Annette Lantz-Simmons is Executive Director of the Center for Conflict Resolution in Kansas City, Missouri. As the middle child in her family and a member of the Mennonite community, Ms. Lantz-Simmons began developing conflict resolution skills by mediating disputes between her older and younger siblings and self-identifies as a born mediator rather than a “peacemaker.” Annette received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Fresno Pacific University in 1981 and spent nearly twenty years in the business world where she utilized her mediation skills informally. In 2002, she transitioned to professional mediation and, after receiving formal mediation training in domestic mediation and transformative mediation, she obtained a Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Eastern Mennonite University draws from the Mennonite tradition …show more content…
Frequently, one or more of the participants will hear new information that helps them understand the effect that their actions and/or words have had on the other party or the community in general. When all persons have the goal of “making it right” between them, the process proves to be very effective. In addition to making peace in the community through mediation, Ms. Lantz-Simmons also uses restorative justice to address criminal behavior wherein the victim, offender and the community work together toward outcomes that encourages taking responsibility for one’s own actions, reparation for the victim, and emotional healing for all involved in the harm done. Through restorative justice, Ms. Lantz-Simmons is able to focus on the needs of the parties and the relationship between them instead of relying on punishments as done in the criminal justice