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By Leslie Thatcher for KPCW (May. 28, 2025)

Mediator and author Chad Ford and Mountain Mediation Programs Director Kris Campbell detail Ford’s visit focused on understanding conflict and how to turn it into meaningful connection.

Ford, who has worked in conflicts globally, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue, emphasizes the importance of grassroots peace building. His talk, titled “The Courage to Listen: Turning Conflict into Collaboration,” will focus on overcoming fear and assumptions in conflict resolution.

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Click here to listen to Chad & Kris’ interview on the KPCW website.

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By Heather Bergeson for TownLift (May 23, 2025)

PARK CITY, Utah – Renowned peacebuilder and conflict resolution expert, Chad Ford will join Mountain Mediation for an evening of insights and discussion. “The Courage to Listen: Turning Conflict into Collaboration” will be held on June 1 at 6 p.m. at the Eccles Center in Park City. Organizers hope the event will help participants understand how different conflict styles can help people transform conflicts into collaborations within the local community.

Ford is the author of “Dangerous Love: Transforming Fear and Conflict at Home, at Work and in the World.” He is slated to share “real-world experiences and practical strategies from his work resolving large-scale ethnic and religious conflicts around the globe,” according to Mountain Mediation.

Attendees will learn about strategies for effective conflict communication, insights into navigating different conflict styles, collaboration techniques, and practical skills for personal and professional relationships. Following the talk, there will be a Q&A session where participants can interact with Ford.

Mountain Mediation’s mission is to bring people together to prevent conflict, resolve disputes, and improve communication for a more inclusive community. The nonprofit provides mediation services, landlord/tenant education, communication training, and community conversations.

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Click here to read this article on the TownLift website.

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By Toria Barnhart for the Park Record (May 20, 2025)

Park City School District officials are exploring a district-wide cell phone policy that could restrict student device usage from bell to bell following the passage of Senate Bill 178 earlier this year.

Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman emphasized that a new policy is being crafted to improve student engagement, youth mental health and human connection. It’s also in response to a new law taking effect July 1 that prohibits the use of cell phones and smartwatches in classrooms unless a school district establishes a policy outlining specific exemptions.

District administrators, including incoming Park City High School Principal Caleb Fine and interim Treasure Mountain Junior High Principal Isaiah Folau, who will take over as principal of Ecker Hill Middle School, participated in a community forum moderated by Mountain Mediation Center on Monday night at the Blair Education Center. The event was intended to encourage students, parents and staff to share their thoughts on a new strategy that would be adopted for the 2025-26 academic year.

“Most importantly, we want human connection. Our students are there to learn, and we don’t want distractions,” Huntsman said.

In August 2024, school board members set strict limits prohibiting students from using cellular devices during school hours. Yet Huntsman said the execution of the current policy has been inconsistent across different schools.

There has been a successful implementation of a pilot program of magnetic locking pouches made by the company Yondr at Treasure Mountain Junior High. However, the building for eighth and ninth-grade students will close at the end of the school year. So now administrators are looking to establish a cell phone policy for grades K-12 district-wide.

Under the current policy, Ecker Hill students are required to keep their phones out of sight and in their lockers, backpacks or other secure locations throughout the day. Treasure Mountain students have the Yondr pouches, and the high school doesn’t have a formal policy because each teacher adopts a different set of rules with expectations that students are to keep their devices from being a distraction.

Fine, the principal of Treasure Mountain until he was named interim superintendent last year, and Folau said they are “pro-pouch.” They affirmed that the Yondr system has been “wildly successful” with incidents related to student cell phone usage decreasing from 78 last year to 32 so far this year. There are also remedies in place to address ongoing challenges, such as requiring a parent to pick up a device if there’s a recurring issue.

School district officials recognized the system at Ecker Hill is not perfect, but Folau said, “You do not see kids scrolling through their phones during passing periods or have them out at once.” Teachers also have catchalls, such as calculator pouches for students to put their phones in, or an assistant principal who will come and collect phones if there is a concern.

Yet with eighth-grade students moving to Ecker Hill next year and freshmen heading to the high school, administrators agreed there needs to be a uniform, reinforced routine.

“I think the data is making it very clear that the kids on cell phones are distracted learners, and that’s a big part of it. Then, the other thing is just the mental health and well-being of kids on phones. It distracts you from learning, and then you’re also engaging in typically unhealthy behaviors if you’re just continuing to scroll and scroll and scroll,” Fine said. “I think it’s appropriate to give our kids the tools they need and the supports they need to really put it away. How many of you can put away your phone for seven hours? The answer is very few, myself included.”

About 40 people attending the event were split into four small groups, where they discussed questions including:

• “Why should or shouldn’t cell phones be in the classroom?”
• “Should cell phones be looked at differently in standard classrooms vs. in specialty classes like film, photography, learning AI vs. in the halls/lunchroom?”
• “What is important to you regarding how a cell phone policy should be implemented and enforced across or within schools and age groups?”
• “What do you want the Park City School District and/or school principals to know or to take into consideration as they make their decisions about policy changes and school practices?”
• “What are your thoughts around how cell phones in the schools affect students’ mental health, bullying, social safety, and/or addiction?”

Most high school teachers participating in the groups explained that cell phone usage is “nonstop” in their classrooms, and the educators are the ones “battling” students over their policies. Sometimes, students use burner phones to appear as if they’ve turned in their devices.

They also questioned whether students are developing soft skills that allow them to form meaningful connections with their peers.

Parents had mixed reactions, recognizing the dangers of social media use on teen mental health as described in “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt, but also said they want to be able to keep in touch with their kids. Most were in favor of limiting cell phone usage in some capacity. A survey of Park City School District parents suggests around 85% support substantial restrictions.

A few students also attended, largely opposed to the cell phone ban because they want to be treated as adults. They said the devices can be useful for making lunch plans with friends and staying up to date with changes to sports practices or games. The teens were also in favor of letting students regulate themselves, though they said they don’t receive any formal education about the impacts of technology on their brains.

Huntsman said the district may consider purchasing class sets of iPhones without cellular capacities for classes where cell phones may be beneficial. That would also aid with equity efforts, as some students may not have the most recent technology.

Park City School District officials will continue collecting community feedback about how to develop a comprehensive policy before the upcoming school year. A survey will remain open for about two weeks.

Huntsman said she expects a new policy will be announced within the next month.

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Click here to read this article on the Park Record website.

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By Leslie Thatcher for KPCW (Jan. 23, 2o25)

The post Mountain Mediation launches new family mediation program appeared first on Mountain Mediation Center.

By Laura Modena for TownLift (Jan. 21, 2025)

Mountain Mediation, a key provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the Wasatch Back, has launched a Family Mediation Pilot Program to help families resolve conflicts such as divorce, separation, and child custody issues in a peaceful, constructive manner. The program is funded by a 2024 Women’s Giving Fund grant from the Park City Community Foundation.

“Mediation offers a constructive path for families navigating challenging conflicts, such as divorce or child custody disputes,” said Gretchen Lee, Mountain Mediation’s executive director. “Our Family Mediation Pilot Program empowers families to resolve these issues fairly, respectfully, and with lasting solutions. This program will make mediation more accessible to families in our community and foster communication through difficult transitions. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have.”

The program is supported by a team of four experienced mediators with over 50 years of combined expertise in family law and mediation. Anne A. Cameron, Mindi Hansen, Natalie J. Malovich, Ph.D., and Shane Marx will guide families through the mediation process to reach agreements prioritizing the best interests of all involved.

To ensure accessibility, Mountain Mediation offers family mediation services an a sliding scale for families who meet specific income criteria.  Their small claims court mediations and landlord/tenant mediations are free.

Mountain Mediation’s mission extends beyond family mediation. The nonprofit works to prevent conflict, resolve disputes, and enhance communication within the community. Its initiatives include a landlord/tenant eviction diversion program, communication training for schools and organizations, and community conversations.

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Click here to read this article on the Townlift website.

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By Park Record Staff (Jan. 16, 2025)

Mountain Mediation, a provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the Wasatch Back, announced the launch of their Family Mediation Pilot Program.

The program is designed to help families resolve conflicts such as divorce, separation, and child custody without resorting to litigation.

The pilot program is supported by a 2024 Women’s Giving Fund grant through the Park City Community Foundation.

“Mediation offers a constructive path for families navigating challenging conflicts, such as divorce or child custody disputes,” said Mountain Mediation Executive Director Gretchen Lee. “Our Family Mediation Pilot Program empowers families to resolve these issues fairly, respectfully, and with lasting solutions. This program will make mediation more accessible to families in our community and foster communication through difficult transitions. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have.”

The program is led by four mediators with more than 50 years combined experience in family law and mediation, according to Mountain Mediation. They are Anne A. Cameron, Mindi Hansen, Natalie J. Malovich, Ph.D., and Shane Marx.

Mountain Mediation’s family mediations are offered at a reduced cost to families who meet certain income criteria. For more information about the Family Mediation Pilot Program, visit MountainMediationCenter.org/family-mediation or call them at 435-336-0060.

Mountain Mediation’s mission is to bring people together to prevent conflict, resolve disputes, and improve communication for a more inclusive community. The nonprofit provides mediation services, landlord/tenant education, communication training, and community conversations.

Mountain Mediation has developed a landlord/tenant eviction diversion program and also offers communication trainings to help individuals, organizations, schools and businesses engage in constructive dialogue and manage and resolve conflicts.

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Click here to read this article on the Park Record website

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By Laura Modena for TownLift (Oct. 14, 2024)

PARK CITY, Utah — Mountain Mediation Center will host its second free “Let’s Talk” community communication training of the year on Oct. 18, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the McGrath Mountain Center in Park City. Register Here

The program, which originated as a Park City Leadership Class 29 project in Oct. 2023, aims to improve connection and enhance community through better communication skills.

Nicole Wozniak of Mountain Mediation Center said, “We’ve held multiple Let’s Talk sessions since then, bringing the community together to boost their skills to remain composed, listen effectively, find common ground, and connect with others.”

The training covers four modules: Self-Awareness, Listening, Finding Common Ground, and Communicating to Connect. Two trainers lead the interactive sessions, guiding participants through practical exercises.

“Mountain Mediation is committed to providing residents of the Wasatch Back with the skills and resources to feel confident and composed during difficult conversations and in moments of conflict,” Wozniak added.

The free training is made possible by a grant from Park City Rotary. Mountain Mediation invites potential sponsors and organizations interested in hosting team trainings to contact them for more information.

The event will take place at 1431 Lowell Ave, Park City, UT 84060. Registration is required.

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Click here to read this article on the TownLift website

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By Scott Iwasaki for the Park Record (September 3, 2024)

Mountain Mediation Center’s mission is “bringing people together to prevent conflict, resolve disputes and improve communication for a more inclusive community,” said Nicole Wozniak, the nonprofit’s communications and event coordinator.

The nonprofit does this by providing mediation services, landlord and tenant education, communication training and community conversations.

Mountain Mediation Center is known for the following pillars:

• Improving our community’s communications skills with its Let’s Talk trainings and Community Conversations
• Preventing eviction and homelessness by helping landlords and tenants communicate together and through tenant education
• Mediating conflicts on a sliding scale, including domestic mediations that create better outcomes for couples going through divorce and ensure positive outcomes for their children

It also makes sure that these programs and training sessions are affordable to individuals, organizations, schools and businesses in Summit and Wasatch counties, Wozniak said.

“We are providing access to justice on free and sliding scales,” she said.

In order to continue this, Mountain Mediation Center will host its second annual Pizza at the Pendry! Fundraiser from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, at Disco Pizza in the Pendry Hotel at Canyons Village. Tickets can be purchased at mountainmediationcenter.org/events.

“There will be lots of pizza and a lot of good company and conversations,” Wozniak said. “There will also be information about the needs facing our community and how Mountain Mediation is innovating to address those issues.”

“So, this will be a great opportunity for those who don’t know about us to learn about us, and for people of may have attended last year or who have supported us in the past, this will be a great refresher and update of the things we’ve been doing over the past year,” she said.

The night will also include a silent auction and opportunity drawing, according to Wozniak.

Items include ski tickets, gift cards to local restaurants and free popcorn passes to Park City Film.

“We are also auctioning off an Egyptian Theatre Pharaoh membership and more to be announced,” she said, noting that the opportunity drawing’s grand prize will also be announced soon.

Opportunity drawing tickets can also be purchased online, and ticket holders don’t have to be present to win, Wozniak said.

“Obviously we would love to see them at the event, but if they want to support MMC and can’t attend, they can still buy tickets,” she said. “Also, the silent auction will be live digitally on our website.”

Wozniak is grateful for the support of local businesses and organizations who have donated items for the auction and drawing.

“To see support from our community is so impactful to us,” she said. “We’re such a small organization with only four staff members and a fantastic team of volunteer mediators and volunteers who run our training. So, we really appreciate the support.”

Wozniak is also thankful for Mountain Mediation Center’s partnership with the Pendry Hotel.

“They supported us with our first fundraiser last year, and this is a fantastic and great partnership,” she said. “Disco Pizza is an intimate space but still has room for many people to come and gather and learn more about Mountain Mediation Center.”

Mountain Mediation Center is on track to assist 1,500 people this year through community outreach, mediations, communication trainings and community conversations, Wozniak said.

“A lot of our work is building relationships by tabling events and showcasing what we have to offer and getting people educated about their rights,” she said. “The current climate is very divisive, and I think now, more than ever, it’s important to give people skills to effectively communicate with each other. So, holding trainings allows people to improve their communications skills and offers the opportunity to prevent conflict before it occurs. It’s also important to remember that court is expensive and time consuming.”

Mediation also gives people an opportunity to listen, Wozniak said.

“We provide a basis for people to consider and understand different perspectives a little better, rather than have them go into a situation and not engage,” she said. “All voices are valuable and deserve a space where they can communicate effectively, rather than just avoiding conversations we don’t want to have.”

Mountain Mediation Center’s Pizza at the Pendry! Fundraiser

• When: 5-7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13
• Where: Disco Pizza at the Pendry Hotel at Canyons Village
• Registration: mountainmediationcenter.org/events
• Web: mountainmediationcenter.org

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Mountain Mediation Center is a local nonprofit organization that works to prevent conflict, resolve disputes and improve communication along the Wasatch Back. An upcoming fundraiser will help further that work.

The post Pizza at the Pendry supports mission of Mountain Mediation Center appeared first on Mountain Mediation Center.