Margaret Keyser Consulting

09/22/2020

Bringing lessons from South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation process to the challenges of conflict, racial injustice and polarization in the world. Here we listen to all perspectives, with justice, fairness and human dignity as our core values.

P.O. Box 493, North Ampton, MA

03/04/2020

As I am writing a report of my work with students, ages 15 through 18 around racism, I am amazed at their thoughtfulness, their ability to describe how racism is lurking subliminally everywhere, their uncompromising need to be heard and respected; and their willingness to participate with me in the difficult work of sitting down with the other, and to work through the painful experiences they've had. Awesome stuff. This generation inspires me.

11/06/2019

What an amazing opportunity it was to speak at the Annual Meeting of the American Baptist Churches in Metropolitan New York on Saturday. I shared with them important lessons from my conflict transformation and reconciliation work with churches, but also what has motivated me to do this work for the last 26 years in different contexts. Their theme for this year, Imprints of Peace, and "commitment to mitigating violence and conflict, and creating peace with justice in our communities"is so relevant for today.

09/25/2019

To debate, to argue is all about me. To listen is about the other...

09/24/2019

I have such a good feeling about finalizing a successful two-year process of conflict transformation, reconciliation, restructuring and renewal with a church this past weekend. After 26 years of working in this field, both in South Africa, the US and other contexts, I still trust this process as an effective way to deal with a range of issues such as racism, political differences, organizational and leadership problems, financial issues, and more.

The work is exhausting, but rewarding, especially when people tell you about their own personal transformation, and when a group or institution find their way forward with hope for the future.

04/12/2019

Exhausted this morning, yet very pleased after a 5-hour large group facilitation/mediation last night. Truthtelling, raw emotions, acknowledgements of enormous hurts. Race, culture, microaggressions...all in the mix. The impact of this work is more powerful than I can comprehend.

05/05/2018

Forgiveness is not a one-way street.

Institutions, including religious ones must apologize for hurts it cause those in their midst. Hurt, anger, feelings of injustice linger and build up for a very long time. People need that acknowledgment to feel some sort of healing within them. Forgiveness is not a one-way street by those who have been on the receiving end of the hurts and injustices. It is a complex, but necessary process involving both wrongdoer and victim, in order to heal one another, our communities and beyond.

03/20/2017

Tomorrow, March 21, 2017

Save the Date for Mediators Beyond Borders International’s Parallel Event at the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) Peacebuil

03/15/2017

Among the myriad of news posts, and endless commentaries and repetitions on this or that political issue, I am still trying to sort out the impact of “all that’s going on”, on human life. From my point of view, there are at least three fundamental areas affecting the lives of people, that are being compromised by this current chaos: healthcare, immigration reform and safety and security on both domestic and international front. Why make those areas political footballs, when some form of common ground could move things to a little better place? I am scratching my head, still sorting through all of this, refusing to be drawn into muddied waters this chaos has created…

03/10/2017

A client told me this week they don't need any more mediation, because they get along just fine already :) Not good for business, but great knowing the mediation worked! I'm smiling, because I know they've worked hard at it, and have implemented things to move them to a better place. Have a good weekend everyone!

03/08/2017

Women listening...and "crossing bridges and breaking down walls": India, America and elsewhere…

On this International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on last week’s training in conflict transformation with a group of women, when a participant from India, now living in the US, shared her perspective on arranged marriages vs. love marriages during a listening exercise with her American listening partner. They chose the topic to illustrate the importance and power of deep, reflective listening when we hold opposing views on a subject. Instead of strongly opposing what she had heard, the American woman found herself wanting to learn more, to understand better instead of resisting or judging. She explained later how liberating it was to experience an openness she did not expect to feel, how prepared she was to argue another view, but did not need to do that.

During the feedback session with the larger group, (with the input from another Indian woman friend) we saw layers of assumptions breaking down as the first Indian woman described how she herself came to embrace both practices, that, while she herself was in an arranged marriage, she would be open if her own daughter would desire to marry outside of her culture. The room became rather somber, as all these women began to reflect on the distances between and among us all; how assumptions and judgments prevent us from understanding one another, and how our preconceived notions about the other often lead to hurtful words and actions. The other, they came to realize, is never who they imagined them to be, because of limited knowledge and lack of mutual understanding.

These women demonstrated that by, already listening to one another, they can "break down walls and cross bridges". They will be in this eight-week leadership course together. I feel encouraged by that transformative moment, and hope they will build upon it.

To all women and men, may this International Women’s Day, as well as every other day be meaningful to us! Let us be courageous and walk towards one another. May we allow our differences in origin, race, culture and orientation to enrich us, not divide us!

03/06/2017

Looking forward to this event On March 21, 2017

Save the Date for Mediators Beyond Borders International’s Parallel Event at the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) Peacebuil

10/07/2016

We can overcome our differences...our divisions. We can do better.
The following from a church leader outside Chicago, "A culture of mutual respect between the Spanish and English speaking leadership has been created, and is rippling out to our congregations. We have done several things together including bi-lingual services and have plans to continue to participate together in other ministry venues". His words to his leaders... "Margaret would be so proud of us. We are living into 'Ubuntu' as brothers and sister in Christ unified in reaching our neighborhoods"
These are the testimonies that motivate me to continue to bring people together for the purpose of dialogue, solve conflicts, overcome divisions, and heal relationships. It gives me hope to know we can overcome our differences...we can do better as human beings.

P.O. Box 493, North Ampton, MA

07/27/2016

It is so wonderful to learn that among those who attended one or more of my workshops, or who were in an audience where I spoke, or who have been part of a mediation or facilitation process…have started, or are about to start their own initiatives working towards the same goal of peace and reconciliation; and others who are using their skills in their existing organizations, places of work, families and other places. It is wonderful to know one’s efforts are not in vain.

03/16/2016

An utterly destructive and chaotic situation turned around recently when parties in a two-and-a-half-year conflict situation finally came to understand the impact of this conflict on themselves and those around them. They did this by staying in a year-long intervention… listening, building trust with me as the mediator, and exploring options for the better. “Yes, I want transformation”, said one key party to the conflict, and “Yes, I want it too…for all of us”, said the other a few weeks ago. I was stunned when suddenly everything shifted. The hard work of negotiating, appealing to both, meeting with their council and broader membership paid off. The impossible was made possible! This is why I believe in this conflict transformation and reconciliation work. It goes to the depth of polarization, anger and hurt, and makes it crumble. This is hard work. It needs skill and experience to do what needs to be done. It also requires an inner strength and belief in the goodness of the human spirit; and prayer and meditation to see it through and continue on. We can do this. We can bring people and groups together to listen and find one another. It is a difficult, but beautiful thing to do!

P.O. Box 493, North Ampton, MA

01/25/2016

Our weekly reminder

P.O. Box 493, North Ampton, MA

06/03/2015

I find, yet again, that this reconciliation work is deeply humbling and utterly delicate in nature. It makes me want to hide under the table as I observe the most beautiful dynamic play itself out between and among parties. This process has a power of its own. It is also deeply spiritual in nature...To be a vessel is the greatest honor!

04/13/2015

Our Monday reminder...

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