Associates

Back to staff listing

Laura Kaplan

Senior facilitator and mediator Laura Kaplan has been with the Center for Collaborative Policy since 2002. Current assignments include facilitating advisory committees for the City of Sacramento’s Water Master Planning Process and water conservation efforts, and facilitating a collaborative research effort between local, state, and federal agencies on the topic of the effect of woody vegetation on flood control levees.

Laura’s past facilitation projects at CCP include a negotiation between water purveyors and environmental interests over a potential new water intake facility on the Sacramento River and new water wholesale contracts; an assessment of potential efforts to reduce the incidence of ships striking whales in the Santa Barbara Shipping Channel; an internal assessment for the Forest Service related to updating the travel management plan for part of Six Rivers National Forest; facilitating the San Joaquin County Flood Protection Technical Advisory Committee; facilitating the American River Parkway Plan Update Citizens’ Advisory Committee; facilitating the Lower American River Task Force and Lower American River FISH (Fisheries and In-Stream Habitat) Working Group; public outreach meetings for the California Department of Mental Health Suicide Prevention Plan Advisory Committee; and an assessment, training, and manual for public participation practice for the California State Water Boards. She has also been editor of the Center’s Collaborative Edge newsletter, made guest appearances as an instructor in collaborative policy courses taught at Sacramento State University and U.C. Berkeley, and has been involved in the Center's research efforts regarding building statewide capacity for collaboration, as well as an evaluation of the CALFED program conducted with the University of California, Berkeley's Institute for Urban and Regional Development.

Before her move to California to join CCP, Laura worked for the Northern Virginia Mediation Service as the facilitator of a collaborative forum to resolve community planning issues associated with day laborers. Other past experience includes serving as the Training Director and Lead Trainer for the University Dispute Resolution Program at George Mason University, working with the ombudsman's office at the National Institutes of Health to improve organizational procedures, mediating court cases in Virginia, facilitating outdoor leadership and team-building, and teaching conflict resolution theory and practice to international youth. She has published peer-reviewed articles on community collaboration and organizational procedures to enhance shared learning. Laura holds an M.S. degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University and a B.A. degree in Environmental Relations from Alfred University. When she's not at work, Laura enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and cooking.