Mediators Rich Kessler & Marian Eisner

A legacy of serving seniors that evolved to help families & friends of all ages.

Since 1995, Rich Kessler and Marian Eisner have been immersed in gerontology and aging. Their journey began as part of the Age-ing To Sage-ing™ program, now Sage-ing International. First as seminar leaders, then as faculty at the Spiritual Eldering Institute, and currently mentoring others..
As we gained knowledge and experience about aging and growing older, we found ways to complement our love of working with families and children. In 2005 we created Family Conversations™. Originally conceived to work exclusively with older adults, we soon realized that the skills, knowledge, and process worked equally well with families of all ages.

25+
Year’s Of Experience

1,000+

Families Helped
Our mission is to empower you with the best information and tools to make the right decision for you and your loved ones.

Serving families, friends and children needing help to resolve conflict.

Family Conversations™ has a long history; we began as the Minnesota Center for Conflict Resolution (MCCR) in 1986. Over the past 35+ years we continued to evolve, still serving families and children. We’ve volunteered with three Twin Cities mediations centers serving families and neighbors. We’ve also served as mediators for family businesses, organizations, and community disputes.
Our two founders created the original Peer Mediation programs and training for elementary and secondary schools in Minnesota in 1990.
In 1998, Rich Kessler, one of the original two founders, was contacted by the Minnesota Child Welfare Training System to teach a course on Conflict Resolution. A couple of years later he was asked to create a curriculum, design a training course, and then teach the course called Family Group Decision Making (FGDM). He, and a therapist from Lutheran Social Services, co-trained FGDM facilitators throughout Minnesota.Their students were social workers and supervisors.
By 2001 MCCR was contracted to work for Dakota County, facilitating family meetings for the county’s social service and juvenile justice programs. When the county started their own FGDM program in 2004, Rich, and another partner, were asked to start up the county program.
Rich, and one of his current partners, continue to take cases from social workers assigned to Child Protection, Adult and Children’s Mental Health, Court Assessment, and other departments. His current partners have worked with him from 7 to more than 20 years.

Rich Kessler

Founder – Minnesota Center for Conflict Resolution 1986 (MCCR)
Family Conversations – Coordinator, facilitator, curriculum and program developer, trainer
Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) facilitator and coordinator for Dakota County
Minnesota Child Welfare Training System – curriculum developer and trainer Conflict Resolution and FGDM
Community mediator

Marian Eisner

Social worker (retired) with more than 30 years of direct service, supervisory and administrative experience.
Family Conversations facilitator; developed Family Conversation curriculum and workshops.
Mediator and Trainer for Minnesota Center for Conflict Resolution (MCCR).
Faculty (emeritus) – Spiritual Eldering Institute™ Boulder, CO. Certified Seminar Leader for Age-ing To Sage-ing™ programs. Sage-ing International™ mentor
College instructor – Napa Valley College (Napa, California)