The cornerstone of Jon Myers’ approach is dedication. Jon has achieved excellent successes in the human services, political, and mediation worlds. At his core, Jon has an underlying commitment to helping others, reinforced by a rugged desire to get things done and a gentle touch to see them through. In the course of his twenty-eight years of work, Jon has counseled youth, being seen by his then supervisor Dennis McGuire of the Charles River Academy as the “best,” developed a nationally recognized youth employment program for the Cambridge Housing Authority, that Steve Swanger, noted Jon’s commitment to developing a “model for Massachusetts.”

As a City Councillor in Cambridge, Jon mediated two decades long crisis involving MIT, the city of Cambridge, and the community, that then President Charles Vest, remarked on Jon’s ability to see through a resolution of a seventy-five acre parcel of land, leading to the University Park Development, and then amazingly to bring about a resolution for the creation of seventy-bed Emergency Services Center for the Homeless. After deciding to leave the Cambridge City Council, then Cambridge Mayor Kenneth Reeves wrote about Jon’s “indefatigable” nature, his interest in bringing about solutions to complex urban issues, his commitment to youth and families, and finally noting that Jon cares very, very deeply about people.” Later Jon founded a non-profit that coalesced the business community, and schools on behalf of youth, and helping young people find a pathway for career success, involving Harvard and MIT, the Chamber of Commerce, police, civic, and business leaders.

While the underlying commitments to service and positive resolutions were always there, it was when Jon was pulled into a difficult divorce and custody situation in 1996 that Jon saw the light in terms of the need for a better and more humane divorce system. Jon references his founding Calm Interventions, in 2002 as “divine intervention.” After working strenuously to better the situation of his own children, Sophie and Sammy coming out of divorce, Jon developed a fundamental commitment that divorce and family situations be done fairly, compassionately and appropriately.

From friends and clients Jon’s work draws widespread praise. After a ground-breaking in of a new office in 2004 in Cambridge, then Mayor Michael J. Sullivan, said: “Jon has found a great niche for his work.” When Jon expanded Calm Interventions and moved to Newton in 2006, Newton Mayor David Cohen said: “We stole Jon from Cambridge,” and “Jon will dramatically help the quality of life in Newton.” In talking with President Emeritus Derek Bok of Harvard, about the roots of unhappiness Jon was told: “you are doing one of the things that matter.” Calm Interventions clients relate: “you have reached a breakthrough with us, that other Judges, mediators and attorneys could not,” said one, another: “you were great,” and finally: “you are like Dr. Phil, but different.” Really though Jon is his own person, his unique blend of determination and gentleness make him a champion on your behalf.

Jon also credits education he received undergraduate he received from Oberlin College (1980) and a Masters from Harvard University (1984), along with Executive Mediation Training, from Mediation Works, Inc( 2004) as cornerstones in his approach to understanding people and situations.