CRU News
What's new at CRU?
CRU Director Nancy Kaplan interviewed on Comcast Local Edition
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September 2010
CRU Institute is going to Slovenia!
Nancy Kaplan and Deanna Morris have been invited to present at a symposium in Slovenia. We will have more information upon completion.
May 2009
CRU for Pre-K-2
CRU's K-2 program has been modified to meet the needs of our youngest listeners, ages four, five, and six. With the addition of five revised animal stories, young children will now be able to focus on the themes of cultural awareness, anti-bullying and problem solving. We believe that these stories, now also printed on the back side of the fifteen show and tell posters included in the Pre-K-2 package, will help children think about and discuss these very important topics. The $249 package now includes ten books and the revised posters.
Tennessee Training Project Update
Metro-Nashville Public Schools participated in CRU's Tennessee training project. Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn conducted training for five middle schools and one high school. Both students and faculty were trained from each school. The training program was coordinated by AES coordinators headed by Beverly Goetzman. We hope to return to Nashville in the fall to follow up on the programs begun in April.
The training was reported in the Tennessean on Monday, March 9,2009. The article quotes one middle school student saying, "...students will be able to communicate with their peers in a way adults cannot." We trust that these young people will be able to work with their peers and help avoid serious conflict and potential violence.
Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga brought together six elementary schools to experience peer mediation training from CRU trainers: Nancy Kaplan, Deanna Morris, and our newest training intern, Marcus Giambattista. The students, grades three and four learned the mediation process and engaged in discussions on problem solving, communication, and cultural awareness. Although Nancy and Deanna worked well with the students, we must say that the big hit of the training was nineteen year old, Marcus. His role play groups were in great demand and one student (a fourth grader) even asked, "Are you married?"
The training was made possible by the organizational efforts of Ron Hughes, Principal of Apison Elementary School. We want to thank Ron and also the faculty at Normal Park Elementary School for providing training locations. A special thanks for LaFrederick, Apison Elementary Assistant Principal for responding to our initial email and for the marvelous Soul Food dinner we experienced.
The program is catching on in Chattanooga, and we have already had requests from four additional schools for training there.
March 2009
CRU returns to Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN was the site of our first project in Tennessee sponsored by a grant obtain by Marietta Shipley, Mediation Group of Tennessee. In November 2008, five CRU trainers participated in training students from thirteen Memphis City Schools. Many thanks to Janice Johnson, Memphis City Schools, for organizing this training. The success of the training is reflected in the comments received from the student participants. Here are some of them:
- "It (mediation training) is the most fun you will ever have in your life."
- "…It is fun, helpful and it gives you a good feeling about yourself."
- "It's a great experience."
- "It is helpful and you can learn a lot about it and from it."
- "You can learn a lot of great leadership skills. Mediation will help solve the most difficult problems. Mediations will keep you out of suspension."
- "It's awesome and very knowledge boosting."
- "It's fun and everyone needs to learn this skill."
- "It's a great experience. It helps you get through life smoothly."
- "Peer mediation is needed at all schools."
CRU Interns at Work
CRU Interns Jenny Nguyen and David Strong are doing a great job organizing CRU's office and marketing our programs. Next they will join CRU trainers as we train elementary students in conflict mediation.
2008 Grants Received
CRU Institute would like to acknowledge the following organizations that have made donations this year:
Boskey Foundation funding: CRU received a generous grant from the Boskey Foundation. We are using the $5,000 grant to facilitate training at two Federal Way, WA high schools; Decatur High and Thomas Jefferson High.
Employees Community Fund of the Boeing Company: We are so excited to be able to expand our training room with the generous donation from the Employees Community Fund of the Boeing Company. Now, instead of twelve people, we can train up to 25 people in our facility. It will be helpful for our faculty training and it will also accommodate groups of peer mediators who will be able to visit our office for advanced discussion and training.
JAMS Foundation: Our K-2 program will now be modified so that even younger children can learn conflict resolution and cultural awareness concepts and approaches to problem solving. The generous grant from JAMS will allow us to modify the five animal stories, create small books for children to read themselves, and pay for printing costs.
Loyal Bigelow and Jedediah Dewey Foundation: Many thanks to Francie Rutherford who is carrying on the great work of her late husband and has donated $4,000 to CRU Institute. We plan to work with schools in the Seattle School District with this money so that they will have continuing mediation programs not possible without funding.
Target Corporation: Once again we extend our thank you to Target Corporation for their support of our K-2 program. This grant of $1,000 will allow us to bring the K-2 program to two schools in the Kent, WA School District.
Fall, 2008
CRU Adds New Staff
Charles Upshaw, Program Development, began working with CRU one year ago as a trainer. Charles is now spending part-time in the office and continues to train with CRU. Having grown up in the South, Charles will be an asset to our training program in Tennessee. In addition, Charles has worked with youth for many years as a coach, and he really has a way with all young people.
Jenny Nguyen, Office Assistant, is hard at work doing all sorts of tasks for CRU. It is great to have a young person when it comes to computer literacy. Jenny really knows her way around the internet!
Mike Giambattista, volunteer, is working hard to market CRU's programs. We are fortunate to have advice from Mike who has spent many years in marketing and now teaches at the Business School, University of Washington. Thank you, Mike for donating your time!
CRU Faculty Training Draws Out of State Participants
The word is out: CRU Faculty Training is worth travelling for! This year we have had participants from numerous states including California, Illinois, and Arizona.
November, 2008
CRU Training Impacts Multiple Districts in Tennessee
November marks the beginning of CRU's peer mediation training project in Tennessee. In coordination with The Mediation Group of Tennessee, CRU will provide peer mediation training at six sites in Tennessee as part of a program funded by the Tennessee Bar Association. Marietta Shipley was instrumental in obtaining the grant funds. She and Nancy Kaplan have worked long hours to coordinate the program and bring this exciting opportunity to numerous Tennessee schools. We hope to impact at least 36 schools, and we will be off to a good start when we train 16 schools in Memphis City Schools in November, 2008.
July, 2008
CRU Presents to Youth Link
Deanna Morris and Charles Upshaw worked with youth leaders from Bellevue at the summer training organized by Youth Link. Our trainers were well received and we hope to be able to conduct more in-depth training for eastside youth leaders throughout the school year.
April, 2008
CRU Trains in Alaska
Nancy Kaplan and Deanna Morris travelled to Juneau, AK to conduct training for faculty and students at the high school level. The training was successful and our trainers appreciated learning about the beautiful sights in Juneau and obtaining the 'real scoop' on tourists from the students. We look forward to expanding the peer mediation program to middle and elementary school students.
2007
November 2007
Students in Ethiopia use CRU's K-2 curriculum
Priscilla Jourden, formerly counselor at NOMS alternative school, Seattle, WA is using CRU's materials in Ethiopia. She reports, "Your small story books (K-2 Program) have been so well received. The children love them. I have drawn, colored and cut out the characters in two of your stories which I have taped on the wall as I read/tell the story. I have then used 'Cammy Crow' and the 'Little Gray Cat' cutouts again and again to review the important messages."
October 2007
Donation from Target
Target gave CRU Institute $1500 for the K-2 Program to be used in the Kent School District. The K-2 Program is a mentoring tool for older students to work with and mentor younger students regarding issues related to diversity, anti-bullying and conflict resolution skills.
September 2007
Hanford California
A team of CRU trainers conducted training for Hanford Elementary School District (HESD) on September 11, 2007. The training was very well received and as a result the School District purchased 10 copies of CRU Institute's K-2 Program and curriculum. HESD plans to utilize the K-2 Program as a mentoring tool for their students.
August 2007
Presentations held for LA County:
Deanna Morris, MSW, Program Director for CRU Institute, presented at the Los Angeles Regional Occupational Program All District In Service Day. The presentation was well received and the participants were particularly interested in the diversity aspects of the training. We anticipate working closely with many schools in the Los Angeles area.
June 2007
Changes DVD Featured at JAMS Annual Owners Meeting:
Nancy Kaplan and Akua Campanella presented at the JAMS annual owners meeting held in April, 2007 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Laguna Nigel, CA. Nancy and Akua showed scenes from Changes, CRU's DVD funded by JAMS Foundation, and discussed the positive impact made by the show. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and several JAMS owners expressed interest in bringing the Changes DVD to their local schools and youth organizations.
April 2007
Valley High School's Peer Mediation Program: A great success
Greg Ortiz, Counselor and Peer Mediation Coordinator at Valley High School, Sacramento, CA reports a 99% success rate for the first 135 cases mediated by students this school year. Trained in 2000 by CRU Institute, Valley's program is a making a difference.
View Details
January 2007
Memphis City Schools District Staff Attend CRU Institute's Training
To celebrate 12 years of success with CRU Institute's peer mediation program, Memphis City Schools sent 3 staff to CRU Institute's July 2006 Conflict Mediation Training for a refresher.
Pictured at right are Brady Henderson, Student Leadership Specialist; Janice M. Johnson, Student Leadership-Peer Mediation Coordinator; Leticia Bush, Student Leadership Specialist; and Jelani Quinn, CRU Institute Program Director.
Both Janice M. Johnson and Brady Henderson were present 12 years ago when Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn traveled to Memphis, TN to conduct training for Memphis City Schools' faculty and students.
2006
October 2006
Local Training: Washington Area
Sacred Heart K-8 school and Eastside Preparatory School invited CRU trainers back to conduct overview training for some students and more intensive training for prospective mediators. The training at both schools was exciting and fun for our trainers. We hope that these schools continue to support teaching conflict resolution and diversity education.
This fall we are also returning to Washington Middle School and Lynnwood High School to conduct student training. It is the dedication of PTA's, administrative support and coordinators that keeps our programs going!
September 2006
CRU Returns to Joliet, IL
Four CRU trainers traveled to Joliet, IL and trained faculty and fifth graders from fourteen elementary schools. With these schools trained, the District will have programs in all their elementary and middle schools. Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn will return to Joliet this spring to consult and troubleshoot with the elementary and middle school faculty and 'professional' student mediators.
Jackson, MS: A Return Visit
It has been five years since Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn trained faulty and students from four Jackson, MS Middle Schools. This fall, CRU trainers, Jelani Quinn and Akua Campanella were invited back to Jackson where they conducted a three-day training for faculty from elementary and secondary schools. Most elementary school counselors will, with the help of the District, train their own students and begin the mediation program. CRU trainers hope to travel to Jackson later this school year to work with middle and high school students so that the program can be established in those schools as well as elementary.
July 2006
Boeing Grant Funds CRU's New Training Room
Boeing Employees Community Fund has awarded CRU Institute over $14,000 to furnish our training room in our new offices. CRU has used the grant to purchase and install an audio-visual system along with the appropriate furniture to help facilitate training for students, faculty, parents, and community organizations in conflict mediation. CRU Institute is very excited, and we know that the training room & its furnishings will enhance our already innovative & dynamic training sessions. Thank you to our board member, Brenda Fitch, who encouraged us to apply.
Bank of America Grant
A generous grant of $7,500 from the Bank of America is earmarked for training in Bellevue and Renton Schools. The funds have been used to train students at two alternative schools, Robinswood in Bellevue and Black River in Renton. In addition the funds will be used to begin our new K-2 program in several elementary schools. We appreciate the continued efforts of our board member, Diane Muscutt who is a Senior VP at Bank of America
Target Grant
This is the fourth year CRU has received a grant from the Target Corporation. This $1,500 grant will allow us to distribute materials and conduct training in several elementary schools. They will receive our K-2 package which includes lessons on anti-bullying, cultural awareness and problem solving. Also, the program features numerous literacy and math exercises. This grant will allow schools to receive an innovative program at no cost to them.
May 2006
CRU Receives Funding for a New DVD
The JAMS Foundation has awarded CRU Institute $50,000 to produce and market a new video/DVD. We are honored to be able to work with Roy Campanella, Hollywood filmmaker to produce this important show. The DVD entitled, Changes is about 'acting white.' What does this mean? It's about ridicule and harassment in the African American community and some other communities of color when young people strive to achieve in school and take AP and honors classes. The show features a talented cast of local Seattle area actors. We are all so pleased with the professional quality of the production. An added perk on each DVD is an annotated version of the mediation scene and a series of individual techniques demonstrated in the show.
The Mission of JAMS Foundation (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service) includes providing financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national impact, as well as to share its dispute resolution experience and judicial expertise for the benefit of the public interest. The organization has twenty-two locations throughout the United States. The JAMS Foundation has a particular interest in conflict mediation programs for young people and has generously contributed to the creation of this video.
April 2006
CRU Training News
Twenty-nine Newark Public School Trained:
CRU Institute completed training for 29 schools in the Newark Public Schools. Six CRU Trainers traveled to Newark, NJ and conducted training for faculty, students and parents. The program reached twenty-nine schools where peer mediation programs are being conducted. The training was targeted at k-8 schools and involved programs conducted on the playground as well as sit-down mediations. Our contact, Teresa Edmondson was an enormous support and a fantastic organizer. Evaluation of the program was conducted by an outside organization.
February 2006
Horizons Grant
Horizons Foundation has awarded CRU Institute a $3,000 grant to conduct Parent Training
at schools in the Puget Sound Area. CRU Institute appreciates the Horizon's support for our conflict mediation programs.
2005
December 2005
New Program: CRU for K-2
This exciting and creative new program introduces young children to concepts and skills of conflict resolution. Through five animal stories and fifteen show and tell posters, it teaches respect for others, problem solving, and dealing with bullies. An extensive teacher's manual accompanies the stories. Learn more.
click to enlarge
CRU Receives Grant from Bank of America
Diane Muscutt, Senior VP at Bank of America and CRU board member, presents Nancy Kaplan, CRU Executive Director with a $7500 check from Bank of America. The funds will be used to set up peer mediation programs in the Bellevue and Renton school districts.
Target Continues to Fund CRU Institute
This year we received a $1000 grant from Target to work with families and schools in the Issaquah school district in our violence prevention program.
Fall 2005
Joliet Public Schools
CRU trainers traveled to Joliet, IL to set up peer mediation programs in four Junior High Schools. Working with Deborah Carter from the District, CRU trained faculty and students. In November, Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn from CRU traveled once again to Joliet to consult with each school. The results are quite encouraging as each school proceeds to implement the program. We plan to return to Joliet in the fall to begin training students and faculty at elementary schools.
July 2005
CRU Institute's new videos/DVDs, The Blue Eraser (for elementary school) and Everybody's Talking (for middle and high school students), have been completed and are available for purchase. Please see our Videos Page for more information.
April 2005
GRANTS & DONATIONS HELP CRU EXPAND!
The JAMS Foundation has awarded CRU Institute over $50,000 to produce two videos/DVDs for peer mediation training. The Mission of JAMS Foundation (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service) includes providing financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national impact, as well as to share its dispute resolution experience and judicial expertise for the benefit of the public interest. The organization has twenty-two locations throughout the United States. The JAMS Foundation has a particular interest in conflict mediation programs for young people and has generously contributed to the creation of these videos. The first video will target elementary students and the second will be for middle school/high school. Look for the new videos in the spring, 2005!
Target Foundation has awarded CRU Institute $1,000. This is our second year as a partner with Target stores. The funds were used to help train students from Highland Middle School in Bellevue, WA. Highland administrators are committed to the peer mediation program and greatly appreciate the donation of Target stores.
Individual Donors
In recent months, CRU has received generous donations from several individuals including:
- Lonnie Adams, The Boeing Company
- Sandy Fujita, CRU Board Member
- Andy Kaplan, Technical advisor to CRU
- Rosemarie Morris, CRU Board Member
- Diane Muscutt, CRU Board Member
Many thanks to you all!
January 2005
NEW MATERIALS FROM CRU
New! K-2 Classroom Manual
Scheduled for release in late spring, 2005, CRU's K-2 Classroom Manual will contain basic conflict resolution information and exercises for young people. The manual will be well laid out and easy for classroom teachers to use.
Watch for our two new videos/DVDs, Spring, 2005.
2004
December 2004
TRAINING NEWS
Sacred Heart K-8 Training: In 2004 CRU began a project at Sacred Heart School (K-8) in Bellevue, Washington. All seventh and eighth grade students were trained in conflict mediation skills. Additional training was provided for a group of 20 students who would act as mediators for others in the school. Their first clients were disputing first graders. The project was so successful that CRU trainers returned in the Fall, 2004 to work with seventh graders, review with eighth graders, and train additional mediators. Now the program is extended to the playground where Sacred Heart middle school students help elementary students resolve conflicts.
Vineland, New Jersey: Linda Santagata, Director of Student Personnel, Vineland Board of Education, asked CRU to "breath life" into their peer mediation program. Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn, CRU trainers, traveled to Vineland to work with counselors from elementary and secondary schools. Many staff commented on how CRU's materials and training approach would improve their program. CRU's Spanish videos and materials will be especially useful with the Latino population. See letter of recommendation from Linda Santagata.
October 2004
Job Corps Interest in Conflict Mediation: CRU's program meets a need for many Job Corps sites. Our materials and training have been well received by several sites. CRU has received requests for materials and training from many sites across the country including Maryland, Massachusetts, Idaho, Illinois, and Alabama.
Kaplan goes on the road: In May, 2004, Nancy Kaplan conducted conflict mediation training for the entire faculty of Toronto Montessori School. The training was well received and Montessori faculty was especially pleased to discover that much of our curriculum has been translated into French.
Kaplan also conducted a "train the trainer" workshop in the San Francisco, September, 2004. Mediation Services is planning to expand their trainer base and has contracted with CRU to achieve this goal.
August 2004
STATS FROM CRU
Community Learning Centers: 2004 Summer Project
Three sites participated in CRU's conflict mediation and cultural awareness seminars. Once again, the training results were positive. Here are some stats:
Total Number of Students: 57
Breakdown by School: McClure, 24; Denny, 11; Mercer, 22
Of the 57 students who received training, 15 were present at both the first and last session. The following scores are based on the self-reported responses of these 15 students. Please note that we do not have information regarding how many of the sessions taught these 15 students attended. We only know that they were present at the first and last sessions.
For the following questions the students' answers were rated from "1" (little to no knowledge) to "5" (complete knowledge).
Understanding the Mediation Process
Question: Name the three phases of Mediation.
Average Score Before: 1.00
Average Score After: 3.6
Percentage of students rated 4 or 5:
Before: 0%
After: 66%
Question: Describe the steps of the mediation process.
Average Score Before: 1.00
Average Score After: 3.4
Percentage of students rated 4 or 5:
Before: 0%
After: 60%
Knowledge of Listening and Communication Skills
Question: Active Listening: List 3 or more things you can do.
Average Score Before: 1.86
Average Score After: 3.93
Percentage of students rated 4 or 5:
Before: 0%
After: 60%
Question: Give three ways you can tell how a person is feeling.
Average Score Before: 2.26
Average Score After: 4.13
Percentage of students rated 4 or 5:
Before: 20%
After: 73%
Question: Give an example of an "I" message:
Average Score Before: 1.26
Average Score After: 3.4
Percentage of students rated 4 or 5:
Before: 6%
After: 60%
2003
December 2003
Research Indicates Success of CRU's Program
Stephen Bell, Ph.D. and a group of professionals from the University of Memphis conducted research using CRU's materials at a K-8 school. The published research paper, The Effectiveness of Peer Mediation in a Low-SES Rural Elementary Schools [PDF], may be found in Psychology in the Schools, Vol. 37(6). [ © 2000 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company. Reproduced with permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ] Results of the research indicate that students grades six to eight receiving peer mediation training had less referrals to the office and fewer incidents of conflict than a randomly selected, matched control group. In addition, school-wide suspensions decreased during the intervention year, as compared to three years of baseline data.
Target Corporation Awards Grant
CRU Institute has received a $2,000 grant from Target Corporation. The funds will be used to teach conflict mediation and cultural awareness skills to students in a Seattle area school. CRU will help the school develop a peer mediation program where students help other students resolve conflict.
CRU Goes to Summer School
Summer 2003, CRU conducted five classes for summer school students at Washington Middle School in Seattle. Students will learn Conflict Mediation skills and consider and discuss cultural differences. Here are some results from the 46 students trained:
Question 1: What is an "I" message and when do you use it?
| Correct Before Training |
7 % |
| Correct After Training |
80 % |
Question 2: What do you do when you do "Active Listening?"
| Correct Before Training |
26 % |
| Correct After Training |
63 % |
Question 3: What is the difference between a thought and a feeling?
| Correct Before Training |
52 % |
| Correct After Training |
80 % |
Question 4: Give an example of when a mediator can use the "What will happen if?" technique?
| Correct Before Training |
13 % |
| Correct After Training |
87 % |
Question 5: Name three things a mediator can do if the disputant cannot come up with a solution:
| Correct Before Training |
2 % |
| Correct After Training |
54% |
NASW Currents Magazine Publishes Article
Nancy Kaplan and Deanna Morris co-authored an article about CRU's CAP (Cultural Awareness Program) which was published in the September, 2003 issue of NASW's Currents. The article explains how the program works and how it benefits students.
Special Education Training Project
CRU trainers Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn worked with ten middle school Special Education Students who have severe behavior problems. The project was not only interesting but very effective. Learning to communicate appropriately and to resolve conflicts without fighting are probably the most important skills these young people can learn.
CRU Presents at ACR (Association for Conflict Resolution) Annual Conference
Nancy Kaplan and Deanna Morris presented a workshop entitled "Hooks" to a standing crowd of over 50 people. The workshop demonstrates and discusses several innovative pieces of CRU's training for students, faculty, and parents. How to expand conflict mediation skills to a variety of setting will be presented.
CRU EXPANDS PROGRAM TO COMMUNITY GROUPS
Community Learning Center Classes: CRU has developed a series of classes for middle school students to be held at three community learning centers in Seattle during the summer of 2003. The classes include conflict mediation training, cultural awareness, and 'being your own mediator'. Students involved in the program will bring their new skills to their respective schools in the fall.
Centennial Job Corps, Nampa, ID: CRU Conflict Mediation Program was introduced to staff and students at Centennial Job Corps site. The program is well underway and reports are that it is working well. Not only are youth helping other youth resolve conflict, but staff-youth conflicts are also being resolved by conflict mediation. To enhance the program, CRU trainers will return to Centennial for several additional staff trainings in the fall.
Americorps Workers Trained: CRU conducted a conflict resolution for several Americorps workers working with Habitat for Humanity. Issues discussed included how to resolve conflicts with co-workers as well as with other Habitat volunteers.
Article Published
American School Counselor Association recently published Nancy Kaplan's article, 'Respect, Responsibility, Resolution'. The article features work at Sealth High School to create a school-wide conflict mediation program. The text of the article may be found on this site.
CRU's Cultural Awareness Project (CAP)
CRU Institute's Cultural Awareness Project (CAP) encourages students to develop sensitivity, respect, understanding, and empathy for cultural differences through a series of directed discussions. Students gain self-awareness and develop effective ways to interact with a diverse population.
In 2002, CRU conducted pilot projects at Decatur High School in Federal Way, WA and Washington Middle School in Seattle WA.
Click here for details
CRU Trains Family Support Workers
CRU Institute trained Family Support Workers in Tacoma, WA. We conducted a two-day training for family support workers who work with at-risk families and act as liaisons between schools, families, and community agencies. The training was on target: mediation was rated as a helpful tool for these community workers.
"I'm planning on using these techniques often – personally and professionally."
—Lead Pierce County Family Support Worker
"Trainers took the time to know their audience and make examples relevant to situations we go through."
—Family Support Worker
CRU TRAVELS NATIONALLY
Southern States Request CRU Program
CRU trainers traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, Nashville Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri to bring our conflict mediation program to students and faculty. In addition, five members of the faculty of Iberia Parish, Louisiana attended CRU's Portland, Oregon faculty training.
Jackson, Mississippi proved exciting for the forty-five middle school students who attended the two-day training. Nancy Kaplan and Jelani Quinn, CRU trainers, were assisted by sixteen Jackson faculty who helped supervise role-plays for the students. The training will bring CRU's peer mediation program to four middle schools in Jackson. The district hopes to expand the program to other middle schools as well as to elementary and high schools.
Hillsboro High School, Nashville, Tennessee hosted CRU trainers Nancy Kaplan and Darrell Edmonds. The twenty students who participated in the training are now actively helping other student resolve disputes. Mr. Churchwell, who attended CRU's training in Portland and Ms. Baxter are leading the program.
New Iberia, Louisiana Classroom Curriculum Project: CRU's classroom manuals will be used by all PE teachers to bring mediation skills to hundreds of students in classrooms. This is an innovative way to make conflict mediation a part of the curriculum.
CALIFORNIA CALLS ON CRU
Tracy, California has contracted with CRU to train faculty from several schools in August 2002.
La Mesa Jr. High School, Santa Clarita contracted with CRU to train students and faculty in conflict mediation. The training was conducted fall of 2000 by Deanna Morris and Rhonda Simmons.
Valley High School, Sacramento sent numerous faculty to CRU's regional training in Seattle, and later contracted with CRU to train 30 high school students.
In early 2001, CRU trainers traveled to Sierra Sands Unified School District to train administrators, faculty and students from all district secondary schools. The project was continued in the 2001-2002 school year with training for students from each elementary school.
CRU Completes year four of Sealth High School Classroom Training
All freshmen at Sealth High School, Seattle, Washington were trained in mediation skills. This year, CRU's fourth year of the project, brings the training to every student in the school. Numerous upper classmen assisted CRU trainers by supervising the freshmen role plays. These "veteran" student mediators are so professional that Nancy Kaplan, CRU Director is developing ways to bring Sealth students into the ranks of CRU trainers.
View the research
CRU Presents in South America
July, 2000: Deanna Morris, CRU Program Director, traveled to Argentina to bring CRU's program to South America. She conducted two presentations in Buenos Aires and one in Chaco. Participants included mediators, attorneys and educators from around the region as well as from China.
Deanna Morris (far left) presents in Argentina.
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