The AAA-ICDR Foundation provided a grant of $136,500 to the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) to support the development of a new toolbox in partnership with Living Room Conversations and community organizations that helps school boards and communities bridge conflict focused on mending social divisions and civil discourse. 

The project selected five communities to use the toolbox and engage in a Learning to Action process focused on forming a supportive learning cohort to promote constructive dialogue and foster shared learning. 

In each of the five communities, teams have been formed composed of either a community mediation center, a school board, and an education advocacy group (Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Mt Vernon, Washington; and Savannah, Georgia) or a community mediation center and an education advocacy group who are building relations with their school board (Cincinnati, Ohio and Prince William County, Virginia). 

Members of the team presented their first public conversation about the School/Community Tool Box on May 9, 2024. Representatives of the Mediation West, Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Volunteers of America; Western Washington Dispute Resolution Center, Mt Vernon, Washington; and Greater Cincinnati Conflict Resolution Program, Cincinnati, Ohio will break open how to begin the conversation with the school system/district to ascertain use of the School/Community Toolbox by both the school and larger community. In addition, each site will share the initial impact each has had with helping school communities have constructive, rather than destructive, conversations, from their unique starting places.  Please click here to listen to this recorded webinar.