Areas of Engagement
Conflict Artistry LLC has been approved for state funding through the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to build a community-based Restorative Justice program and provide harm reparation services for free to the general public. This page describes the eight areas of engagement we hope to reach through this program.
Learn about our diversion process here.
​
For information about other available services, click here.
Substance Abuse
& Addiction
Possession and distribution of substances is often a symptom of underlying unmet needs, whether financial, physical, or otherwise. These cases have high recidivism rates in part due to punitive approaches that do little to address individual needs. We network with a wide range of community referral sources to address these systemic failings and facilitate access to resources.
Theft &
Property Damage
Material theft and damage creates a negative impact on community perceptions of safety and wellbeing. Our restorative approach prioritizes individual accountability as well as community engagement, making these cases particularly well-suited to harm reparation agreements that can facilitate direct restitution for missing or damaged items.
Consent Violations
We work within a broad definition of consent that refers to permission and agreement for something to happen. Harm through consent violations occurs through inappropriate crossing of mental, emotional, professional and/or physical boundaries. Each of these requires a nuanced method of healing-centered engagement that is trauma-informed and holistically restorative.
Bias
& Discrimination
Implicit and explicit biases permeate every layer of our society. Many forms of harm are rooted directly in bias and discrimination yet is often unacknowledged and risks further harm. Dynamics of power and privilege influence conflicts caused by classism, sexism, racism, ableism, and many others. Our equity-informed approaches can lead to meaningful intervention and education around bias and discrimination while supporting accountability processes.
Small Claims
In Oregon, most circuit courts default to mediation for court-reported small claims. Parties submitting a small claim with the court must make a reasonable attempt to secure the claim before filing. One of our practitioners has previous experience as a Circuit Court mediator and several of us are qualified in this practice. If an agreement is not reached through our process, the claim may be submitted to the court.
Family
Negotiations
Family Mediation is a particularly complex area of conflict negotiation. Two of our practitioners have specific training in Family Mediation and are capable of facilitating child-centered parental agreements that address the needs and interests of the whole family. These agreements can occur in place of, or in support of, necessary court proceedings.
Juvenile Justice
Juveniles are often treated with severe punitive measures similar to adults when harm has occurred. The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing trend that obstructs youth from accessing their education and criminalizes them rather than facilitating a learning and growth experience. We are open to working with individuals of all ages who have caused and/or experienced harm through Restorative Justice processes that avoid system contact.
Police
Accountability
Criminal legal system partners have yet to be included meaningfully in Restorative Justice processes. In fact, it is common for diversion facilitators to reveal harm caused by police, prisons, and other court-affiliated agents that are not trained in restorative practice or harm reparation. We believe there is an appropriate place for system workers in accountability processes, through increased access to education and restorative dialogue, and a deeper understanding of alternative approaches to dispute resolution.
Additional Services
Conflict Artistry LLC is a collective of qualified and experienced practitioners available to provide a range of services, from conflict coaching and assessment, to dialogue facilitation, and group trainings.
Skill-Building Trainings
Our practitioners are well-equipped to provide educational opportunities for you and/or your organization. We have practical knowledge around facilitation techniques, agreement-building, non-violent and trauma-informed communication, and other restorative practices. These are particularly useful for conflict prevention and de-escalation.
Facilitated Dialogue
It can often be beneficial to invite a trained and neutral facilitator to promote dialogue and encourage communication between members of any association or collective body. We are comfortable supporting many kinds of conversations in any context, including schools, workplaces, community organizing, or interpersonal.
Conflict Coaching
& Assessment
Our practitioners understand conflict can manifest in many forms and involve many stakeholders. We are capable of providing short- and long-term consulting services that meet you and your team where you are and reveal potential for growth in the future.
Harm Reparation
We acknowledge that not all harms are identified by criminal codes, but still cause tension and conflict within and between communities. We believe people impacted by harm are the best leaders of reparation processes, and that professionally supported agreement-building between parties can transform relationships and repair harm. Harms that can be described by penal code will qualify for our diversion program.