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THE BRIDGE INITIATIVE, `w i.iORITZ <br />Offering Communities Rapid Consultation on Processes for Addressing Community Conflict <br />Across the country, local government, law enforcement, and community leaders are grappling <br />with increasing tensions associated with hate incidents and crimes, officer involved shootings, <br />and other incidents that have a lasting impact on individuals as well as entire <br />communities. These local government and community leaders understand better than anyone the <br />needs of their communities and share a sense of urgency to respond productively to civil unrest. <br />And it is precisely in these times of crisis when the expertise of a mediator with experience <br />developing processes that not only keep initial protests safe, but also offer a path towards <br />engaging the entire community in realizing more systemic reform, is most valuable. <br />The Divided Community Project's (DCP) Bridge Initiative @ Moritz, a project based at The <br />Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, seeks to fill this need as identified by local <br />government, law enforcement, and community leaders. Upon request and at no cost, mediators <br />and other experts with extensive experience in helping local leaders respond effectively to civil <br />unrest and tension in communities across the country can help mediate conflicts between <br />community and law enforcement, train local community members on effective strategies to keep <br />protests safe, and offer technical assistance to executives and community members seeking to <br />build sustainable infrastructure for inclusive engagement. In addition to their expertise <br />associated with addressing community conflict, as people from outside the community, it may be <br />easier for mediators to introduce and facilitate processes to meet the needs as identified by all the <br />different parties in a community. <br />While mediators may introduce and help facilitate processes, the power driving the processes <br />always comes from local leaders in the community, and they produce real results. Whether <br />hosting tens of thousands in demonstrations without arrests or violence, or channeling <br />demonstrators' energies into planning improvements and tangible changes, working with <br />mediators, local governments and leaders shape these processes as their own in order to help <br />realize the full potential of their communities. <br />How to Contact the Bridge Initiative @ Moritz: <br />Please call or email DCP Director Becky Monroe at the Bridge Initiative @ Moritz: <br />Monroe. 1187na,osu.edu. OR (614) 688-3918. If you send an email or leave a message, please <br />provide a number where you or someone you designate can be reached, and the best time to call <br />the person. <br />Unless required by law, the Bridge Initiative @ Moritz will treat contact with you regarding an <br />interest in potentially engaging our services as confidential. This will apply to the provision of <br />services as well. <br />Funding for the Bridge Initiative @ Moritz <br />Significant funding for the Bridge Initiative @ Moritz comes from the JAMS Foundation.The <br />Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation Provides additional support. The Ohio State University Moritz <br />College of Law provides significant in -kind support for this initiative. <br />THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY <br />MORITZ COLLEGE OF LAW <br />*�AMs fir' <br />!J- <br />FOUNOATION <br />FOUNDATION <br />