“Unprecedented crises require unprecedented solutions.”

Ken Cloke, is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading mediators. Based in the USA and working globally, he is a dialogue facilitator, conflict resolution systems designer, teacher, public speaker, author of numerous books and articles, and a pioneer and leader in the field of mediation and conflict resolution since 1980. In 2006, Ken co-founded Mediators Beyond Borders, based in Washington D.C and became its first President.  MBB is an organisation that mobilises mediators around the world to support individuals, organisations, communities, and governments in building conflict-resolution literacy and capacity in under-served communities.

Ken’s latest book “Mediation in a Time of Crisis: Pandemic, Prejudice, Police, and Political Polarization” was published in November 2021. His book is an attempt to shift the way we think and act in times of conflict and crisis, and to encourage the adaptation and application of conflict resolution skills and techniques to the social, economic, political, and environmental disputes and crises that impact us.

“The world is in a state of crisis – from the presidential elections to the insurrection on January 6; from the deaths and devastation created by the pandemic to impassioned resistance to masks and vaccines; from the murders of George Floyd and Brionna Taylor to the rise of white supremacy and Black Lives Matter; from sexual harassment and #metoo to Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, and Andrew Cuomo; from unprecedented fires, floods, and heat waves to climate change denial; from war and civilian casualties in Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East to bristling hostilities with China, Russia, Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, and others. In these conflicts and crises, our success and survival as a civilization and as a species, increasingly depend on our ability to listen empathetically, communicate non-violently, solve problems jointly, negotiate collaboratively, decide consensually, act collectively, and resolve conflicts meditatively. They depend on our ability to appreciate diversity and dissent, engage in dialogue with those who think differently, and build trust between former foes; and on our ability to bridge and dismantle the social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental barriers we have erected to dominate and prevail over others.”

Kenneth Cloke is Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution in Santa Monica and for over forty years has been a mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, coach, consultant and trainer, specializing in communication, negotiation, and resolving complex multi-party disputes, including marital, divorce, family, community, grievance and workplace disputes, collective bargaining negotiations, organisational and school conflicts, sexual harassment, discrimination, and public policy disputes; and designing preventative conflict resolution systems. His facilitation, coaching, consulting, and training practice includes work with leaders of public, private and non-profit organisations on effective communications, dialogue, collaborative negotiation, relationship and team building, conflict resolution, leadership development, strategic planning, designing systems, culture and organizational change. His university teaching includes mediation, law, history, political science, conflict studies, urban studies, and other topics at several colleges and universities. He is or has recently been an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University School of Law; Southern Methodist University; USC, Global Negotiation Insight Institute at Harvard Law School; Omega Institute; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Cape Cod Institute; University of Amsterdam ADR Institute; Saybrook University; Massey University (New Zealand). He has done conflict resolution work in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, England, Georgia, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, USSR, and Zimbabwe. He served as an Administrative Law Judge for the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board and the Public Employment Relations Board, a Factfinder for the Public Employment Relations Board, and a Judge Pro Tem for the Superior Court of Los Angeles.

You can purchase a copy of Ken Cloke’s book Mediation in a time of crisis: Pandemic, Prejudice, Police, and Political Polarization by clicking here.

This event is free to MyCEDR members but tickets are available for non-members at £25.

If you become a MYCEDR member (£165 for the year – UK or £105 per year – overseas) you can attend a number of free events throughout the year. Click here to find out more.