Tools for Tough Conversations
Tools for Tough Conversations helps people and organizations prepare for difficult conversations and more mindful conflict encounters because we will not always agree.
Our approach respects the facts and values driving today's debates. We aim to:
Provide tools to identify and reflect on choices and impacts before base impulses overtake you.
Empower community members with the necessary technical and regulatory information to participate effectively with public agencies, tribal governments, and civic organizations working on issues they care about.
Involve conveners and the public in identifying the next steps for improving their engagement strategies.
Join others who are productively confronting unhealthy patterns and systems at work, at home, and in the community. See sample courses here.
Meet Mary Dumas
Mary Dumas brings 30+ years of professional experience in conflict resolution. She is an independent dispute resolution professional working with urban and rural communities.
Mary has helped public agencies, tribes, inter-jurisdictional bodies, research teams, private and nonprofit organizations translate technical information and regulatory mandates into accessible resource materials, effective processes (advisory, negotiated, or collaborative), and actionable information and plans for over two decades.
Mary's approach draws on best practices in change management, interest-based problem solving, empathetic design, and collaborative governance.
Through consulting Mary has presented workshops at local dispute resolution centers, university equity initiatives, regional and national conferences including Association for Conflict Resolution, Environment & Public Policy Section; Community Leadership Conference, League of Women Voters of CA State Convention, League of Women Voters of WA State Conference.