The Basics of Mediation

Training Overview | Trainers | MCLE | Cancellation & Refund Policy | Financial Assistance | Questions?

2022 Training Dates

FALL 2022

October

Dates and Times

  • Oct 1-2, Sat & Sun, 9:30am – 6:00pm PDT
  • Oct 8-9, Sat & Sun, 9:30am – 6:00pm PDT
  • Oct 15-16, Sat & Sun, 9:30am – 1:30pm PDT

Tuition
CB Member, Early Bird – $720 | Full – $770 (After Sep 9, 6pm PDT)
Public, Early Bird – $795 | Full – $845 (After Sep 9, 6pm PDT)
Nonprofit: $545*

Live Webinar: Online via Zoom

Register Here Become a CB Member

*Nonprofit Rate: Our nonprofit discount is a special discount for nonprofits that wish to register two or more employees.Please email Sarah Moss, Program Associate, for more information and to register at Learn_More@communityboards.org, ATTN: Sarah.

Training Overview

A Mediation Certificate Training

Community Boards’ nationally recognized The Basics of Mediation is a live 40-hour webinar that introduces core conflict resolution skills in a training designed for managers, human resource professionals, attorneys, ombuds, social workers, community organizers, and others interested in learning conflict resolution and mediation skills.

Basics has set the “gold standard” for Northern California’s mediation trainings: comprehensive, professional, practical, topical, and affordable. It meets the minimum requirements for most California court mediation programs. As a certificated training, participants receive signed certificates upon completion.

Basics introduces and reinforces the skills critical for effective conflict resolution: clear communication, problem-solving, constructive engagement, mediation, and managing negotiations.

Upon registration, participants receive a link to the training curriculum and supplemental readings. Throughout the training, participants are given access to supplemental training videos on YouTube. Coached role-play practices are held in breakout rooms with immediate feedback and guidance. An ultimate goal of Basics is for people to discover and refine their own personal conflict resolution styles.

Attendees gain the knowledge, skills, techniques, and strategies needed to handle a broad range of disputes. Basics training topics include:

  • Employing effective communication and active listening
  • Balancing power
  • Managing a negotiation
  • Addressing diversity and gender issues
  • Dealing with strong emotions
  • Breaking impasse
  • De-escalating anger
  • Drafting agreements that work

In addition, Basics provides these professional benefits:

  • Gaining recognition to enhance your credibility and professional standing with the people that you serve
  • Investing in your career and demonstrating your professional experience and skills
  • Showing commitment and dedication to your own profession
  • Distinguishing yourself by joining a committed community of progressive professionals

Here are some frequently asked questions: FAQ
Here are what others have said about Basics: Participant Testimonials

Trainers

Donald Proby, Lead Trainer
Donald, currently a doctoral scholar in educational leadership with an emphasis on cross cultural conflict transformation, has been a mediator, restorative justice practitioner, and conflict resolution trainer for over 35 years. He has worked in government, social services, nonprofit leadership, and public and holistic health arenas.

Donald also works with multiple Bay Area organizations to advance peace and community building. Donald has been co-leading our Basics of Mediation training since 2011. His approach to adult education involves holding space where learners are encouraged to engage with their natural curiosity, explore, experiment, and master the content through transformative embodied experiences. Donald works to create an environment where risk taking is encouraged and the collective experience is engaging.

Karen H. Lipney, Co-Trainer
Karen is a trainer, mediator, facilitator, conflict coach, and is a co-trainer of the Basics of Mediation and Beyond the Basics. She draws on years of experience working for a national labor union and before that, as an attorney. In a career transition, Karen focused on mediation to expand her skills and experience. In 2014, Karen began to volunteer her time for Community Boards as a Community Mediator, Conflict Coach, and Facilitator. In 2016 she joined the staff as the Outreach Coordinator. Karen then worked as our ADR Programs Director from 2016-21. She is currently the Neighborhood Courts Program Coordinator & Consultant with Community Boards, as well as a mediator, conflict coach and facilitator for The Brigham and Women’s Hospital located in Boston. Karen was raised in San Francisco and giving back to the community is part of her family heritage.

MCLE

MCLE: 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.  Make your MCLE payment here.

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.

Deadlines: Completed applications must be submitted no later than four weeks prior to the selected training date.

  • Fall 2022: Sep 9, 6pm PDT

Be sure to join our email list for future updates on The Basics of Mediation and other training opportunities.

Connect with Us

Questions?

Sarah Moss, Program Associate
Email: Learn_More@communityboards.org, ATTN: Sarah