Meet Jason Harper of Harper Conflict Resolution in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Harper.

Jason, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a professional mediator that specializes in education and workplace disputes as well as an Alternative Dispute Resolution consultant to schools and businesses, but my background is in education as a former Algebra teacher to middle school students as well as working in Special Education.

While I was a teacher, my dream was to become an attorney, so I left my teaching job and pursued a career in law. It didn’t take very long to realize that the litigation field was not something that appealed to me. The day-to-day fight within corporations took a major toll and I always felt it was easier and better to talk things out instead of fighting. It was then that I realized mediation would be a better route for me. My first day of mediation training was confirmation that I had made the right choice. It felt like my whole life was leading me to this career path.

My first experience in mediation after my training would be described as extremely ironic: My first assignment working for a bar association as one of their mediators was to help run a student mediation program at a middle school. Essentially, I started my mediation career exactly where my last career ended! You couldn’t script that kind of symmetry. As it turned out, it was the absolute best start I could’ve possibly had. Teaching the middle school students about mediation helped make me a better mediator and simultaneously ignited a passion of mine which is supporting peer mediation programs in the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

As I’ve gotten further in my career, I’ve been blessed to have some amazing opportunities, including being president of the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), the largest association of mediators in California. In addition to that, I teach about mediation at 2 law schools, including the University of Southern California Gould School of Law where I teach Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution. Looking back, I can see that my love of teaching has persisted through my career changes and I have the same passion for the law students as I did for the middle school students.

My journey involved mentors, the support of my family and friends, and a major leap of faith to strike out on my own. I don’t regret it for a second.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all, but nothing worth having is ever easy. The challenges I’ve faced are varied but common. The decision to strike out on my own and become a mediator was not an easy one. Mediation is a lonely profession on top of the challenges of owning your own practice and essentially your own business. Learning the ropes of networking, marketing, pricing, and taxes(!) present a steep learning curve. Also, the feelings of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and battling negative perceptions can also be very taxing. An example of the challenges I’ve faced was the perceptions during my time as SCMA president. Being the first African-American president and 2nd youngest president in the association’s history, I distinctly remember feeling the negative perceptions of my intelligence, competence, and leadership. I felt like I had something to prove every day.

Even though the challenges have been formidable, the rewards and highs I’ve experienced have made every hurdle worth it. I love to use my experiences to encourage other mediators coming into the field. I want my experience to be an example of what steps to take (and not take).

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
The work I do is a combination of a lot of things I greatly enjoy. My mediation practice specializes in Special Education and Employment disputes. In addition to mediation, I’m an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) consultant, teacher, and trainer. Currently, I consult for 18 school districts and 27 charter schools on how to manage conflict between families and staff. I also consult for businesses and non-profit corporations on conflict management and team-building. When I am not consulting or mediating, I teach mediation at Pacific Coast University School of Law as well as the USC Gould School of Law. Additionally, I provide training in mediation and conflict resolution strategies for a number of organizations. I’ve been honored to be recognized by the California State Senate and the United States Congress for my mediation training sessions.

What sets me apart from the other mediators is my experience and my approach to the issues. As a former educator, I have likely experienced or been around the conflicts and constraints people feel in the education setting. This gives me greater credibility in the eyes of the parties and they are able to trust me with their unspoken concerns and needs.

I am most proud of the work that I do in supporting peer mediation programs. The passion that I developed for working with kids has really blossomed into advocacy work with the goal of having a peer mediation program in every elementary, middle, and high school. Peer mediation is conflict resolution for youth, by youth. Studies have shown that these programs play a huge role in reducing absences, suspensions, expulsions, and bullying incidences. Giving the kids the tools of conflict resolution makes our future that much brighter. It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of that process.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
When it comes to mediation and conflict resolution services, any city with people in it would be a good place for the services. Conflict is inevitable and the way people engage in conflict can potentially exacerbate the situation. In a city like Los Angeles with an enormous number of schools and businesses, there is a real need for mediators. This city is a great place to start out in the mediation field because there are ample opportunities to gain experience when it comes to neighborhood or community disputes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.harperconflictresolution.com
• Phone: 3232851070
• Email: [email protected]

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