BALTIMORE, MD (Thursday, February 15, 2024) – The Urban Conflict Manager Program (UCMP) inaugural graduation was held on February 9th, 2024, with fifteen participants from Safe Streets Baltimore including site directors and frontline violence interrupters graduating in person at The University of Baltimore campus. The Urban Conflict Manager Program is co-sponsored by the City of Baltimore Mayor’s Office for Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) and The University of Baltimore’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy.
This program was designed by Program Director Dr. Yunzi “Rae” Tan to provide Baltimore’s Safe Streets leaders, staff, and community partners with a unique professional development opportunity that enhances their knowledge and practice of conflict management and resolution – including violence prevention and intervention – at various levels and specifically in the urban context.
Over the ten days of the training, participants expanded their conflict management competencies in negotiation, mediation, group facilitation, dialogue processes, restorative practices, and conflict de-escalation. Additionally, they broadened their understanding and assessment of urban conflict and violence dynamics and structures, using the trauma-informed and complex systems perspectives.
During the graduation ceremony, participants shared key insights and lessons learned during the program and discussed how they relate to their conflict resolution and violence intervention work. The University of Baltimore, College of Public Affairs Dean, Dr. Roger Hartley, Executive Director of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy, Dr. Ann Cotten, and Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Director, Stefanie Mavronis provided remarks at the graduation. A presentation of certificates was led by Program Director Dr. Yunzi “Rae” Tan.
"Congratulations to our participants on the completion of the Urban Conflict Manager Program! Their dedication to enhancing conflict management and violence intervention skills in Baltimore's urban context is commendable. We hope that our graduates have expanded their competencies in negotiation, mediation, and group facilitation while gaining invaluable insights into urban conflict dynamics,” said Ralph Muller, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the University of Baltimore. “President Schmoke and I applaud their commitment to building safer and more resilient communities in Baltimore.”
“MONSE and the Scott Administration believe in the value of this work, and want Safe Streets staff to continue to succeed as part of our collective efforts to strengthen Baltimore’s Community Violence Intervention ecosystem. We remain committed to supporting this work and ensuring that you all have further opportunities to grow and develop professionally,” said MONSE Director Stefanie Mavronis. “This is something that is clearly outlined in our internal assessment of Safe Streets, the Hopkins external evaluation by Dr. Daniel Webster, and national CVI research.”
The Schaefer Center for Public Policy is Maryland’s preeminent applied research and policy analysis center. As part of the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs, the Schaefer Center promotes excellence in Maryland’s public and nonprofit organizations through applied research, technical assistance, policy analysis, policy conferences, and professional development programs. The Schaefer Center is home to the NextGen Leaders for Public Service program and the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program.
As the agency responsible for the implementation of the City’s public health approach to safety through Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, MONSE partners with Baltimore’s residents, community-based organizations, institutions, businesses, and agencies to stem the tide of violence, while simultaneously unearthing its root causes. MONSE’s portfolio includes Baltimore’s Community Violence Intervention (CVI) ecosystem, funding allocations for community-based organizations directly involved in the co-production of public safety, the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), and victim services work.
The College of Public Affairs is an intellectual catalyst for local, regional, national, and global leadership in the fields of government, nonprofit, international affairs, conflict management and negotiation, health and human services, and criminal justice. The College influences the broader community through traditional degree programs, continuing education, research, and engaged practice. If you are interested in learning more about the degree programs provided by the College of Public Affairs, you can visit their website at: https://www.ubalt.edu/cpa/
To learn more about the Urban Conflict Manager Program visit the Schaefer Center website at: schaefercenter.ubalt.edu/urban-conflict-manager-program/
