Master Tough Talks: Conflict Resolution Workshop at First Mile Brewing in Fort Kent

At the edge of Maine’s St. John Valley, AWN’s “Conflict Resolution and Working with Difficult People” comes to life in the convivial taproom of First Mile Brewing Co., 28 Market St (Suite 103), Fort Kent, ME 04743. Set for Monday, October 26, 2026 at 5:30 PM, the Aroostook Women’s Network brings speaker Crystal Straub (MHRT-CSP, US Navy Veteran) to town for a hands-on workshop that turns uncomfortable conversations into clear, manageable interactions. The room itself is a straightforward community space on Market Street where neighbors, seasonal workers, and visitors meet over local brews. Key features of the scene are the First Mile Brewing Co. taproom and its Market St address, the social energy of the Aroostook County community, and the surrounding St. John Valley landscape that defines Fort Kent’s character. This is an event rooted in place: a professional development clinic staged inside a local business rather than a conference center, which makes it feel immediate and practical. In this session you’ll learn four core skills: effective communication techniques that let you state needs without escalating tension; conflict-management frameworks to de-escalate workplace and personal disputes; boundary-setting strategies for both professional and familial contexts; and pragmatic approaches to handle difficult personalities across settings. Crystal Straub brings clinical and military experience to these topics, and the format encourages role-play, group discussion, and real-world tools you can use the next day. Anyone who navigates teams, families, boards, or customer-facing roles will get immediate value; small-group exercises and real examples make lessons stick. Expect candid conversation, structured role-play, and clear worksheets you can reuse. The format favors practice over theory, so participants leave with scripted phrases, de-escalation sequences, and a short action plan to try at work or home. Registration is encouraged since space reflects the intimate, hands-on format. Bring business cards to extend connections. What makes this gathering stand out is the people behind it. The Aroostook Women’s Network organizes programs tailored to the region’s rhythms, and local organizer Stacie—who is a native of Fort Kent with three children and more than 30 years providing mental health services in the St John Valley—lends clinical depth and community trust. Her background across group homes, outpatient care, emergency services, and private practice gives the workshop a trauma-informed, practical edge that suits small towns where relationships matter. Practical details are straightforward: expect a focused 1–1.5 hour session beginning at 5:30 PM, come ready to participate, and plan to stay afterward to network over a drink. Bring a notebook and questions tailored to your toughest conversations. Travelers staying in Fort Kent or passing through the St. John Valley will find this a chance to connect with local leaders, sharpen workplace skills, and step into community life—without leaving town.