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Success Stories in Facilitation and Mediation
MCS led a deep and successful dialog process to bridge the gap between the primarily Korean convenience store owners in the city and local residents, mostly youth. This process helped to minimize the conflict between the groups and led to greater cross-cultural understanding in local neighborhoods and helped build neighborhood and community leadership. Mayor's Annual Citizens' Summit
At the request of the Mayor's office, MCS provided facilitator and multi-language interpreter services during the Annual Citizens Summit under the auspices of Washington DC Mayor's Office during the administration of Mayor Anthony Williams. The purpose of the summit was to ensure citizen involvement in city affairs. MCS provided bilingual facilitators and oral language interpreters at this event. Parents of Lincoln Middle School
Parents of children attending Lincoln Middle School approached MCS for assistance in identifying a temporary site for the school while it was under construction. MCS facilitated a meeting for the parents with DC Councilmember Jim Graham and July Makuta, DC Public School Board Member. Parents of HD Cooke Elementary School
Parents of HD Cooke Elementary School students approached MCS for facilitation services with the Office of the Superintendent. Parents wanted to approach the office with ideas for changes within the school that would positively impact their children's education. MCS facilitated a series of study circle meetings with the concerned parents during which the parents defined the issues confronting their children at the school and the changes they desired. MCS engaged the help of the Council of Latino Agencies who prepared the parents to themselves bring their concerns to the attention of the Office of the Superintendent, rather than relying on a sole community leader to speak for them. At the testimonials, the parents maintained a strong foothold and were able to speak with ease and control. MCS subsequently secured a meeting between the parents and the Office of the Superintendent, facilitated the meeting, and provided interpreter services. Because an advocate had spoken for the parents at prior meetings, the parents and the representatives of the Office of the Superintendent had not communicated well, and the issues were lost in abstraction and seen as individualized and isolated complaints. With MCS facilitation and the presence of a neutral language interpreter, the parents spoke with a unified voice about clearly defined issues and outcomes, and the school board and the local press listened, resulting in the resignation of the principal and reconstitution of the school. HD Cooke has since been awarded additional resources to help it to become a model school.
Community Market
A
community dialog facilitated by MCS resulted in
the establishment of a community marketplace as
an in-person meeting place for neighbors. On
September 2000, news of a mugging in Columbia
Heights sparked an intense discussion about
race and gentrification in the community. The
discussion, conducted via a neighborhood e-mail
group, led to a series of face-to-face meetings
where participants sought to overcome the
conflict. MCS provided professional
facilitators and space for the community
meetings over a nine-month period. Searching
for a positive activity that would bring the
community physically together on a regular
basis, the community marketplace idea emerged,
and the group evolved into a market planning
committee. The market opened on June 2, 2001,
providing accessibility to affordable
regionally grown produce; entrepreneurial and
employment opportunities for local residents; a
venue for local arts, entertainment and crafts
people; a forum for nonprofit and educational
providers to promote services; and the
opportunity to bring people together in a
weekly fun, celebratory outdoor activity.