The Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management

Awarded Grant to Support Veterans Mediation

The Mandell Gisnet Center (MGC) has announced that it recently received a grant from the National
Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM)
Seaside, CA, December 06, 2014 - The Mandell Gisnet Center (MGC) has announced that it
recently received a grant from the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) and the
JAMS Foundation to support Veterans Mediation in Monterey County and the surrounding triCounty area to reach veterans across San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.
Over the past 30 years, mediation programs and services have proven to offer constructive and
effective approaches to resolve differences and conflicts between individuals, groups and
organizations, including veterans, explains Isabel Bjork, Executive Director and Associate Dean,
Mandell Gisnet Center. We are honored to be one of only six organizations nationally to be
recognized with a grant from The JAMS Foundation and the National Association for Community
Mediation (NAFCM) to support Veterans Mediation. We believe there is a strong need in our
community and look forward to helping veterans with some important challenges they face in their
lives.

The Veterans Mediation program was founded with the recognition that veterans have distinct
values and experiences that shape their lives. The MGC staff works with veterans and their
families to resolve conflicts about housing, family life, benefits and work through mediation in a
safe environment. They also provide training by veterans for veterans and their families on
communication, conflict resolution and mediation techniques. Fees are based on a sliding scale.
For appointments or more information, email veterans@mandellgisnetcenter.org or call (831) 5825234.
The program is coordinated by Jack Signorella, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a dedicated
mediator and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professional. Jack serves as the Veterans
Mediation Liaison and a volunteer mediator. Jack was the recipient of a Community Service Award
from the United Way of Monterey County in 2014. Following a successful career in medical
education and public service, Jack has directed his time and talents to mediation, with a particular
passion for veterans issues. Jack completed the mediation skills training course at MGC in 2012.
Since then, he has been mediating in MGCs court mediation program and NEIGHBOR Project,
volunteering in over 100 cases.Jack has furthered his mediation skills with advanced mediation

courses at Pepperdine Law School and Community Boards.

About The Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management:
The Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management (MGC), the non-profit alternative dispute
resolution education and service arm of the Monterey College of Law, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is
committed to providing mediation and training services.
The Mandell Gisnet Center, housed in remodeled LEED Platinum Ford Ord buildings in Monterey
County, California, was founded with the vision that conflicts can be resolved in a peaceful,
amicable manner and without expensive, protracted, and damaging legal battles. In 2005,
Maurice Mandell and Rebekah Gisnet left a bequest to the Monterey College of Law as a result of
their personal challenges related to the legal system. Their bequest was used to form MGC.
Though they lived in a beautiful area and had significant resources at their disposal, Maurice and
Rebekah spent the last years of their lives involved in a bitter legal battle over a property dispute
with their neighbors. They spent many years fighting in court, but neither party ever found a
satisfactory resolution. At the end of their lives, as they looked back on the wasted time, energy,
and money spent on that dispute, they concluded that there had to be a better way. They resolved
that a large portion of their estate would be given as a bequest for the creation and promotion of
mediation and training services through Monterey College of Law. MGC has fulfilled this vision by
offering a variety of ADR education and services, including mediation. The mission of the MGC is
to:
- Promote and apply a mediative, empathetic, problem-solving approach to reduce and resolve
conflict
- Train Monterey County and tri-county residents to resolve disputes in their homes, workplaces
and community
- Offer a variety mediation services to Monterey County residents regardless of their ability to pay
- Promote mediation as an alternative to hostility, court battles, and violence
- Educate law students and attorneys in mediation, and engage them in community service to
resolve disputes
One popular MGC program involves their NEIGHBOR Project mediation services, a dispute
resolution process in which an impartial panel of mediators facilitates a conversation in a safe and
respectful environment. The mediators do not make decisions about the outcome and the
participants themselves work towards a solution with which they are comfortable.
To donate, volunteer, access mediation services, sign up for mediation trainings or for more
information about our programs, go to www.mandellgisnetcenter.org or call (831) 582-5234.
Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.mandellgisnetcenter.org
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