Ms. Matthews is committed to providing support for community programs such as America Speaks. She has provided facilitation services to assist communities in articulating the highest needs for rebuilding the lives of Louisiana citizens still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav. America Speaks forums have set agendas to; communicate recovery priorities to federal, state and local leaders; secure commitments from a diverse coalition of community and faith-based organizations, service delivery agencies and advocacy organizations. Their goal is to assist with the implementation of agendas and foster leadership among displaced citizens to better communicate their needs and priorities.
·Facilitator – Rebuilding Lives Summit, Lake Charles, LA (1/09)
· Facilitator – UNOP– Community Congress III, Atlanta, GA (1/07)
· Facilitator – UNOP– Community Congress II, Atlanta, GA (11/06)
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Victim-Offender Mediation Training in Turkey
Pam Matthew is short-listed for the final selection of Senior Mediators who will provide VOM Training of Trainers sessions for the United Nations Development Program in Turkey. Two senior mediators will be selected to deliver the training of trainers to judges and prosecutors. Turkey is trying to become a member of the EU; which requires the development of programs such as alternative dispute resolution.
Dispute Resolution at the University of Houston
After returning from the Middle East, Pam Matthews temporary relocated to the Houston Area, where she developed a Dispute Resolution Program for the Enrollment Services Division at the University of Houston. The program received student complaints referred from the Office of the President, Board of Regents, Provost, and government officials.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Success in Jordan!
Pam delivers statistical data gathered in her report to the ADR Steering Committee . The ADR Steering Committee decided to expand court mediation programs throughout the kingdom.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
"ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION" Training of Trainers (TOT) WORKSHOP
Pam Matthews, ADR expert and ABA Legal Specialist conducted a training of trainers workshop for the Arab Women's Legal Network (AWLN) on Alternative Dispute Resolution in May 2007, bringing together participants from Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon. The workshop was sponsored by the Minister of Justice and a reception was held for particpants at the Raddison Hotel in Amman.
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ABA -ADR Legal Specilaist host mediation training in Jordan led by Peter Robinson, Managing Director of the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University, School of Law.
Experts and local stakeholders have expressed considerable concern about Jordan's overburdened court system, citing decreased accessibility to justice and public dissatisfaction with the courts. The Rule of Law Initiative introduced court mediation as an alternative to Jordan’s lengthy, costly litigation process. Legislative amendment to Jordan’s Mediation Law, trainings, awareness sessions, and the development of materials (including public brochures, forms and a code of ethics for mediators) were part of the necessary preparation. The Amman Court of First Instance launched Jordan's first court mediation program on June 1, 2006. In remarks made during the launch ceremony, the Minister and Chief Justice indicated Jordan’s confidence in the project's ability to increase the efficiency of the court system and to serve as a model for the future expansion of judicial mediation throughout Jordan. Since the launch, over 300 cases have been referred to court mediation, including eviction, contracts, insurance and banking cases, with a settlement rate above 70%. Plans are being made to replicate court mediation across the Kingdom. In support of court mediation and private mediation, the Rule of Law Initiative has been working with attorneys and other professionals to build their mediation skills and to enhance the profession of mediation in Jordan.
Pam Matthews, ADR expert and ABA Legal Specialist conducted a training of trainers workshop for the Arab Women's Legal Network (AWLN) on Alternative Dispute Resolution in May 2007, bringing together participants from Qatar, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Palestine, and Lebanon. The workshop was sponsored by the Minister of Justice and a reception was held for particpants at the Raddison Hotel in Amman.
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ABA -ADR Legal Specilaist host mediation training in Jordan led by Peter Robinson, Managing Director of the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University, School of Law.
Experts and local stakeholders have expressed considerable concern about Jordan's overburdened court system, citing decreased accessibility to justice and public dissatisfaction with the courts. The Rule of Law Initiative introduced court mediation as an alternative to Jordan’s lengthy, costly litigation process. Legislative amendment to Jordan’s Mediation Law, trainings, awareness sessions, and the development of materials (including public brochures, forms and a code of ethics for mediators) were part of the necessary preparation. The Amman Court of First Instance launched Jordan's first court mediation program on June 1, 2006. In remarks made during the launch ceremony, the Minister and Chief Justice indicated Jordan’s confidence in the project's ability to increase the efficiency of the court system and to serve as a model for the future expansion of judicial mediation throughout Jordan. Since the launch, over 300 cases have been referred to court mediation, including eviction, contracts, insurance and banking cases, with a settlement rate above 70%. Plans are being made to replicate court mediation across the Kingdom. In support of court mediation and private mediation, the Rule of Law Initiative has been working with attorneys and other professionals to build their mediation skills and to enhance the profession of mediation in Jordan.
CMRG President arranges study tour for delegation of Jordanian judges in the US as a part of her duties as ABA-ADR Legal Specialist/Expert.
Rule of Law Initiative Sponsors U.S. Study Tour for Jordanian Judges
Pam Matthews, CMRG president and ABA ADR Legal Specialist arranged the US tour for the delegation from June 19 to 28, 2007. Thirteen Jordanian judges, including the Secretary General, head of the Judicial Institute of Jordan and the two practicing mediation judges in Mediation court, traveled to the United States for a study tour focused on alternative dispute resolution. The tour began with an intensive four-day advanced interactive training in mediation, with three experienced U.S. mediators acting as instructors, at the well known Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law.
Following the training, the Jordanian judges visited a number of mediation programs, learning from and exchanging ideas with administrators and mediators. The judges visited the Los Angeles City Attorney’s (Community) Dispute Resolution Program, JAMS (a large private mediation firm), and the Superior Court of California Los Angeles County ADR office, where the judges observed a demonstration of the office’s computerized mediator database.
The judges also had the opportunity to observe two real mediation sessions conducted by California Academy of Mediation Professionals in the California Superior Court and to discuss the mediation process with the mediators as well as with Superior Court judges.
Pam Matthews uses her film background to direct and produce a 20-minute informational video on ADR for use in the Jordan courts.
Using only local talent, Ms. Matthews managed to produce and direct a local video on ADR. She used local DJ's to do voice-over narrations in Arabic and used local TV production crews to shoot the video at the Palace of Justice, in Amman, Jordan. Editing was done at a local production studio. Matthews states that it was very hard work, since there is no specific training required for job categories in film/video production, but she managed to do just fine with the help of local co-workers and translators. The video is now used throughout the kingdom in court mediation programs. The project was funded by USAID.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
President will travel to Amman, Jordan
President selected as ADR legal specialist/expert for ABA - Rule of Law (ROLI) program.
Pam Matthews, a member of the American Bar Association and member of the Section of Dispute Resolution committee was recently selected as the candidate to join the ROLI staff in Amman, Jordan for 6 months. She will use her expertise to focus on the following areas: reducing the judicial case load, holding public awareness sessions for the Court-Pilot Program, develop information videos, conduct additional training for mediators and evaluate the effectiveness of the Court Mediation Program. Her duties will require her to provide on-going technical assistance and to develop a curriculum for mediation training in Jordan.
Matthews states “I am very excited about this opportunity; I have worked very hard the last five years to promote more educational training for mediators and neutrals in general. 40-hour programs are just not enough, especially when there are no volunteer or pro bono opportunities available in the courts or communities to better your skills.” “There is so much more to ADR than just the mediation process, education and public awareness are the key, when it comes to understanding what this process is all about.”
Matthews will provide administrative oversight of court related mediation programs and also use her expertise in establishing ADR capacity with private entities; training judges in mediation; training private sector professionals; creating and executing public awareness/education programs on ADR, while also creating public awareness/education materials on ADR.
Pam Matthews, a member of the American Bar Association and member of the Section of Dispute Resolution committee was recently selected as the candidate to join the ROLI staff in Amman, Jordan for 6 months. She will use her expertise to focus on the following areas: reducing the judicial case load, holding public awareness sessions for the Court-Pilot Program, develop information videos, conduct additional training for mediators and evaluate the effectiveness of the Court Mediation Program. Her duties will require her to provide on-going technical assistance and to develop a curriculum for mediation training in Jordan.
Matthews states “I am very excited about this opportunity; I have worked very hard the last five years to promote more educational training for mediators and neutrals in general. 40-hour programs are just not enough, especially when there are no volunteer or pro bono opportunities available in the courts or communities to better your skills.” “There is so much more to ADR than just the mediation process, education and public awareness are the key, when it comes to understanding what this process is all about.”
Matthews will provide administrative oversight of court related mediation programs and also use her expertise in establishing ADR capacity with private entities; training judges in mediation; training private sector professionals; creating and executing public awareness/education programs on ADR, while also creating public awareness/education materials on ADR.
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