|
Atlanta, GA – Adi Gavrila and Search for
Common Ground will be honored with the Association
for Conflict Resolution (ACR) International
Development Committee’s 2009 Outstanding Leadership
Awards for their outstanding contributions to
international conflict resolution. The awards will
be presented on October 7, 2009 at ACR’s Annual
Conference in Atlanta.
Search for Common Ground
was selected for the Organization Award in
recognition of its work in challenging international
conflicts, social entrepreneurship, and creative use
of media in working in conflict effected countries.
The organization, founded in 1982, works to
transform the way that the world deals with
conflict: promoting collaborative problem-solving
and non-adversarial approaches. SFCG works in over
20 countries, with local partners, to find
culturally suitable ways to strengthen societies'
capacity to deal with conflicts constructively.
"We need to be profoundly connected to the conflicts
and the people with whom we engage," Susan Collin
Marks, Senior Vice President of Search for Common
Ground, said. "I remember when I was first in
involved in this work in South Africa in the early
1990s, the literature said you needed to be neutral.
I soon came to the realization that is it not
possible for us as human beings to be neutral. We
are always advocates for something. As peacebuilders,
we are advocates for the process of building bridges
and finding common ground."
Adi Gavrila, founding member and manager of
the Craiova Mediation Center (CMC) and president of
the Romanian Mediation Centers Union, was selected
for the individual award in recognition of his
extraordinary work navigating a complex political
environment to advance alternative dispute
resolution in Romania. The CMC was established in
2003 as a pilot center to test mediation in real
cases that, based on good results, led to further
implementation throughout Romania. As general
manager, Gavrila observed different strategies
for implementing mediation nationwide, including
establishment of pilot programs, mediation
practice, nationwide mediation training, creation of
local mediation centers and a national network of
centers, public awareness programs, regulation, and
development of an independent regulation body.
“I am surprised and pleased to be selected for the
IDC honor,” Gavrila said. “The award represents an
unprecedented opportunity to promote and
share information on the system-wide efforts
to advance mediation in Romania as a profession.
Between many other projects, the Craiova Mediation
Center and the Romanian Mediation Centers Union are
partnering with the Romanian Magistrates Association
in a new three year plan starting with the spring of
2009 towards the establishment of a strong mediation
culture between the Romanian magistrates.”
Collin Marks and Gavrila will share stories from the
field following the awards presentation.
The Association for Conflict Resolution’s 9th Annual
Conference theme is “Convening the Whole of
Community: Integrating Approaches and Practices to
Address Conflicts in a Chaotic World.” The
conference will be held at the Hilton Atlanta in
Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit
www.acrnet.org or call
(202) 464-9700.
Calendar Listing
Association for Conflict Resolution’s
9th Annual Conference, “Convening ‘Whole of
Community’: Integrating Approaches and Practices to
Address Conflicts in a Chaotic World
October 7-10, 2009
Atlanta, GA
For more information including registration, details
about the more than 100 unique workshops, and events
being held:
http://acrnet.org/conferences/ac09/index.htm
About the Association for Conflict Resolution
The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is the
professional organization dedicated to enhancing the
practice and public understanding of conflict
resolution. ACR represents and serves a diverse
national and international audience that includes
nearly 5,000 mediators, arbitrators, facilitators,
educators, and others involved in the field of
conflict resolution. ACR also publishes Conflict
Resolution Quarterly Journal and ACResolution. For
more information about ACR, visit
http://www.ACRnet.org. |
