chaired the Grant Committee for many years, which is such an integral part of what we do as an organization. KMC will miss her energy, help, and support.

I have served on the board for 5 years and so much has changed in that time. Under past President, Maria Simpson, the board grew and thrived for many years. Maria served as President of the SCMA Education Foundation, together with Jason Harper and Julie Ware, were able to get the organization on track and donated the remaining funds from an original grant from Woody Mosten to college libraries for mediation books and other media. When I joined in 2015, we expanded our grant program and were able to start fundraising again. We awarded grants to some community mediation centers, as well as other groups supporting mediation and conflict resolution. In 2017, at the board retreat, we did a lot of soul-searching and decided that we wanted our focus to strictly be on the support of peer mediation programs in schools. That is when Kids Managing Conflict was born.

Since then, we have hosted the Symposium for Kids Managing Conflict for 3 years, sponsored many trips to the Museum of Tolerance for Southern California Peer Mediators, and continued the Celebration of Peer Mediation. Last year, I was proud to award the first-ever Young Peacemakers Award to Sarai Benitez and this year to Sein Yun and Porter Wade. And a special Peer Mediator Achievement Award to Will Hoadley-Brill, peer mediator and peacemaker extraordinaire, who has been a constant inspiration for what peer mediators become. We expanded our grants to support schools who wanted to start or maintain their peer mediation program and over the past 3 years have donated over $45,000 to Southern California Schools. Of course, this year marked the inception of the KMC Community founded by Sarai Benitez and Will Hoadley-Brill.

I am very proud of all we have accomplished. None of it would have been possible without the amazing people and organizations who have worked alongside me.

Special thanks to past board members - Jason Harper, Maria Simpson, Julie Ware, Shaune Gatlin, Betsy Decyk, Mike Powell, and Marvin Whistler.

Thank you to the advisory board members for their support, Ken Cloke, Joan Goldsmith, Dr. Pamela Kreiser, and Marco and Kathryn Turk. A huge debt of gratitude goes to the Southern California Mediation Association Members, as well as, the Judicate West Foundation for their generous and ongoing support over the past 5 years. Also, to the American Arbitration Association, whose generosity helped us expand our programs and grants to schools. The on-going support of the NCRP program at CSU Dominguez Hills and our partner organizations who value peer mediation as much as we do - APADRC and Western Justice Center.

I know I am forgetting someone and those who are too numerous to list, so please forgive me. Just know I carry you all in my heart and am grateful for your help, guidance, and support over the past 5 years.

Please continue your support of this amazing organization as we continue to help support peer mediation.

With gratitude, appreciation, and love,

Sally

RECHARGE, REBOOT, AND REIMAGINE: Innovating Peer Mediation

Week of April 12th-16th, 2021 at 3:30 - 5 PM PST each day

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

​It was my great honor to be sworn in as President of Kids Managing Conflict earlier this month. I am thrilled to be leading such an amazing organization that strives to support and promote programs in K-12 schools that teach students conflict management skills and enrich their lives into adulthood. To further this mission we raise and distribute funds, as well as serve as a resource for those seeking networks and information on conflict resolution.

As we all are coping and adapting to a pandemic, politics, racial injustice, economic crises, and more, the Kids Managing Conflict team has not only stepped up to these challenges, they have been able to tap into innovation and connection by creating a new Peer Mediator Alumni Team and Online Community https://community.kidsmanagingconflict.org/

So many times throughout this past year, we found ourselves challenged to navigate a constantly changing path forward. Our normal routines and human interactions felt like they were thrown into a basket and into the air, not really knowing or understanding what will be on the other side of this “normal.”

Kids Managing Conflict, like many other organizations, had to immediately pivot. We had to move all of our live events online. We had to rely heavily on our own personal conflict resolution skills, as we handled pandemic challenges especially as it related to supporting schools and students who are now being challenged more than ever. Never before in my lifetime has it felt like there is so much uncertainty. Yet, we continue to thrive and grow and it gives me great hope!

As I step into the role of President of Kids Managing Conflict, I am humbled and cognizant of the needs of our youth. I am experiencing all of these things as a parent as well with my youngest daughter in her sophomore year in high school. It motivates me to be laser-focused on discovering unknown opportunities that continue to keep us together even while being apart. Community is what has gotten me through the last year, albeit virtual, community nonetheless. We discovered we can still connect, even if it was on a different level.

​The KMC team was one of those communities for me and it has been a welcome and much-needed source of connection and unity. I have seen our team pivot and adapt and more importantly, connect in ways we have never expected, nor had the opportunity to do so in the past. I have seen resilience and innovation in a short and challenging time.

It is motivating and inspiring, giving me great hope we can turn a life-changing situation into new opportunities, one step, and one day at a time. I am taking this opportunity to close out 2020 reflecting, recharging, and rebooting! Then it will be time for all of us to reimagine. In 2021, our team will do just that and continue to reimagine the possibilities for peer mediation in this new terrain. Coming together will be just the beginning! I look forward to connecting, collaborating, growing, supporting, and serving this amazing organization and peer mediation in 2021.

Happy New Year,

Anne Sawyer

"It's Not About What It Is, It Is About What It Can Become." - Dr. Seuss

Thank you to everyone who supported KMC for our Fame night and Giving Tuesday. We raised over $2000 to help support the new KMC Community.

KMC Giving Tuesday Virtual Family Game Night Fundraiser was SUCH a blast! We had a great time getting to know each other in our team-building exercise and we had a lot of laughs playing bingo, trivia Jeopardy, and a Scavenger Hunt! The KMC Community Executive Board helped facilitate the evening while encouraging peer mediation advocates to register for the KMC Community. We awarded prizes that included KMC merchandise, See's candies and several gift cards! ​ Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. If we missed you on Tuesday, you can still donate now to support Peer Mediation Programs! ​ THANK YOU again to all of our supporters! Kids Managing Conflict is forever grateful!

Weigand Elementary School

KMC President, Sally Patchen, met with Principal Tamara Honegan to deliver grant funds for Weigand Avenue Elementary School's Peer Mediation Program, led by Program Coordinator Rebecca Jones.

Wiegand's Peer Mediation Program, called the Tiger Club, was created in 2019 by psychiatric social worker, Rebecca Jones. We are thrilled to aid this program for the first time for the 2020-2021 school year.

Tiger Club brings 4th and 5th-grade students together to discuss active listening, social-emotional learning, and empathy. The peer mediators promote violence-free conflict resolution and healthy communication skills.

Orange County School of the Arts

KMC Vice President, Anne Sawyer, and Communications and Development Supervisor, Madeline Wall, met with the Dean of Special Services, Dr. Gregory Endelman, and Student Peer Mediator, Sein Yun, to deliver grant funds for Orange County School of the Arts' (OCSA) Peer Mediation Program.

Dr. Gregory Endelman will serve as the Administrative Program Coordinator for the Peer Mediation Program. The mission for the program is to provide peer mediation sessions for students that feel comfortable resolving their interpersonal conflicts with other students, rather than adults. Their main goal is to teach students how to resolve their conflicts in a peaceful and effective manner in a safe space.

Eco Claire Fontaine

Kids Managing Conflict President, Sally Patchen, met with Ecole Claire Fontaine Principal, Joelle Dumas, to deliver KMC funding!

Their plan is to use the KMC grant to develop its Social-Emotional curriculum using peer mediation. Students will develop social skills, learn how to name and manage feelings, and build a toolbox of conflict resolution abilities. Their goal is to teach students to be well prepared to manage interpersonal difficulties and conflict throughout the rest of their school careers and lives.

Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High School

KMC President, Sally Patchen, met with Dean of School Culture, Maribel Soto, to deliver funding for Alliance Tennenbaum Family Technology High School's Peer Mediation Program!

Students will learn to evaluate situations and apply the skills learned to resolve situations. These essential skills need to be developed wand will be beneficial in and out of the classroom. Students will be empowered to prevent conflict from arising and encourage discourse over violence. The goal of their program is to increase peer to peer interactions and communication as measured by a reduction in the number of behavior referrals. A second goal for this peer mediation program is an increase in self-referrals.

Kids Managing Conflict believes that Black lives matter and stands as an ally with the Black Lives Matter movement! We are in support of all peaceful protest to bring attention to racial injustice not only for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor but also for the unjust killing of unarmed Black people by police over time. Sometimes I feel hopeless and afraid that nothing will change. However, when I hear the young people that we support talk about what they have done and what they continue to do to create change in their schools, homes, and communities I am reminded of the impact of peer mediation programs. We need unwavering and consistent attention to the Black Lives Matter movement and never become complacent again. James Baldwin said that ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ We believe that these students have the tools and the ability to change the world for the better. 

The 3rd Symposium On Kids Managing Conflict Webinar assembled professionals in the field of conflict resolution techniques used in elementary through high schools with an emphasis on peer mediation to share their expertise with you.

Monday, May 11th, 2020 - Bidyut Bose (BK) Executive Director of the Niroga Institute presenting Dynamic Mindfulness - Dynamic Mindfulness is an evidence-based, trauma-informed program that strengthens stress resilience and social-emotional learning.

Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 - Elissa Barrett, Shaune Gatlin, and Arturo Magana from Western Justice Center (WJC) and Mayme Donsker from Tools for Peace presenting Comfort with Conflict: An Interactive Learning Session with Western Justice Center - Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) basics and how to use WJC’s School Tools website, a resource for teaching CRE in the classroom or through distance learning. Tools for a teacher or parent to help kids strengthen their self-awareness, manage their emotions, recognize bias, and become conflict-adept. ABCs of Conflict is designed to teach you how to create and sustain a peer mediation program at your school, how to tackle bias and bullying in your classroom, and how to use restorative justice practices.

Wednesday, May 13th, 2020 - Emily Thompson and Rick Eaton from the Museum of Tolerance presenting Combat Hate  - a classroom-based workshop that engages students in critical thinking for decoding and rejecting online hate. This is an online safety curriculum aligned with ISTE digital citizenship standards and based on foundational media literacy skills.

Thursday, May 14th, 2020 - Karen Crowley-Marks ~ Retired Dean University High School, Rama Kadri ~ Peer Mediation Advisor South Pasadena High School, teacher and advisor to the 18 student leaders who take part in the Peer Mediation Program, Heather Schon ~ Guidance Counselor Palisades High School , Alexis Mele - School Counselor at South Hills High School in West Covina. Peer Mediation at School and Beyond - Peer mediators learn the basics of conflict resolution through their training and experiences helping their fellow students solve issues that arise at school. The same students have the added ability to take these skills home to help solve family conflicts and become an example for their family members and community.

Friday, May 15th, 2020 10:00 am - Will Hoadley-Brill, Dakotah Lief Hamilton and Sarai Benitez presenting Peer Mediators Tell Their Stories - Peer mediators tell their stories about what inspired them to help their fellow students and the impact the program has had on their lives.

KIDS MANAGING CONFLICT is hosting a Comedy Night Fundraiser! This is going to be a fantastic evening full of networking, laughter, raffles, and prizes. ​ The Headliner Comedian for the evening is up and coming comedian Ethan Howard! Ethan is a 17 year old stand up comedian from Los Angeles who has performed all over the United States. He was one of the Faces of the Future in Ventura Blvd. Magazine in 2019. He was also the winner of SNL's Kenan Thompson's Road to NYW Experience in 2018.

All proceeds will benefit Kids Managing Conflict ​ DATE: January 30, 2020 TIME: 7pm- 9pm - Doors Open at 630 PM TICKETS: $40.00 in advance; $50.00 at door; SCMA Members receive special pricing of $40.00 per person in advance and $50.00 at the door. College Student pricing $30.00 SHOW TYPE: Stand Up RESTRICTIONS: 18 & Older with ID; 21 and Over for alcoholic drinks Two Drink Minimum Per Person FULL Menu available for purchase LOCATION: https://www.thecomedyunion.com/ Comedy Union 5040 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 Parking is street parking only with meters active until 8pm weekdays.

ABOUT: Bring in the New Year right! Join us on Thursday, January 20, 2020 for an evening of comedy, prizes, and more. Laugh your hearts out with young and dazzling comedian Ethan Howard, who will be taking the stage for an unforgettable night. All proceeds benefit Kids Managing Conflict, a 501 (c) (3) so join us on this night out for a very noble cause! ​