At the end of every mediation training we walk away with a feeling of having created a supportive community, if only temporarily. Without fail, students always ask for a way to keep in touch and, in the past, I have facilitated this by circulating contact information with individual consent. But seeing that this was a consistent need, I decided that I wanted to create something more consistent and robust so that we could keep building on that sense of community and continue providing mutual support and encouragement.
After doing some research, I found a platform that seemed promising and decided to set up our own social network. And so the #MediationIsForEveryone Mighty Network was born!
Still in it’s early stages, #MediationIsForEveryone is becoming a space to keep in touch, share resources like training and practice opportunities, and to foster ongoing connections. So far the network is only open to individuals who complete my Online Basic Mediation Training, but I am continuing to consider ways to expand the opportunity to a broader group of mediators and other folks interested in mediation.
My vision is to create a culture of radical inclusivity within the mediation field. There is, in my opinion, a culture of elitism that creates unnecessary obstacles to participation. I want to find ways to neutralize those obstacles and create more clear pathways into mediation practice. What do you think would have a meaningful impact toward inclusivity?
