Lucy Katz Dialogue Resolution

Lucy Katz, JD, former professor of business law and former holder of The Robert C. Wright Professorship in Business Law, Ethics and Dispute Resolution, left an indelible imprint on the Fairfield University community. Her creation, along with Dr. Thomas Pelligrino, of the student peer mediation program provides mediation training and certification for students who go on to serve their peers and the University. Over the years, students have been trained and served in this important and unique role.

Take the professional training offered by the Lucy Katz Dialogue & Resolution Program and enhance your knowledge and skills in conflict resolution.

Mediation is a voluntary process in which trained unbiased mediators help others resolve conflicts. Mediators facilitate communication and helps explore new ideas. Mediation is informal and confidential. The parties to the conflict make key decisions and all final decisions about the outcome. With their mediators guidance, they create their own solutions. At any point the parties can refuse to participate or refuse a particular solution.

10 Reasons To Use Mediation

At the mediation, there will be two peer mediators and a coordinator present for the mediation process. The mediation is private unless situations threaten your life or someone else's or describes child abuse or neglect. These situations will be reported.

The role of a Mediator is to listen and facilitate the conversation between the parties and not to take sides, judge or tell you what to do.

With training in mediation skills, Peer Mediators commit to assisting in dispute resolution using the mediation process. All students are invited to Apply to Become a Peer Mediator. All students are invited to apply for Peer Mediation Training (without the commitment to become a Peer Mediator). Training experience includes:

• Basic principles of collaborative dispute resolution
• Extensive role-play and practice activities
• Helpful hints for conducting mediation

We are pleased to offer these opportunities for teams, clubs or organizations! These serve to provide team bonding, growth, and professional development. Please email kuzcategui@fairfield.edu if you are interested in having any of the following workshops for your respective organization(s).

The Lucy Katz Dialogue & Resolution Program provides trained professional and student Social Justice Mediators to facilitate these workshops.

Team Dynamics Workshop

This workshop focuses on team engagement, developing strong relationships with others, and creating action steps for a healthy team dynamic.

Social Justice 101 – Power Dynamics and Structural Discrimination

This workshop focuses on a group developing a consciousness of inclusion by identifying and rectifying structural discrimination within their community.

Social Justice 201 – Examining and Managing Your Own Privileges

This workshop focuses on examining individual’s privileges or lack thereof in society. Participants will explore the intersection of their multiple social identities (Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality, Spirituality, etc.). By gaining this consciousness, individuals will be able to explore ways to become allies to those groups who do not have the same privileges.

Dealing with Tension

In this workshop, groups will focus on techniques to work through tension, e.g. active listening, story gathering, meaning making, etc. In addition, participants will be introduced to a range of interventions and prevention strategies to promote a healthy dynamic when dealing with tension in your group.