Mellisa & the Iceberg
About Mellisa
Mellisa Heather Cain of Iceberg Consulting, LLC is a Visual trainer and Facilitator who offers experiential workshops and meeting facilitation that focus on group development, engagement, communication and understanding. With a unique style rooted in her background in international education, conflict transformation, and the arts, Mellisa makes sure the needs of all participants are welcomed and embraced. In addition to teaching, Mellisa offers graphic recording of meetings and events of all sizes.
After working in over a dozen countries, she has called Burlington, VT home since 2012.
B.A.: Peace Studies, Manhattan College (Bronx, New York)
M.A.: Intercultural Service, Leadership & Management with a focus on Conflict Transformation, SIT Graduate Institute (Brattleboro, Vermont) *note: full-time, on campus
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language): International Training Center (Prague, Czech Republic)
WOMEN’S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM: Mercy Connections (Burlington, Vermont)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Association of Experiential Education (AEE). Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)
The Iceberg
The Iceberg Theory is a Conflict Transformation model used to deal with hidden issues. 75% of an iceberg is below the surface. When you’re looking at an issue, you think you’re seeing the whole issue. However, it’s what’s below the surface that’s causing the problems: the 90% that you don’t see.
The theme of my work can be summarized in the Iceberg. In community projects, I seek to look beyond the obvious to see not only the needs of the community but to address the structural issues causing them. With facilitation and workshops, participants are encouraged to look beyond the surface, to think critically and work together to find solutions.