1. EARS
(Effective Alternatives in Reconciliation Services)
“Young People Going Places”
Exceptional Trainers & Facilitators
Serving Youth & Adults
Since 1989
2. EARS Youth and Adult Trainers
EARS has been providing nationally recognized peer mediation,
conflict resolution, restorative practices and youth
development services to young people, school-based staff,
social workers, parents and guardians in New York City for 30
years.
3. Bronx Youth Face Uphill
Battle
Although the economy and
opportunities in the Bronx are
improving, young people still face
many challenges:
• 40% of the children live below the
federal poverty level
• Bronx youth have the lowest high
school graduation rate in the City , at
59%
• Only 11% of those who graduate
earn a Bachelors degree
• 58% of homeless youth are from the
Bronx
5. Specially Trained EARS
Facilitators Ages 12 – 21 Help
Peers Learn Vital Skills
EARS Trainers and Facilitators have led
the 18 hour skills-based mediation
training for peers Citywide since 1989.
EARS Trainers are role models for their
peers – they attended the same high
schools, live in the same
neighborhoods and struggle with the
same peer pressures as the
participants.
EARS Trainers have provided
workshops for their peers in foster
care, schools, youth organizations and
with youth 13 – 15 who are
incarcerated.
EARS Trainers graduate high school
and many go on to college. Others
have started their own businesses.
6. EARS Trainers Provide Workshops for Adults
EARS Clients include:
• The U.S. Department of State’s
Visiting Leaders Program: Youth
Empowerment Skills
• The Bronx District Attorney’s
Office of Community Affairs: The
Many Faces of Sexual Assault
• EPIC Parent Training: Bullying
Prevention Skills & Strategies
• NYC Dept. of Education: Respect
for All Initiative: Bullying
Prevention and LGBTQ Training
for School-based Staff and
Administrators
7. What We Teach & Why We Teach It
Mediation Skills
are
Life Skills
• Understanding Conflict
• Different Points of View
• Active Listening
• Effective Communication
• Defusing a Conflict
• Neutral Language
• Open Questions
• Think Before We Speak or Act
8. Beyond Mediation:
Restorative Practices
EARS has been using restorative
practices since 1999
Restorative Justice Practices serve as a natural
step beyond mediation for addressing
many issues in a deeper fashion.
Addressing harm done with all parties
involved – the target, their supporters, the
aggressor and their supporters, authority
figures, community members – can truly
mend emotional wounds for all.
EARS also uses restorative circles for:
Staff Meetings and Training
Student Meetings and Training
Youth Development Work
Teambuilding
9. The Best of Youth & Adult Teamwork
Respect
Trust
Empowerment
EARS adults respect the abilities and
possibilities of young people.
EARS adults trust young people to
respond to high standards
EARS adults empower young people
with skills to “really run things”
Unparalleled Youth Empowerment
Opportunities
10. What YOUNG PEOPLE
have to Say about EARS…
• EARS saw something in me that I did
not see in myself.
• EARS gave me the confidence to go
from crack baby in foster care to
successful entrepreneur earning over
$100,000 per year.
• I found my voice at EARS. I haven’t
stopped using it yet!
• When I was 15 and my supervisor was
18, I knew I was going to be somebody.
• At EARS, young people really run things.
• EARS is like a second family to me, like
having 20 sisters and 20 brothers you can
count on.
