A Live Interactive Training on Zoom
FALL 2026
Dates and Times
- October 17-18 & 24-25
- 40 hours – Two Consecutive Weekends
- Saturdays & Sundays, 9:30am – 6:00pm PDT
Tuition
- CB Member: Early Bird – $1045 | Full – $1145 (After October 1, 6pm PDT)
- Public: Early Bird – $1095 | Full – $1195 (October 1, 6pm PDT)
- Nonprofit: $795*
* Nonprofit Discount: Community Boards’ nonprofit discount is available to the staff, Board members, and volunteers of 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organizations via a provided discount code. 1] Nonprofit registrations must be paid for by the organization on behalf of the attendees using the awarded discount code. 2] Nonprofit applications will be reviewed and approved at least three days before training registration closes. 3] Register for the course only after you have received your organization’s nonprofit discount code. 4] There will be no refunds after any registration.
To apply and to receive the nonprofit discount code, email Liz Gewirtz, Interim Mediation and Restorative Justice Coordinator, lgewirtz@communityboards.org. Download Our Nonprofit Discount Policy.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Community Boards is committed to ensuring accessibility to all our trainings and workshops by awarding scholarships, which are needs-based. The deadline for scholarship applications is three weeks before the training. Applicants may be requested to provide additional information. Submit your scholarship application online: Financial Assistance Application Form.
Application deadline: Friday, September 25 , 6pm PDT
REGISTRATION
Fall Registration Become a CB Member
HR Certification Institute
40 General Credit Hours
Program ID will be provided upon completion of training. This program has been pre-approved for 40 General Credit Hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).
MCLE
40 MCLE Credits
This course is approved by the State Bar of California for 40 MCLE credits including 4 credits for the Recognition and Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and Society (provider #9323). $75 processing fee required.
THE BASICS OF MEDIATION TRAINING
Earn Your Certificate in Mediation
Become a Certified Mediator with Community Boards’ 40-hour The Basics of Mediation Training. It’s ideal for people who want to learn to mediate and to enhance their conflict resolution skills. Basics is structured with a practical and proven step-by-step framework so attendees can become successful neutral third-party mediators. These skills can be used to mediate conflicts that arise in the workplace, in the community, and at home.
Live Interactive Training on Zoom
Basics introduces and reinforces the skills critical for effective conflict resolution: clear communication, problem-solving, constructive engagement, mediation, and negotiation. It is a highly engaging mix of discussion, role play, and coaching that builds participants’ skills step-by-step, and gives them the framework, practice, and confidence to mediate disputes. Participants get access to supplemental training videos on YouTube and additional reading materials. Coached role-play practices are held in breakout rooms with immediate feedback and guidance. Each day is designed to be fun and engaging to maximize learning.
Training Topics
Basics introduces core conflict resolution skills for managers, HR professionals, attorneys, ombuds, social workers, and those interested in expanding their professional and personal skill sets. Participants gain the skills needed to handle a broad range of disputes and to communicate effectively. Basics training topics include:
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- Employing effective communication and active listening
- Dealing with strong emotions
- De-escalating anger
- Addressing diversity
- Balancing power
- Breaking impasse
- Managing a negotiation
Professional Benefits
Basics provides these professional benefits:
- Gain credibility and professional expertise
- Learn a highly desirable workplace skill set
- Join a community of alternative dispute resolution professionals
Certificates
Basics meets the requirements of California Trial Courts’ mediation programs and fulfills the education and training requirements of California’s Dispute Resolution Program Act (DRPA). Upon completion, each participant receives a signed certificate.
Become a Community Mediator
Community Boards’ Neighborhood Mediation Program provides a range of conflict resolution services to all San Franciscans. Upon completion of Basics, participants are invited to become a Community Mediator. By volunteering, participants both help people resolve their disputes and continue to expand and refine their conflict resolution skill sets.
YOUR LEAD TRAINER
SHARON TOM
Sharon Tom, founder of Ohana Resource Group, has been a practitioner and trainer in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Industry for over 20 years. Her expertise is in working with communities, families, businesses and schools teaching skills to understand and utilize the unique strengths of individuals, the fine art of effective communications, cultural diversity and various modalities to deal with disputes. She has taught lawyers, judges, therapists, police, government officials, parents and teachers these skills to enhance their abilities to strengthen their interpersonal relationships and to communicate more effectively when confronted with adverse situations. Learn more about Sharon.
Here are what others have said about Basics: Participant Testimonials
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Though it rarely happens, we reserve the right to cancel a training. Should we cancel, registrants will receive a full refund. We also reserve the right to substitute trainers or presenters. All other cancellations will receive a refund minus the appropriate cancellation fee described below.
Cancellation & Transfer Fees
- Cancellations 11 or more business days before the training start date will incur a $50 cancellation fee. This fee will be waived one time if registration is applied to a future training.
- Cancellations 6-10 business days before the training start date will incur a $150 cancellation fee. $100 of this fee will be waived one time if registration is applied to a future training.
- Cancellations 5 or fewer business days before the training start date will incur HALF THE ENROLLMENT FEE. $100 of this fee will be waived one time if registration is applied to a future training.
Financial Assistance Application
Community Boards is committed to ensuring accessibility to all our trainings and workshops. Awards of financial aid are needs based. Our primary goals are to provide financial assistance and to maintain diversity in our pool of volunteer Community Mediators.
All information in the application is confidential. Please note that applicants may be requested to provide additional information. Submit your online application: Financial Assistance Application Form.
Application deadline: Completed applications must be submitted no later than three weeks prior to the selected training date.
- Fall 2026: Friday, September 25 , 6pm PDT
Be sure to join our email list for future updates on The Basics of Mediation and other training opportunities.
Questions?
Trainings: Liz Gewirtz, Interim Mediation and Restorative Justice Coordinator
lgewirtz@communityboards.org
General inquiries: Jim Garrison, Communications Director, jgarrison@communityboards.org