Normally the café meets on the second Monday of every month, but in October, we will meet on the third Monday, the evening of October 20th, from 5:00 to 6:00PM. This will be a Zoom Meeting, and you must register to join. Please click the link below to register. Note: you may be routed to an interim screen by Bitly for a few seconds before you get to the registration page.
The driving force behind Common Good Café, and Philosophy Café before that, is Susanne van der Meer. We first met years ago at the library when she came to promote Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado: conflictresolutionmonth.org . This organization has a motto of sorts: “Listen, Talk, Work it Out.” Their yearly celebration every October aims at encouraging individuals and groups to resolve their conflicts instead of inflaming them. Each year, they also have a book suggestion, and in 2025 it’s Calling In, by Loretta J. Ross. The subtitle is, How to start making change with those you’d rather cancel. By way of honoring that organization, this month’s topic is “Mediation.” This could include anything from the informal act of “intervention in a dispute in order to resolve it” (a dictionary definition), to formal and professional arbitration as an important part of the legal system. We will be joined by Sam Benson, Self-represented Litigant Coordinator from the Colorado Courts. We also hope to have Erin Ogletree, who has experience in the field of mediation.
Mediator Sam Benson give a general introduction about mediation, including information about the local mediation programs at the Las Animas/Huerfano county courts in small claims and evictions.
After this we will explore how mediation skills can be used in our everyday life, as a way to engage in conflict constructively, rather than avoid it or have it escalate.
Susanne has selected a few links to get the conversation started:
In connection with October is Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado
https://www.conflictresolutionmonth.org/
What is Community Mediation?
https://www.nafcm.org/page/Frequently_Asked_
Constructive conflict guide
https://www.beyondintractability.org/bi24/guide
Podcasts
We will meet on 2nd Monday of every Month, at 5:00PM via Zoom. Please contact Tom Potter for more information.
We will meet on 2nd Monday of every Month, at 5:00PM via Zoom. Please contact Tom Potter for more information.
We will meet on 2nd Monday of every Month, at 5:00PM via Zoom. Please contact Tom Potter for more information.
We will meet on 2nd Monday of every Month, at 5:00PM via Zoom. Please contact Tom Potter for more information.
