Archived Press Releases:

• Mediation program under way at BHS.
• Connection Partners Facilitates National Meeting. Boulder Company Helps Grassroots Recycling Network Plan Priorities.
• Connection Partners Trains Teens to Mediate Conflicts. Boulder Company Skilled in Conflict Resolution Training.
• House Candidates Square Off.
• Connection Partners Helps Board Plan for Future. Boulder Company Skilled in Facilitation of Strategic Planning Meetings.

---

Mediation program under way at BHS.
By KATE LARSEN
Enterprise Staff Writer

Molly and her father are arguing about curfew. This is not an uncommon situation. Molly, 14, wants to go to a movie with her friends and stay out until midnight. Dad says no. Molly wants to get a ride to the movies with her friend who just got his driver's license. Dad says 'no way'.

"How do you solve this conflict? Arlene Brownell and Tom Bache-Wiig have some ideas for solving this mock conflict. They are professional mediators. Last week, Brownell and Bache-Wiig finished the last in a series of three, three-hour training; sessions with a group of Broomfield High School students. The 15 students applied for the program and were selected by BHS staff. The group will act as peer mediators, helping other students solve conflicts.

Brownell and Bache-Wiig deal with workplace and community conflict for a living.Their company, Connection Partners Inc., helps opposing sides come up with solutions. 'A lot of people don't have the time or the information to understand what everyone else's experiences are,' Bache-Wiig said. 'We find ways for people to hear other perspectives.'

Broomfield High teacher Chris Smock arranged for the student-mediation program with a grant from the Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools. Smock, who also works at Broomfield Heights Middle School, plans for the trained high school students to use their mediation skills at the middle school. The mediators will help junior high students resolve conflicts. 'People take a stand because they think it will meet some need they have,' Brownell said to the group of 15 Broomfield students gathered in the school's career center last week. 'If you can get them to recognize and start talking about their underlying interests, you can get closer to a solution.' Brownell and the students then got down to business. They came up with reasons why Molly and her dad could not come to an agreement. 'Safety. Freedom. Sleep,' students suggested. The students also made several suggestions for possible solutions to the conflict. 'We try to give them as much practice as possible,' Bache- Wiig said of the mediation training. The class then split into three groups. The students used role-playing to apply their new knowledge. These practice sessions help future peer mediators sharpen their listening skills and learn how to ask the right questions, Bache-Wiig said. 'This is a skill I can use in my family and later on in life, too,' said Ryan Hurd, a sophomore participating in the program. Randy Compton, executive director of the Colorado School Mediation Project, has helped train thousands of students and faculty in mediation skills. 'It really helps save the assis- tant principal time and empowers the students to take responsibility,' Compton said.

Broomfield Enterprise, February 21, 2001

---

House Candidates Square Off.

Two Democratic candidates for House District 14 in south Boulder will appear at a candidate forum Thursday.

The forum will be in the meeting room of the Meadows Branch Library, 4800 Baseline Road. The event is open to the public but is aimed at delegates and alternates for the Boulder County Democratic Assembly that meets Saturday.

Alison Burchell and Alice Madden are both seeking the Democratic nomination for representative from House District 14. The seat is now held by Rep. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, who is running for state Senate.

Tom Bache-Wiig of Connection Partners Inc. will facilitate the meeting. Audience members will be able to write questions to ask the candidates, who also will present opening and closing statements. (Published in Daily Camera, Daily Digest, May 2, 2000.