Bridging Divides: Conflict Resolution with Rob Fersh and Mariah Levison

In this episode of the Conflict Tipping Podcast from Mediate.com, host Laura May interviews Rob Fersh and Mariah Levison about their work and their co-authored book, 'From Conflict to Convergence: Coming Together to Solve Tough Problems.' Rob, founder and senior advisor at Convergence, and Mariah, the president and CEO, discuss their extensive experience in conflict resolution, spanning policy differences and community mediation. They share powerful case studies from their book, including successful collaborations on healthcare and police-community relations. The episode includes the methodologies they use to foster trust, build relationships, and achieve consensus, as well as the challenges in convening people and implementing solutions. The conversation highlights the importance of collaborative leadership and offers practical advice for listeners dealing with conflicts in their own lives.

"From Conflict to Convergence" comes out on 30 July 2024, and you can order and pre-order it wherever you buy good books.

• Convergence website: https://convergencepolicy.org/
• Buy the book: https://convergencepolicy.org/from-conflict-to-convergence/
• Rob's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-fersh-8b752314/
• Mariah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariah-levison-130b2716/

Chapters

• 00:00 Meet the Authors: Rob Fersh and Mariah Levison
• 01:33 Inspiration Behind 'From Conflict to Convergence'
• 05:01 The Emotional and Relational Approach to Conflict Resolution
• 08:06 Higher Ground Solutions: A New Mindset
• 10:19 Real-Life Stories of Conflict Resolution
• 17:24 Methodologies and Strategies for Conflict Resolution
• 24:59 Challenges and Future of Collaborative Problem Solving

About the guests

MARIAH LEVISON serves as the President and CEO at Convergence. Mariah uses a deep understanding of human relations to build trust and relationships across differences which lead to consensus-based solutions to complex and contentious issues. Prior to joining Convergence, Mariah led the Minnesota State Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution and has worked for several nonprofit dispute resolution centers. Additionally, Mariah has been teaching collaborative problem-solving for twenty years in settings ranging from community trainings to law schools to trainings for foreign governments.

ROBERT FERSH is the Founder and Senior Advisor of Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, which he started in 2009 to promote consensus solutions to issues of domestic importance. Convergence has successfully addressed a wide array of national and state level concerns including health care, K-12 education, incarceration, economic mobility, nutrition and wellness, and more. Previously, Rob served on the staffs of three Congressional committees, directed a national anti-hunger organization, and served as the U.S. country director for Search for Common Ground, an international conflict transformation organization.