WASHINGTON, D.C. – In honor of National Conflict Resolution Day, WEPO’s Conflict Management and Prevention Center is sponsoring a Conflict Resolution Day event Oct. 21, 2021. Conflict Resolution Day was conceived in 2005 by the Association for Conflict Resolution and affords us the opportunity to promote awareness of mediation, arbitration, conciliation and other creative, peaceful means of resolving conflict.

This year’s event will celebrate Forest Service team members who plant seeds of peace. Nominations are due Sept. 3.

One “seed planter” will be selected by a panel of fellow Forest Service employees throughout the agency from each of the following categories:

The Giving Tree

Shel Silverstein’s 1964 poem “The Giving Tree” is one of the most well-known works in children’s literature. It celebrates nature’s giving to mankind and laments humans’ taking, reminding us happiness in life exists in the little things. The Tree gives of itself selflessly, without begrudging and without measure until it literally has exhausted all its physical resources, yet it continues to give of its essence.

This could be the individual who:

• Gives of their time and person without measure
• Quietly picks up the workload on their own accord while deterring recognition or to boost recognition for someone else
• Notices someone never has time to eat and quietly brings them lunch
• Helps strangers in need without ever looking back nor questioning their circumstances

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Since 1993, Chicken Soup for the Soul has inspired readers through their collections of socially conscious true-life tales. This series of books is a vehicle for people of all faiths, nationalities, ethnicities, colors, sexual orientations and gender identities to share their extraordinary stories. Each illustrated story has the power to change and shift lives and even the world.

This could be the individual who:

• Inspires us to be the best version of ourselves
• Gives a word of encouragement even when your best “game face” is on
• Bravely shares their story to lift someone past that same chapter in their life
• Gently guides and redirects your journey
• Readily advocates for a stranger in need
• Imparts Zen with their mere presence

It’s a Wonderful Life

It's A Wonderful Life (Released in 1947) is a popular film that explores how a life should be measured and the importance of feeling truly connected in a society. It reflects on the pitfalls of greed versus values that embrace a sense of community and belonging, the gift of friendship, basic goodness and sacrifice.

This could be the individual who:

• Shows up in a way that positively impacts those they encounter
• Use their words and actions to bring light to a dark situation
• Strives to be a force of positive change
• Spreads kindness without reproach
• Gives freely of themselves and their time for the greater good
• Prompts a “Pass It Forward” ripple effect

We encourage you to contemplate who in your work environment is worthy of these acknowledgements and take a few minutes to nominate them for this recognition. Nominating colleagues shows they are worthy of celebration and that we are a community that values people and their contributions beyond their work skills and job duties.

Please fill out this nomination form (internal link) by Sept. 3 and email it to the address listed on the form. More details will be shared about the Conflict Resolution Day event, including how to participate, soon.