Session III a: July 26-30, 2010

34. Negotiating Conflict Across Worldviews Michelle LeBaron and Mark McCrea Drawing on cultural fluency as a resource, we will deepen capacities to dialogue and negotiate effectively across worldview differences and within complex organizational, interpersonal, and communal settings.

Designed for Objectives Learning Activities Michelle LeBaron Mark McCrea Seasoned consultants, negotiators, facilitators, mediators, educators, and trainers who want to increase their capability for negotiating complex conflicts or for dialoguing in the midst of layered differences, and for organizational and community leaders whose work involves dispute systems design, change management, or conflict resolution services. Participants will have the opportunity to: Expand repertoires of effective negotiation and dialogue strategies applicable in intercultural conflicts Reflect on their personal and cultural tendencies in conflict Explore ways of applying intuition and imagination in the midst of strong emotions Articulate and deepen understanding of how identity relates to spirituality and diverse worldviews in intercultural conflict Learn creative strategies to engage the symbolic dimension of conflict, including dynamics of identity and meaning-making Develop intervention strategies for conflicts from workplaces, communities, and families Understand and apply findings from cognitive science to practice Uncover connections between theory and practice through dialogue As a learning community, we will: Explore applications of dialogue and negotiation in intercultural settings using case studies, participants’ experiences, and new international work Use ourselves and our work as seedbeds of exploration about creativity and effective action in “turning point” moments Examine personal and shared worldviews and how these influence the course of conflicts in intercultural relationships Explore strong emotions, especially anger, and learn ways to work with them Support each other in developing new skills and capacities for planning and implementing dialogic and negotiation processes   Michelle LeBaron is a scholar/practitioner, professor of law, and the director of the Program on Dispute Resolution at the University of British Columbia. Michelle is known for her work on creativity and multiple ways of knowing as resources for resolving conflict. She is the author of three recent books, Bridging Troubled Waters: Conflict Resolution from the Heart; Bridging Cultural Conflicts: A New Approach for a Changing World; and Conflicts Across Cultures: A Unique Experience of Bridging Differences.   Mark McCrea supervises alternative dispute resolution services for the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry. He frequently conducts mediation, negotiation, and conflict management training for various groups throughout the U.S. Mark has extensive experience mediating disputes involving employment, organizational, and public policy issues for a number of governmental and commercial groups. In 2007 the Minnesota State Bar Association presented Mark with a distinguished service award for his contributions to the growth of alternative dispute resolution services in Minnesota.