Events
2017 Mediator Appreciation & Graduation Picnic
On May 22, 2017 the Mediation Center of Dutchess County brought its valued
Mediators both past and present together for a night of celebration, camaraderie,
food & drink.
Distinguished dignitaries in attendance at Bowdoin Park were Hon. Frank M. Mora and
Linda Murray,Court Attorney to Judge Mora from the City of Poughkeepsie Court.
Judge Mora and Ms. Murray gave heartfelt thanks to our Mediators, explaining that
they serve as an important function to the Court by lightening the heavy case load
and helping to move cases through to quick resolutions.
The Center celebrated the graduation and addition of 8 new mediators to it's roster,
a lively group full of eagerness to learn and serve. The 2017 Mediator Apprenticeship
Participants are Concetta Chiarolanza, Josanna Berkow, Diane Culpepper, Meri Giewat,
Fatri Ibrahimi, Briar McNutt, William Reuter and Michael Wise.
Pictured above is Mediator Graduate Diane Culpepper and Hon. Frank M. Mora
Our hats off to the new Mediators and we wish them much success in
the future!
The Center also celebrated numerous Mediator anniversaries, including Carol Sullivan
with 10 years as aVolunteer, Staff Member and Consultant, Keith Jordan with 5 years
as a volunteer and Valerie Wigginswith 5 years as a volunteer.
A new notable group this year were those Mediators with the milestone of the
"600 Cases Club". Those honored included William Paskey with 34 years as a volunteer
mediator, Bill Harrell with 34 years and Robert Grossman with 34 years.
A special recognition was given to Board President Nevill Smythe for his continuous
dedication tothe Center, generosity and going above and beyond again and again.
To all of those recognized and celebrated,
the Mediation Center of Dutchess County
THANKS YOU!
Stand Up! 6th Annual Anti-bullying Walkathon Hands Against Bullying Held
The Mediation Center of Dutchess County held its 6th Annual Anti-bullying Walkathon - Hands Against Bullying Walk on
the Walkway Over The Hudson Saturday, April 22, 2017 to increase community education and action on bullying- an issue that
effects people right here in the Hudson Valley.
THANK YOU to all of the sponsors and participants who all made this event a success! A special thank you to
Senator Sue Serino for attending and sharing her story as well.
Children frequently involved in bullying are at a significant risk of withdrawing from school activities, poor school performance, as
well as suffering from various health problems such as anxiety, depression, sleeping difficulties, suicide attempts and in some cases,
even suicide completion.
Attention participants: Upload your photos of the event and be sure to tag #mediationcenterofdutchesscounty and
#handsagainstbullyingon Facebook and Twitter!
Ongoing donations can be made to the Mediation Center of Dutchess County's Anti-Bullying Initiative HERE.
Proceeds support all aspects of the Center's Anti-Bullying Initiative that includes expanding prevention and response resources to
effectively address bullying right here in the Hudson Valley. Together We Can End Bullying!
Event Contact: Honey Minkowitz (845) 471-7213 ext. 211 or email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
94.3/97.3 Hudson Valley Country's Beth Christy interview: In Touch: Mediation Center of Dutchess County
OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS:
http://www.dchwappingerstoyota.com
http://www.wainwrightfinancialsolutions.com
Bank of Millbrook
Central Hudson
Dailey Diesel, Inc.
Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian "Butch" Anderson
Family Services
Joan A. Pagones
Mental Health America of Dutchess County
Mid-Hudson Children's Museum
Royal Carting Service Company
Dutchess Mediation Center secures almost $10K in grants
Mediation Center of Dutchess County secured nearly $10,000 in grant money to fund training sessions.
The two grants obtained from Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley add up to $9,375. The money will go toward Restorative Justice training sessions, according to a press release.
"With this grant from the Community Foundations, we can train in a new modality, known as Restorative Justice, which looks to identify and address harms, needs and obligations in order to not only resolve, but also heal situations," said Jane Cottrell, executive director of Mediation Center of Dutchess County. "By investing in this training for staff and volunteers, Restorative Justice can also be taught and applied in our communities and schools."
The training sessions will start in spring 2017, and Restorative Justice techniques will be implemented into the organization within a year.
35 Hour Transformative Mediation Training for 2018
Saturday, August 11 - Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily
Cost: $250 for volunteers, $550 for non-volunteers
Location: Mediation Center of Dutchess County
Training is limited to 15 participants.
Who should take this training?
Lawyers, business owners, managers/supervisors, teachers, administrators, customer service representatives, attorneys, social workers, parents - anyone can benefit from learning a new approach to understanding conflict and skills that help address conflict constructively.
What will we learn in this training?
Theories of conflict, The mediator's role as an intervener, Skills practice including reflective listening, Summarizing and checking in, Mock mediation practice with an experienced coach, Cultural competency awareness in mediation, Ethics, confidentiality and other critical topics for mediators, Working with people with high conflict behaviors, Working with parties and their attorneys.
7th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Focuses on Ageism
The Coalition on Elder Abuse in Dutchess County held its 7th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, June 12, 2015 at the Poughkeepsie Elks Lodge. This year’s theme was Older Adults Deserve Dignity…ageism is no joke. Keynote speaker, Ashton Applewhite, focused on the role of ageism in elder abuse. Ashton also writes a blog, This Chair Rocks and Yo, Is This Ageist?
More than 165 people, including Dutchess county residents of all ages, state and county elected officials, and vendors attended.
The Champion for Elder Rights & Safety Award was presented to Robert Allers, who