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[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

As outlined in the challenge brief, “many emerging Projects in Catalyst face legal and financial issues which block them from moving forward.” 

Mediation, a process where disputing parties find an amicable solution to their issues with the help of a mediator, is a viable process for the many legal issues that arise from within Catalyst and the broader Cardano community. Even though a mediator does not make a decision for the parties, some parties prefer a mediator that understands every detail of the dispute and who can be more evaluative in their approach.

This proposal provides DRPA-certified mediation training to members of the Cardano community and subsequent free access to mediators.ai (to be launched on mainnet in July 2022) to offer their dispute resolution services to the community.

This proposal includes:

• DRPA-certified Mediation training for a minimum of 10 participants
• Onboarding to mediators.ai (optional for new mediators)
• NFT for successful completion of the program
• Ongoing support for a minimum of one year for new mediators

The 40-hour Mediation Training introduces the core principles and methods of alternative dispute resolution. This training program provides a strong foundation and mediation skills via lecture, small group exercises, and role-playing, and is rich in both theory and practice. The training will be held using zoom in English in October 2022. We hope to attract a cohort of 20 dedicated participants.

Upon successful completion of the training, the participants have the opportunity to be onboarded to mediators.ai, where they can offer their new skills to their communities. Furthermore, successful participants will receive a NFT that indicates their completion of the training. The mediation training program meets the training requirements of all the local courts in the California dispute resolution programs act (DRPA); successful participants of the program are not limited to mediate blockchain-related disputes nor to disputes based in California. This proposal has a global impact that also encourages the increased use of the Cardano dApp mediators.ai.

Finally, ongoing assistance in the form of monthly check-ins via zoom for the duration of a year and access to Loxe’s private discord server will be provided to the new mediators.

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

A successfully executed project in this challenge provides direct access to solutions which provide financial and legal services, support and guidance to emerging Projects in the Catalyst Ecosystem. Mediators are critical to the legal system as they unburden the courts and provide more meaningful and appropriate outcomes to the parties. Therefore, the proposed solution addresses the challenge in a targeted and relevant manner.

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

In the case of unforeseen circumstances where the instructor and backup instructors were unable to execute the training or there was a lack of interest in the program (under 10 participants), we would return the full amount of funding received to Catalyst. We do not perceive any other risks associated with the execution of the project.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

Timeline

Until September 2022: Promote the proposal and record interested participants. Finalize session dates and times for synchronous sessions after input from interested participants.

October 2022: Mediation training, onboarding to mediators.ai, NFT minting and delivery.

November 2022: Official project closeout (support for new mediators will continue for at least a year).

Milestones

Key milestone by September 30, 2022: 10 registered participants for the mediation training.

Key milestone by October 31, 2022: 10 new credentialed mediators.

Key milestone by December 15, 2022: First cases mediated by new mediators, first monthly check-in conducted, close out report submitted.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Instructors: $10,000

Project management, check-ins and administrative tasks for a year: 4h/wk * 52 wk * $34/h = $7,072

NFT (art commission, minting, and delivery): $1,700

3 Zoom Small Business Accounts for a year: $600

3 Calendly Teams Accounts for a year: $576

Total: $19,948

Note: Most instructors in California charge a per student rate close to $1,000, which often gets passed onto participants directly or graduated participants are contractually obligated to mediate for the organization’s dispute resolution program free of charge for a minimum of one to two years.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Renata Valree

Renata is the instructor for the 40h mediation training.

Taken from https://www.csudh.edu/negotiation/faculty-staff/renata-valree:

Renata Valree brings a depth and breadth of community mediation and dispute resolution experience to the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding program. Renata is an accomplished public administrator, professional mediator/facilitator, trainer, program designer and evaluator. Renata is also a certified estate planning mediator and conflict management and emotional intelligence coach. Presently, Renata, is an Adjunct Professor in the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding Department at California State University Dominguez Hills where she teaches Mediation, Restorative Practices and Peacebuilding and Mediation Clinic. Renata has over 25 years of practice in community mediation. Renata is passionate about mediation and believes it presents a clear path forward, through process and practice to reduce conflict, restore productive relationships and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Her approach to transforming conflict is supported by authentic dialogue, understanding, collaboration and trust building. In her role as conflict resolution practitioner, she has mediated a broad range of community-based disputes, she has taught conflict management skills workshops, provided continuing education classes, and has led mediation training. As the former Director for the Dispute Resolution Program for the City of Los Angeles, she was responsible for program administration, oversight of the day-to-day operations of community mediation services, provided leadership, logistical support, guidance and direction to staff and community volunteers. Renata also facilitated training for all community volunteers. Under Renata’s leadership, the City Attorney’s Dispute Resolution Program was recognized by the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Board of County Supervisors for providing outstanding service to the residents of both the City and County of Los Angeles.

Renata formerly served as an Administrative Hearings Officer with the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney. As a hearings officer Renata's primary function included reviewing cases referred by deputy city attorneys, interviewing and taking statements of parties, on criminal cases to determine facts on whether the dispute or criminal case could be resolved through a non-judicial process. Renata served on the pro-bono panel of mediators with the Los Angeles Superior Court, Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. She also co-authored the family violence protocol which resulted in the development of Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Assault Crime table, which lead to the creation of the DART (Domestic Abuse Response Teams), a coordinated effort amongst agencies in their efforts to assist families experiencing violence.

Prior to joining the faculty at CSUDH, Renata founded the Antelope Valley Days of Dialogue Program where she designed a community-based dialogue program in an effort to ensure constructive civic engagement around the difficult issues of police violence and poor community relations. This was a collaborative partnership with the Los Angeles County, Palmdale and Lancaster Sheriff's station. This effort focused on healing and improving Community and Police relations. Renata was honored and recognized for her work by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Mayors of the Antelope Valley Cities of Lancaster and Palmdale. Further, Renata recently designed Days of Dialogue virtual sessions with Antelope Valley community members to discuss emerging local issues, specifically racism and police reform. These sessions were designed to increase awareness, share perspectives, gain understanding, build trust, improve relationships between community members and law enforcement. Renata’s current work includes program design, evaluation and coaching services for the State of Indiana, Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Renata has served as a guest speaker during her career. Over the last year, she has been a guest lecturer for Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network, National Association for Blacks in Criminal Justice, National Association for Colored People, Center for Community Dialogue and Training, and Association for Conflict Resolution-Community Day. Renata has been awarded numerous awards including Outstanding Case Award, Peacemaker of the Year, Woman of the Year in Mediation, Outstanding Public Servant, Community Agent of Change and Trailblazer Award. Renata currently serves on Black Women for Positive Change, De-Escalation of Violence Advocacy Committee, Association for Conflict Resolution, Community Mediation and Restorative Practices section and the National Association for Community Mediation, Membership Committee. She is former two term Chair, National Association for Community Mediation, Director of Collaboration for ThriveLA, Sustainable Housing Project, Vice Chair, Los Angeles Chapter of Emotional Intelligence and Director of Mediation Services for the South Bureau Ministerial Alliance. Renata holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills and a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Management from the California State University Dominguez Hills. In her free time, Renata enjoys exploring the outdoors with her three children and granddaughter.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renata-e-valree-b-s-m-p-a-550a3321/

Dr. Brian Polkinghorn

Dr. Polkinghorn supports Loxe as an advisor and his expertise with participants at the monthly check-ins and in discord.

From https://bossermancenter.com/people/brian-polkinghorn/:

Dr. Polkinghorn, MS, MA, MPhil, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution. Since 2000 he has been the Program Director in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Executive Director of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) at Salisbury University.  Prior to 2000 he was the senior faculty member in the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Nova Southeastern University.  He has worked in the conflict intervention field since 1985 as a mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, trainer, researcher, academic program developer, conflict coach, dispute systems designer and ombudsman.  His primary research and publications are in the areas of environmental disputes, graduate program developments in the English speaking world, post conflict development projects, conflict intervention programs, ADR court program assessment and, the evaluation of major government ADR programs.

He has published over 40 articles, book chapters and edited books and been the principle investigator or recipient of more than 60 grants.  He has practiced in more than a dozen countries primarily in the areas of environmental policy dispute intervention, labor-management. cross border cooperative enterprises, support of peace talks and civil society training.  He is currently facilitating dialogues between Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli parties on water rights/usage, waste to energy and collaborative agricultural in the Jordan River basin.  He has also worked on the peace process in Nepal.

Brian is an alum of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution (ICAR), George Mason University (MS, Conflict Resolution, 1988) and the Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts (PARC), Syracuse University (MA, MPhil, Ph.D. 1994).  He was also a Fellow with the Program on Negotiation (PON), Harvard University Law School (1991-1992), a National Fellow with the US Environmental Protection Agency (1991-1993), a United States Presidential Fellow (1991), the University System of Maryland Wilson Elkins Professor and more recently a Senior American Fulbright Scholar with the Evens Program in International Conflict and Mediation at Tel Aviv University (2010).

Matthias Sieber

Matthias is the CEO and co-founder of Loxe Inc. and responsible for the seamless execution of this proposal.

He graduated as a Presidential Scholar from California State University, Dominguez-Hills with a Bachelor of Arts in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding and as a recipient of the Dean’s Academic Excellence Award from University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law with a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution. He taught at both institutions Dispute Resolution Pedagogy and Corporate Governance as a TA respectively. He is currently on track to earning a certificate of specialization in strategy from Harvard Business School Online.

As a Cardano Ambassador and former Catalyst Circle representative of the Cardano Foundation, Matthias has seen his fair share of conflicts that would have benefited tremendously from the support of a neutral third-party mediator.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthiasklaussieber/

Other members of Loxe may assist in the execution of this proposal, such as:

• Azbai Arreguin, MSW - Executive Assistant, Loxe Inc.
• Victor Corcino, M.Sc. - COO, Loxe Inc.
• Eli Selkin, MSW & M.Sc. - CTO, Loxe Inc.
• Brian Jarrett, Ph.D. - Advisor, Loxe Inc.

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

While the execution of this proposal does not require additional funding, if this proposal is considered a great success by the participants and other stakeholders, we may request additional funding. The new proposal would incorporate the lessons learned from the implementation of this proposal and aim for improved scalability.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

The following evidence will be provided to testify the execution of each of the mentioned steps and milestones presented previously:

September 2022:

• Links to relevant posts and media related to the proposal’s promotion within the Catalyst community;
• Definition of dates and times based on interested participants input.
• Number of registered participants.

October 2022:

• Policy ID of minted NFTs.

December 2022:

• Close-out report and video including statements provided by instructor and participants.

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

We will consider this project successful if we are able to get at least 10 participants registered and 10 mediation certificates issued at the end of the course. We are aiming at having 20 dedicated participants registered instead of only 10, which we would consider the optimal result.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

While this is a brand-new proposal, participants can leverage Fund 6’s Win-Win Dispute Resolution proposal once it is live on mainnet (July 2022).

See https://github.com/Loxe-Inc/mediators.ai-qa/issues for bug tracking and enhancement proposals for mediators.ai.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

100% alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions.