(ANNAPOLIS, Md. – July 19, 2010) The Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) will offer a free teleconference about the role different kinds of intelligence play in mediation. The teleconference, “Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Intelligence – Partners at the Table in Mediation,” will be held Wednesday, Aug. 4, noon-1 p.m.

 “As practitioners of alternative dispute resolution, we use several methods to help parties reach resolution and yet we rarely mention the role that emotional intelligence and cognitive intelligence play in mediation,” explains Linda Baron, who will lead the teleconference. “We’re going to be discussing how an understanding of the theory of ‘multiple intelligence’ can strengthen mediation practices, and explore the role of intuition and how intuition differs from stereotyping and unsupported assumptions.”

Baron has been a mediator for more than 20 years and volunteers with many court- and community-based programs. Most recently she served as interim operations manager for the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County. Baron is also a member of FEMA’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) unit and deploys to disaster field offices to provide conflict resolution services to FEMA personnel. Linda is also a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and Thai massage therapist.

This free lunchtime teleconference is designed for people who work with mediation or alternative dispute resolution, and also for people who want to learn more about mediation. Members of the public are invited to join the conversation.

For more information or to arrange to join the teleconference, go to MACRO’s website, www.mdcourts.gov/macro.