Association for Conflict Resolution, Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ, Day 2, 9/19/19

Yesterday, I wrote about Day 1 of the Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference in Tucson, AZ.

The second day of the conference began with the giving of the Marvin Johnson Diversity Award to Ken Cloke and the Mary Parker Follett Award to Joseph (Josh) Stulberg. In the acceptance of his award, Ken Cloke made these recommendations in supporting diversity:

• Join with other conflict resolvers to organize dialogues on difficult issues with diverse people
• Speak up and stand  up for those who are demonized
• Strengthen diversity everywhere
• Strive for unconditional respect of  the least deserving and hated
• Remember, there is no “them,” it is just “us” 

“Voices for Justice” followed the awards. Julian Portilla(Polarization and Paralysis in the Americas: Do We Have a Role?), Sue Bronson (I Just Wish My Family Could Get Along), Frank Dukes (More Justice, More Peace), Helen Winter (Working from the Heart), Julie Macfarlane and Bernie Mayer (When Mediators Sue) shared stories of seeking justice in the field. The group was facilitated by Lucy Moore.

For the first 90 minute session, I attended “Transborder Perspectives from the Borderlands.” In this session, leaders from Native American communities share about how they have been impacted by the tightening of security along the U.S. border. This group was moderated by Melanie Knapp of the Udall Foundation. Robert Valencia of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe shared how mobility is now greatly restricted along the border, and there is a greater sense of fear. Naomi Miguel from the Tohono O’dohman Nation emphasized the continued need to educate border officials about native culture and ways. Miguel Grageda, a wildlife conservation researcher, shared about the difficulty now in conducting research across the border. And Roberto Chene, a private practitioner in intercultural leadership emphasized the importance of intercultural awareness and the need to discover commonalities between dominant and non-dominant groups.

In the afternoon I attended a session titled “Taking Care: Using Neuroscience to Nurture Professional Resiliency and Boost Career Longevity.” The presenter, Michelle Sylvain, looked at ways to reduce vicarious trauma with practitioners. Her recommendations included: increasing awareness, linking to body/mind/emotion, relationships, interoception, getting grounded, networking and making connections, deploying appreciation, and expanding energy flow.

Finally, the last session was one that I hosted on resume review. With colleagues Julie Shedd and Richard Barbieri we met with several young professionals and students in one on one sessions to review their resumes and talk about their career plans.