One year after the tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia a new Virginia license plate supporting community peacebuilding is available for purchase.

Resolution Virginia worked with graphic artist Dean Paris of Paris Designs and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create the second of two Community Peacebuilding license plates.

The first Community Peacebuilding license plate, produced in 2007, contains the image of a dove and the word “Peace”.   For the second plate, the group wanted to convey the ideas of civil discourse and community-building.  A photographic image of human arms with different skin tones holding up the globe was chosen.  Underneath this image is an urban to suburban to rural skyline.

The plate can be obtained by visiting Department of Motor Vehicle offices or going to the C for “Community Peacebuilding” in the Special Plates section of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#splates/info.asp?idnm=PCEB

$15 of each $25 purchase will go towards the community peacebuilding work of Virginia’s not-for-profit community dispute resolution centers that are members of Resolution Virginia.  Information on Resolution Virginia can be obtained at ResolutionVirginia.org.

During its March quarterly meeting, the board of directors of the Virginia Association for Community Conflict Resolution unanimously decided to re-name the organization Resolution Virginia.  The by-line will be “an alliance for peaceful communities.”    Resolution Virginia matches the name of other state community mediation associations (Resolution Washington).  We are hopeful that by adopting this name we are helping to increase the prominence of community mediation associations in national conversations.

On January 24 Delegate Michael Webert welcomed PDRC Executive Director Lawrie Parker and volunteer Lisa Barkema to the general assembly.  In 2012 Delegate Webert successfully sponsored legislation to expand the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) enabling volunteer mediators to receive Virginia tax credits for their service.

Mediators from the Virginia Mediation Network, the Virginia Association for Community Conflict Resolution and Dispute Resolution Services from the Office of the Supreme Court were recognized by Delegate David Toscano from the House floor.

Mediators spent the day seeing their legislators and educating new legislators about mediation and how it can be used for constituent concerns.

Free mediation sessions and co-parenting classes are being offered to parents who have open cases with the Department of Child Support Enforcement.  The goal of this program is to give children the benefit of having both parents involved in their lives.

Mediation services will give parents the opportunity to sit with an impartial neutral to develop plans for spending time with the child(ren).   Even tricky topics such as how time with the child(ren) will be divided over the holidays can be tackled.

Co-parenting classes will give parents information and tools to effectively communicate with each other and share parenting responsibilities.  Funding for this program is made available through the Department of Social Services’ Access and Visitation grant program.

To get access to the mediation program, both parents need to be willing to mediate a parenting plan.   Also, current contact information for both parents needs to be available.   Parents who meet these criteria should call VACCR’s main telephone number 888-VA PEACE to connect to the closest center offering the services.  Or centers can be reached directly at the numbers below:

ReSOLUTIONS, Woodstock                                                                          (540) 459-8799

Better Agreements, Inc. Blacksburg                                                        (540) 552-1200

CMG Foundation, Richmond                                                                       (804) 254-2664

Conflict Resolution Center @ Children’s Trust, Roanoke                 (540) 342-2063 ext. 24

FairField Center, Harrisonburg                                                                   (540) 434-0059 ext. 1

Mediation Center of Charlottesville                                                         (434) 977-2926

NVMS (Northern Virginia Mediation Service)                                      (703) 865-7263

Piedmont Dispute Resolution Center, Warrenton                                                     (540) 347-6650

Peaceful Alternatives Community Mediation, Amherst                 (434) 929-8224

The Up Center, Portsmouth                                                              (757) 397-2121 ext. 332

The Virginia Association for Community Conflict Resolution’s 30-second video on landlord tenant mediation encourages the use of mediation to settle landlord tenant disputes.  In mediation landlords and tenants can take the time to understand each other’s situation and perspective.  Unlike in court, they can craft  workable payment plans if money is owed.  It is amazing how mediation can positively alter the relationship between a landlord and tenant. To get more information on using mediation, contact one of the centers listed on this site, go to vaccr.org or call 1-888-VAPEACE