MAM Annual Conference and Meeting
Healing to Wellness in Conflict Resolution:
Tribal Court Wisdom and Self-Care Tools for Mediators
Friday, November 7, 2025
9:00 am - 2:45 pm
via Zoom
CLE's Pending
Join us for a day that blends tribal wisdom with professional renewal. In the morning, we’ll learn from the Penobscot Nation’s Healing to Wellness Court - a restorative, community-based approach to justice - presented by Hon. Eric Mehnert and Hon. Rhonda Decontie. In the afternoon, we’ll focus on our own well-being with Gretchen Pianka, MD., exploring simple, powerful practices to reduce burnout, mitigate stress in real time, and model radical self-care for ourselves and others as we work with parties in conflict.
Don't miss this opportunity for professional development and connecting with colleagues in the field of alternative dispute resolution.
Click Here for Agenda
Morning Session
Penobscot Nation’s Healing to Wellness Court
The Penobscot Nation utilizes Native American customs and traditions to explore alternative responses to criminal justice. Thus, the Nation has explored the delivery of justice by systemic, multi-disciplinary problem solving; rather than punishment based intervention. This discussion will focus on: the history of the Nation’s Tribal Court, the structure of a Healing to Wellness Court, incorporating tradition and culture, and the braided services approach in your team setting. The braided services discussion include breakout sessions where attendees will analyze and reach a consensus concerning a hypothetical participants challenges and recovery.
Presenters:
The Honorable Eric M. Mehnert has served as the Chief Judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court since 2008. He presides over the Nation's Criminal and Civil Courts as well as the Nation's Healing to Wellness Court. He served as Chief of Enforcement of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination. In his career he focused his litigation practice on civil rights; employment discrimination, housing discrimination and defending the rights of those who have been institutionalized.
The Honorable Rhonda Decontie has served on the Penobscot Nation's Judicial System since 2011 and became Clerk of the Court in 2014. She was sworn in on May 3, 2023, as the first Magistrate Judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court. In 2024 she was also appointed to serve as the first Magistrate Judge for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Under her leadership, the Tribal Court has been nationally recognized as a leader in handling child protective proceedings and for its culturally-aligned Healing to Wellness Court. She is a graduate of the University of Maine at Augusta and is a member of the UMA Bangor Campus Advisory Council.
Lunch break 12:00 - 12:30 - social time breakout room (optional)
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12:30 - 1:00 MAM Annual Meeting
All Members Welcome
Updates and Voting on Board Nominations
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Afternoon Session
From Burnout to Balance:
Everyday Strategies for Thriving at Work and Home
In this interactive 90-minute program, Dr. Gretchen Pianka—physician, resilience expert, and founder of Resilience University—guides mediators through simple, science-based practices to reduce burnout, regulate stress in real time, and strengthen emotional presence during conflict. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and behavioral health, participants will learn practical tools to calm the nervous system, stay grounded in challenging moments, and model radical self-care that fosters trust and compassion in mediation. Participants will leave with immediately applicable techniques to care for themselves and support resilience in the parties they serve—because a well-regulated mediator is essential to a well-regulated process.
Presenter:
Dr. Gretchen A. Pianka, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Vermont School of Medicine. She earned her Master’s in Public Health from the University of New England. Dr. Pianka has practiced in Maine since 2004, currently caring for immigrants and children entering the foster care system. Her book, Coaching Families for Resilience is designed to teach parents and kids skills and techniques to begin addressing trauma, toxic stress, and behavioral and mental health issues. She enjoys sharing the approach that promotes access to positive childhood experiences with children, caregivers, medical students, physicians and other professionals.
Cost:
Members $100
Non-members $150
If you register as a non-member, $50 of your cost can be applied to MAM Annual Membership by sending a request to our administrator.
Student $50
If you are a matriculated student, we do not want cost to be a barrier. Please email our administrator with confirmation of your student status.
Your membership includes peer support groups and discounted registration fees to future events.
For any of the above requests or questions please contact Mary, our administrator at administrator@mainemediators.org.
Best,
John Lemieux, President
Terri DeCoster, Chairperson Meetings and Events
Visit our website
Maine Association of Mediators (MAM)
https://www.mainemediators.org
