ABA sponsors national Mediation Week celebration

The American Bar Association’s annual Mediation Week celebration begins Oct. 14, with a theme of “Mediation, Civil Discourse and ABA 2011 Resolution 108.” About two dozen events are planned in the UnitedStates and abroad.

ABA 2011 Resolution 108, approved by the ABA House of Delegates at the Annual Meeting in 2011, provided a call for action for meaningful steps to enhance the constructive role of lawyers in promoting more civil public discourse. Generally, this includes engaging in a serious exchange of views, focusing on issues rather than individuals, thoughtful listening, seeking sources of disagreement and points of common interest, open-mindedness and willingness to change one’s mind, and treating the ideas of others with respect.

Mediation Week programs range across a broad spectrum of topics, from “How Mediation Programs Can Help the Homeless Population” in Los Angeles to an exploration of conflict dynamics in Cape Town, South Africa.

Also, the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, organizer of Mediation Week, and the section’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter will host a “Human Library” of leading national mediation experts in the legal field and academics. The meet-and-mingle event offers a chance to talk face to face with accomplished mediation professionals and will occur on Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 5-7 p.m. at ABA offices at 1050 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C.

In 2011, the ABA declared Mediation Week to be held in October, in part building on the efforts of other national, state and local organizations that have traditionally celebrated conflict resolution during this month. Click here for additional information, including a toolkit that provides resources and sample materials related to Mediation Week.