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MWI Mediator Roundtables

Roundtables bring mediators and other practitioners together to discuss new ideas, strengthen ADR skills, and provide opportunities to learn from and engage with top-notch presenters from the conflict resolution community. Roundtables are free for all active MWI mediators and guests.

Upcoming Roundtable Dates

Please register below for the Roundtables you’d like to attend. We hope to see you there!

Location

      • All Roundtables take place via Zoom. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration.

     

Brain Fishing; How to Ask Questions

university ombuds

Guest Speaker: Roy Baroff

Date: May 29, 2025

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Description: In this roundtable, Roy will be sharing a thought-provoking approach to enhancing our questioning techniques and deepening our mediation practice. Come ready to explore how the right questions can shape conversations, uncover hidden perspectives, and lead to more effective outcomes. Whether you’re a seasoned mediator or just starting out, this session will provide valuable tools to refine your skills.

Register for this Roundtable

 

Building Human Connection in Mediation

Guest Speaker: Paul Monicatti

Date: June 11, 2025

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Description: Join us for an engaging roundtable focused on strengthening the human connection in mediation. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for creating trust, fostering empathy, and building rapport with parties, even in virtual settings. This is a space for open dialogue, shared experiences, and thoughtful reflection on what it means to truly connect as a mediator.

Register for this Roundtable

 

Roundtable Feedback Form

After each Roundtable, please complete the Roundtable survey to provide feedback. Thank you!

For More Information

For more information about MWI’s Roundtables, please contact Clarice Parsons at courtmediation@mwi.org or 617-895-4030.

Past Roundtable Events

Emotional Intelligence and Mediation

Guest Speaker: Dr. Bianca Briciu

Date: April 22, 2025

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Description: In the complex world of conflict resolution, emotional intelligence (EI) plays a crucial role in fostering understanding, building trust, and guiding parties toward meaningful agreements. This roundtable will explore how mediators can leverage EI to navigate high-tension situations, manage their own emotions, and respond effectively to the emotions of others. Participants will discuss key EI competencies—such as self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation—and their practical applications in mediation. Through shared experiences and interactive dialogue, this session will provide valuable insights into enhancing mediation effectiveness through emotional intelligence.

Register for this Roundtable

When Attorneys Serve as Mediators: Observing Two Sets of Ethics Standards

Guest Speakers: Mac Reed & Ken Rosenbaum

Description: Explore the ethical challenges faced by attorney–mediators in this engaging presentation. Attorney and ethics counsel Mac Reed, along with attorney–mediator Ken Rosenbaum, will discuss tricky situations like handling potential conflicts of interest, dealing with threats from parties, and navigating confidentiality when ethical standards are violated. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the conundrums attorney–mediators encounter.

Register for this Roundtable

Practice Alone Does Not Make Perfect: the Benefits of Reflective Practice

Guest Speakers: Ellen Waldorf & Michael Lang

Date: February 27, 2025

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Description: Join us for an insightful presentation on Reflective Practice, a method that helps conflict resolution practitioners enhance their skills by learning from their real-world experiences. Discover how the Reflective Debrief® model fosters personal, relevant, and lasting growth by encouraging mediators to examine their thinking and evaluate their approaches. The session will include a brief introduction to these principles, along with a live demonstration of the model in action.

Register for this Roundtable

Do We Walk It Like We Talk It?

Mediator Self-CareGuest Speaker: Gloria Rhodes

Date: January 28, 2025

Description: Our professional work is judged by how well we model and live out our values, such as equity, healthy relationships, and dignity, both at work and in our personal lives. Join us for a candid discussion on the challenges and strategies for sustaining ourselves. We’ll explore a framework for self-reflection and action, emphasizing self-awareness, self-care, and accountability to our values.

Summary Process Agreement Writing Workshop

Guest Speaker: Diana Chiang

Date: November 5, 2024

Description: Please join MWI’s Diana Chiang for an interactive workshop designed to discuss tools needed to draft a strong eviction mediation agreement, review Court agreement forms, and examine past sample agreements. This workshop will focus exclusively on Summary Process/ Eviction matters.

Supporting Self-determination in Challenging Situations

Guest Speakers: Tara West and Dan Simon

Date: October 22, 2024

Description: Join Tara West and Dan Simon, co-authors of Self-Determination in Mediation: The Art and Science of Mirrors and Lights, as they delve into how mediators can uphold party self-determination even when external constraints limit choices. Learn strategies for handling situations where parties ask mediators to make decisions, disagree on participation, or face imposed time limits and documentation requirements. Discover how to navigate these challenges and maximize party choice, even in difficult circumstances.

Confidentiality in Mediation: What Does Massachusetts Law Protect, and Not Protect?

Mediator Confidentiality

Guest Speakers: David Hoffman and Robin DiGiammarino

Date: September 11, 2024

Description: Please join special guests David Hoffman and Robin DiGiammarino as they discuss their recent collaboration in defending mediators’ confidentiality after Robin was served with a subpoena for her work in connection with an MWI mediation, and David represented her in getting the subpoena quashed. They will discuss the process from receiving the subpoena to their appearance in Court. This discussion will also explore more generally the confidentiality protections provided in Mass. General Laws Chapter 233 Section 23C and the parties’ agreement to participate in mediation.

The Role of an Organizational Ombuds

Organizational OmbudsGuest Speakers: Dana Hinojosa & Elise Ramos

Date: August 28, 2024

Description: This presentation explores the role of organizational ombuds and the various benefits they can bring to the organizations they partner with. Our Guest speakers will also compare and contrast an ombuds meeting and facilitative mediation.

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