Multidisciplinary Approaches to Mediation. Member Spotlight: Eunice Salton
Eunice Salton has thrived on linking various constituencies and facilitating projects to mutually successful outcomes. She is a champion of bridging connections between government, corporate and civil organizations and as a conflict resolution consultant, has fused her business acumen with her commitment to community service. Leveraging extensive experience, she advises groups needing assistance in conflict resolution and moving past their positions to reach mutual understanding, respect, and solutions.
“The mediation process encourages and empowers participants to experience productive exchanges and explore creative options for resolution and implementing down to earth plans that can drive cultural change and new opportunities … and quite often partnerships.”
Liaising Internationally through MBBI
As a New Yorker, Eunice is used to the microcosm of cultures and peoples in her city. This feeling is further amplified by her living abroad for several years and at present, in her role as the MBBI United Nations Liaison. Eunice attends as many UN sessions as possible. This allows her to learn the process and current nature of UN negotiations, foster partnerships, participate in events as well as connecting to ambassadors, country representatives, and a variety of private sector and UN officials. And perhaps most important of all – interact with the people from local communities and grassroots movements worldwide.
“It is so humbling to meet and talk with the people who come here to the United Nations, often at their own peril and costs, to request assistance in making the lives in their countries more peaceful and economically sustainable.”
Additionally, in her role at the United Nations, Eunice is part of the United Nations Multilateral Working Group (UNMWG) and with the team, participates in the MBBI activities that include annual meetings such as the Commission on the Status of Women, High-Level Political Forum and General Assembly. The team is multidisciplinary and its focus is rooted in an inclusive design thinking approach on sustainable peacebuilding processes supporting MBBI’s objectives such as capacity building, promoting mediation through advocacy and delivering consultancy services worldwide.
Community Initiatives
Eunice is an active member of her community. She began her mediation career as a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This led her to work with the New York courts on family, youth, and community disputes as a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution – Greater New York Chapter (ACR GNY), where she served on the board. She is also an avid advocate of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Inclusion Network.
Eunice is a trained, certified and qualified mediator, arbitrator and conflict coach in New York State civil, surrogate and municipal courts. Furthermore, she is most involved in her community with the Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRC), which provide mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution options as an alternative to court. Every year, CDRCs help thousands of New Yorkers in all five boroughs resolve a wide range of disputes. Eunice, through the CDRCs, provides conflict coaching and mediation for elder care, youth-based mediation, housing and restorative justice. She also mediates for the New York Federal Executive Board Shared Neutrals Program, arbitrates for the State of New York, Part 137, Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program and in New Jersey, mediates at municipal courts and community centers. “The most important skill for a mediator is listening. Successful mediation and mediation processes necessitate active and full listening for promoting an environment of trust and safety. It’s about being heard, understanding another’s perspective and developing empathy.”
In this vein, she also participated as an accomplished facilitator in the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service program, “Community Dialogue: Conducting a Discussion on Race” within the 32nd police precinct in Harlem, New York. This is a collaborative project between the Department of Justice (DOJ), the New York Police Department (NYPD), the Association of Conflict Resolution Greater New York (ACR GNY), The Harlem Community Justice Center (HCJC) and additional community groups.
National Engagements
In New Jersey, she was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to the District Ethics Committee for Middlesex County. Eunice was also appointed by the Middlesex County, New Jersey Assignment Judge to serve on the New Jersey Child Placement Advisory Council (NJ CPAC), a statewide board, which has oversight of children in foster care. She serves as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Legislative and Program Committees. In addition, Eunice is a member of the National Council for Graywolf Press in Minneapolis, MN; is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York, where she serves on the Education Fund Advisory Board; and is a member and past director of the Financial Women’s Association of New York.
Eunice also maintains a practice as a business development consultant and her background includes executive positions at the financial publishing imprint, The New York Institute of Finance at Simon & Schuster, a Division of VIACOM; Cavillo, Schevack & Partners advertising agency; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; and Plays for Living a nonprofit training and theater company. She holds an EdS from Florida Atlantic University, an MS from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA from William Paterson University.
Article by Benjamin Lutz, MBBI Communications and Operations Manager