Talking Circle for Problem Solvers

MCHC news release

A Talking Circle for Molokai practitioners, mediators, family members and anyone else interested will be March 19 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Molokai Community Health Center. The Talking Circle will allow everyone to share and compare different ideas related to the broad spectrum of problem-solving methods available in our multi-cultural community.

Molokai’s community is blessed with many mea Ho’ala – practitioners of  ho’oponopono, lomilomi, massage, la’au lapaau, behavioral health, counseling  and other healing arts – who understand that disputes and painful emotions are often barriers to good health and healing. People who helps problem-solve in their family, church or community could benefit from learning more about the different ways available on Molokai to help with conflict resolution. The Talking Circle will provide information and a forum for discussion.

One of the problem-solving methods proven to be very effective in our community is mediation, in which trained community problem-solvers help move two or more parties through a conflict resolution process in order to settle a dispute and design a workable solution.  Mediation can be a more cost-effective alternative to legal action in court.

The Maui Medical Center, in collaboration with Molokai Community Health Center and the Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Center, will offer training sessions in April to Molokai community members who want to serve as mediators.

The four sessions will provide 32 hours of training to prepare community members to provide this valuable service in our community.  Information about the April 2013 training sessions and registration materials will be available at the Talking Circle event site.

Participants must register to attend the Talking Circle March.19, as space is limited. Lunch will be provided.  For registration or more information, please contact Kanoe Davis, cultural health navigator at MCHC, at 660-2629 or kdavis@molokaichc.org  before Friday, March 15.