Channels of Communication

Nancy Ferrell talks about re-establishing channels of communication during family mediation.
Carolyn Stephenson talks about ways to communicate with the other side when the authorities try to prevent such communication.
Ray Shonholtz talks about the San Francisco Community Mediation Boards.
Chester Crocker describes the importance of having communication channels to real decision makers. He also describes and interesting model for peace agreement implementation and monitoring.
Civil rights mediator Efrain Martinez explains how cultural misunderstandings between Vietnamese and local fisherman in Texas caused tensions and eventually a killing (though the killing isn't described here).
Leo Cardenas describes how he took on some tasks that should have been done by the parties themselves, but they were not in a position to do so. By so doing, however, he helped give community groups a voice that they never had had before.
Nancy Ferrell explains that some situations call for "technical assistance," while at other times, "table mediation" is necessary. The existing level of communication is one determining factor.
Nancy Ferrell discusses how rumors can be controlled by opening lines of credible communication.
Nancy Ferrell describes CRS rumor control teams.
MediatorRobert Hughes said that people frequently disputed the other side's "facts," but he explained that it was important that each side understand the other side's "perceptions."
MediatorRobert Hughes reports that one aspect of an agreement after a police shooting incident was the formation of a fact-finding team.
Will Reed explains how establishing communication is key to forming relationships that will allow parties to solve problems over the long term.
Mediator Richard Salem usually tried to get people together to talk, but they sometimes were not ready to do so.