Finding the Fun in Conflict Resolution
by Dana Ingraham, Judy Nelson

Fifteen kids look up at you with laughing eyes. You stand in front of them and say, "Okay, what are the four steps to conflict resolution?" The children yell at the top of their lungs, "STOP! TALK AND LISTEN! PLAN! TRY IT OUT!" while simultaneously performing hand movements that correlate with each step. You smile and ask your young charges what they have learned from today's Conflict Resolution Theater show. Hands immediately shoot up in the air. One child rapidly waves his hand and says, "I learned not to pick up a gun. Oh, and I learned the four steps." You exhale. They got the point; your job is done.

Now, imagine those kinds of results with 2500 school-age children. That is the objective of the City Year Conflict Resolution Theater (CRT) team. From Monday to Thursday, a team of approximately six City Year corps members travels to various schools and recreation centers to perform Conflict Resolution Theater shows. The team is the result of a joint venture between City Year Greater Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation's Conflict Resolution Theater, founded and directed by Judy Nelson. City Year is an AmeriCorps program that brings together young people ages 17-24 to perform community service. Corps members, in fourteen sites all across the nation, work together in diverse teams representing all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Since 1997, corps members of City Year Greater Philadelphia have served nearly 40,000 children in the community. These corps members have provided approximately 750,000 hours of service in partnership with 120 community-based organizations to mentor and tutor children, deliver specialized curriculum lessons, support service-learning initiatives, and provide safe, structured after-school programs for youth. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2000, "Concern over school crime and violence has prompted many public schools to take various measures to reduce and prevent violence and ensure safety in schools. Such measures include adopting zero tolerance policies; requiring students to wear uniforms; employing various security measures such as requiring visitor sign-in and using metal detectors; having police or other law enforcement representatives stationed at the school; and offering students various types of violence prevention programs."

Nelson agrees with the necessity for instituting violence prevention curricula in schools.  She stated, "CRT provides children and adults an opportunity to move from conflict to resolution in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Interpersonal communication techniques and the four steps to creative resolution are discussed, demonstrated and practiced through role-play and interactive exercises, establishing the group as a problem solving resource. I am constantly inspired by the children and adults and their thirst for new and better tools to help them manage their lives. In order for the participants to integrate these new skills and behaviors, we focus on interactive techniques combined with a proven combination of discussion, demonstration, group norming and practice using the new skills as a team and alone. My best teachers have always been the children and adults we serve; they help me understand which of our goals we have met and what opportunities continue to exist for new learning." 

The CRT team is a growing organization dedicated to creating and improving programs such as touring children's comedy and musical workshops/performances, teacher and parent master classes, and junior Conflict Resolution Troupes serving in the communities in which they live. We would be happy to host a meeting to discuss how we can partner with your organization to bring Conflict Resolution Theater and its techniques to your school. We are also happy to host a training session in Philadelphia for those interested in bringing creative social skills into the classroom. Please email judy.nelson@phila.gov, stating your specific interest in the program, your name, organization, address, and phone number. Let's work together to ensure that our children and all the adults in their lives have the social tools to help our children make healthy choices as they grow into happy, productive citizens.