Lancaster’s Tapestry Commission strives to create a place within the city for mutual respect and cooperation. Programs such as mediation, expungement assistance, and open forum meetings (The Weavers) allow residents to be more involved with the community as a whole.
The commission’s most successful venture, mediation, aims to better unite the Antelope Valley through neighbor-to-neighbor reconciliation. The program helps neighbors resolve conflicts by working with all parties to arrive at a mutually beneficial compromise, reaching peaceful agreements within a neutral, comfortable setting facilitated by certified mediators.
Often, the issue that actually brings neighbors into mediation is not the true root of the problem, and it is mediation itself that allows people to identify the real problem and begin to resolve it.
To date, Tapestry has completed more than 20 successful mediations, often removing any need for costly and unnecessary lawsuits. Mediation also reduces the number of hours spent by city, Animal Control, or Sheriff’s Department staff on unnecessary phone calls or dispatches.
“The Tapestry Commissioners are committed to the well-being of our city’s residents. Over the last 30 months, they have committed hundreds of hours to establishing and running an array of effective programs,” said Tapestry Commission Chair Sue Dell. “In particular, we are proud of our tireless volunteer mediators who have donated their own time and efforts to the city. With Commission support, the participants have created and embraced their shared goal of a mutually beneficial agreement.”
Within the next few months, the commission will begin celebrating its Bridge to Empowerment season. Employing a new theme each month, the goal of the season is to highlight activities, resources, and local organizations who want to bring community awareness to specific topics.
This month, Tapestry kicks off the season by celebrating cultural diversity. The theme of “Self-Esteem and Personal Security” will be highlighted in October. November’s theme is “Gratitude,” followed by “Faith and Celebration” in December.
For more information on the Tapestry Commission, visit: www.cityoflancasterca.org/tapestry.
