Bloggers and Do-Gooders

Jeff, PeaceTones, and I got a nice mention in a legal blog. Someone is noticing, apparently - go to this URL to see the entry:

http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2009/10/lawyer-promotes-world-music---and-world-peace.html

(For some reason, the "insert link" function is not working on this site at the moment, so you'll have to cut and paste it into your browser.)

Alma Jadallah and I are team teaching a course at SMU for the graduate dispute resolution program there. Last weekend we had two reasons to feel good about the future of dispute resolution (or conflict resolution, or whatever you want to call the field).

The first was a brief meeting of individuals interested in forming the SMU Mediators Beyond Borders chapter. We had about 25 people in the room at the meeting, and they are now all on a contact list as we go forward. All seem eager to do something constructive, and that is, of course, the prerequisite for making a little piece of the world a better place.

The second was the work our class did. We're approaching the class (Integrating Conflict Theories) as a practicum in which the students work with partners around the world to write funding proposals for projects that will enhance conflict resolution work that is already underway. One group is working with Operation Understanding DC (a group promoting positive relations between the black and Jewish communities), one is working with Wi'am (the Bethlehem community dispute resolution center), and one is working with IBO on a dispute resolution system for women in Afghanistan who have been trained in and who are working in commerce or micro-commerce.

Several other potential partners and projects fell by the wayside as a result of class numbers and preferences, but the energy with which the class is going after these projects is remarkable. Makes one proud to be a do-gooder.