The
story of
INAFA’ MAOLEK
Involvement
CONFLICT RESOLUTION in EDUCATION
by
Patrick Wolff, ESQ
Founder & Executive Director
In
November 1994 Inafa’ Maolek (IM) conducted its first Peer
Mediation training for 31 students from John F. Kennedy High School.
That Spring IM conducted its first middle school training and the
following fall did its first elementary training. In subsequent
years IM conducted at least ten such 10-hour trainings every school
year…totaling over 120 trainings altogether inclusive of over
30 public, private and Department of Defense Schools throughout
Guam.
In support of Peer Mediation we provide an array of specialized
conflict resolution workshops for students including:
1) Date Rape/Dating Violence
2) Bullying
3) Hate Crimes (Racial-Ethnic Conflict)
4) Suicide
5) Sexual Harassment
6) Rumors & Gossip
7) Peer Pressure & Smoking (Drugs) (Drunk
Driving/Drag Racing)
8) Bulimia
9) Bystander Response (“Good Samaritan”)
Note: Hallmarks of all our workshops are the use of drama (Peace
Theatre skits) and IM’s youthful training team.
We
also do CRE trainings for other stakeholders within the schools,
such as:
1) “Peer Mediation Awareness” for
parents
2) “Creating a Safe School Climate”
workshops for School Aides (support staff)
3) Staff Development presentations for faculty
4) Brought to Guam (from Philadelphia) Dr. Tricia
Jones to conduct CRE trainings for Guam’s public school
administrators.
A
third major leg of CRE by Inafa’ Maolek involves University
of Guam-accredited courses, which I teach annually for educators:
ED894 “Conflict Resolution in the Schools,” includes
instruction on starting a successful peer mediation program, CRE
curriculum infusion (how to do CRE classroom lessons integrated
into various academic subjects), and adult role-modeling good conflict
management behaviors.
Inafa’ Maolek has been the lone voice on Guam for Restorative
Justice for over fifteen years. Inafa’ Maolek does RJ interventions
(Victim Offender Dialogue, RJ Group Conferencing) and also trains
educators in RJ through 2 college accredited RJ courses. Under IM
mentoring support, one public high school has begun doing RJ group
conferences on its own (in-house).
Inafa’ Maolek has organized annually for several years now,
two annual Conferences:
1) Island-wide Peer Mediation (“PeaceStock”)
Conference
(Normally 200 peer mediators and 15-20 adult peer mediation coordinators”
from a dozen or more schools)
2) “Peace Talk” or “Peacemaker”
Conference targeted for CR awareness for adults both in our schools
and other occupational settings. [Note: This Conference always
has a CRE presentation]
IM
has sent its CRE trainers to stateside USA Conferences (NCPCR at
Fairfax
University in Virginia, and Colorado “School Mediation Conference”)
to present and learn and network with colleagues doing this CRE
work elsewhere.
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Inafa'
Maolek
Board
Members
Joey Lopez
Liz Duenas
Fred Otte
Mari Flor Herrero
Ronni Connelly
Joe Quinata
Dave Nelson
Marge Artero
Art DeOro
About Executive Director
Patrick Wolff
Off-Island Guest Trainers
Peacemaking Outreach
to
Neighboring Micronesian
Islands
Judiciary's Mediation
Pilot Projects
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