Greater Richmond Community Mediation Center

01/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/176fAarFXx/

VMN is now accepting applications for the 2026 Andrew R. Pizzi Scholarship, established in memory of a mediator whose leadership, vision, and generosity continue to inspire the field of conflict resolution.

The scholarship supports Virginia students pursuing education or training in mediation and related disciplines. Recipients will join a community of practitioners who share Mr. Pizzi’s commitment to access, integrity, and service.

Applications close April 30, 2026.
Learn more and apply at vamedation.org.

01/29/2026

Separating assets during a divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions and practical decisions overlap. Mediation helps create space for both.

A mediator can guide the conversation so each person’s voice is heard and decisions are made fairly and efficiently. It’s a process built on clarity, respect, and understanding.

Learn how mediation can support your next steps at richmondmediates.com.

01/27/2026

Recognizing these cultural influences helps create space where everyone’s perspective makes sense in its own context. It reminds us that fairness isn’t one-size-fits-all, it’s something built through active listening and empathy.

Visit richmondmediates.com to learn more about how we create fair, collaborative, and consistent environments in each mediation session.

01/27/2026

It’s easy to hear conflict resolution, ADR, and mediation and think they all mean the same thing. They’re closely connected, but each describes a different layer of the same work.

Conflict resolution is the broad field focused on how people navigate and repair conflict. Within that field, ADR, or Alternative Dispute Resolution, refers to approaches that happen outside the courtroom. Mediation is one of those approaches, built on communication and collaboration instead of argument or judgment.

Together, they reflect a shared goal: helping people find understanding and resolution in ways that feel fair and human.

Learn more at richmondmediates.com.

01/22/2026

In a fast-paced world, our brains naturally fill in the blanks during everyday interactions. Later, when we finally have time to reflect, we might replay the moment and add meaning that was never actually said. That’s when assumptions start leading the way, and emotion can take over before we have the full story.

Choosing mediation can help resolve conflicts and teach you communication tools that you can use long after the conversation ends.

Learn more at richmondmediates.com

01/20/2026

Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his leadership and lifelong work to advance civil rights. May we continue to lead with courage, serve our communities, and stand for dignity and justice.

01/16/2026

Have you ever replayed a conversation and realized you were filling in the blanks? Maybe they said something slightly differently, and you assumed it meant more than it did. Or maybe a pause or a shift in body language felt like a shift in energy.

All of those examples are where conflict can start. When we fill in the gaps with assumptions, it’s easy to misinterpret tone, silence, and timing.

Before reacting, try a clarifying question like: “When you said that, what did you mean?”

01/13/2026

It’s okay to make mistakes. What matters most is the willingness to reflect, repair, and respond with awareness.
That’s how trust is built.🤎

01/12/2026

Awareness is often described as a quiet shift rather than a dramatic moment. As understanding deepens, certain dynamics become easier to recognize, and their influence tends to fade.

Clear communication brings definition to experiences that once felt blurred. Patterns begin to stand out. Inconsistencies become noticeable. Subtle changes in tone or narrative feel harder to overlook. In those moments, reality feels steadier, less easily reshaped.

Deflection has less impact when conversations are observed with presence and clarity. Confusion gives way to coherence. What once felt disorienting starts to make sense within a wider context.

Manipulative dynamics tend to rely on silence, uncertainty, and discomfort with tension. When difficult conversations are acknowledged and truth is held with steadiness, misplaced blame struggles to settle.

Growth is often reflected in these shifts: clarity replacing chaos, discernment emerging where denial once lived, and trust in one’s perceptions strengthening over time. Once insight is integrated, it tends to remain — and that lasting awareness is often experienced as a form of freedom.

Note🔴: Educational content only. No therapy relationship is established.