Mary Grace McManus, MA

Director, Graceful Resolutions

Mary Grace McManus is a certified mediator, skilled facilitator, and effective conflict coach. When working toward resolution, Mary Grace relies on qualities built over a lifetime:

  • Years as a grief facilitator, instilled patience and deeper listening for the significant meanings that underlie outward emotions 
  • As a mother of three, active with children of all ages, she gravitated to  the most vulnerable youth who taught her the power of unwavering compassion, confidentiality, and commitment
  • Her love of math led to a BS in Computer Science which built her logic and creative problem solving
  • As Co-owner of a business for 30 years, she developed skills in risk assessment and objectivity
  • Teaching computers to adults grew her confidence in others to grasp new concepts
  • As a radio host of two programs she developed communication skills and confidence in interacting with people from all walks of life
 
Mediation and Conflict Resolution brought all of these skills together. Her  Masters training in mediation and group facilitation strengthened and honed these skills. It is her commitment to walk beside you in the most difficult times, and her joy to help you move toward resolutions that restore wholeness and hope.

Experienced Professional

  • Education
    • Bachelors of Science, Computer Science, Univ. of Scranton
    • Masters Degree, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding, California State Univ., Dominguez Hills 
  • Certifications
    • Certified Mediator, DRPA
    • Dept. of Justice, Facilitating Meetings Around Community Conflict
    • Certified Responder, Mental Health Youth First Aid
    • Non-Violent Communication, Restorative Systems for Transforming Conflict
  • Trained Facilitator
    • Grief and Loss Support
    • Facing Death and Personal Loss
  • Member
    • American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section
    • National Association For Community Mediation
    • WA Mediation Association
    • Center for Non-Violent Communication

At Graceful Resolutions, we recognize conflict can be hard. No dispute is too small. We cherish working with teens, youth, families, and communities to restore peace, promote understanding, and build belonging. We go wherever  adversity threatens harmony.

Creative Mediation

Every conflict is a stepping stone to a unique solution that can only come from a blend of each party’s distinctive needs. Mary Grace is committed to fully understanding not just what is being asked for, but what is truly needed by each party. She is skilled in transforming the conversation from “me against you” into “us against the problem.”

She has a proven track record of resolving challenging cases that allow parties to evaluate their options, assess their risks, and reach agreements that satisfy their goals and interests. She is committed to helping parties negotiate a just and fair resolution to their dispute.

Large-group, multi-party Resolutions

Mary Grace has extensive experience in facilitating difficult community conversations around issues such as gun-violence, racial disparities, intergenerational barriers, civic policies, systemic factors, and coalition creation. 

Her our aim is to assist individuals, institutions, and communities in their journey towards decision making, reconnection and fostering a sense of unity. 

Conflict Coaching

The road to successful dispute resolution begins with a healthy conflict dialogue. Mary Grace works with individuals and groups to uncover underlying needs beneath disputed stories. Coached in productive conflict-listening and conflict-speaking skills, clients embrace a new type of negotiation power that expands the view of the conflict and brings new solutions to light.