. >>> further out in queens, somewhat forlorn looking but beautiful rockaways. >> this is rockaway parky and rock away beach. that's why we call it the rock aways. a lot of different parts of it. >> a writer and local activist. >> you from queens originally? >> i was raised in the city but i lived in queens for most of my adult life now. >> and rockaway now? >> i left here about a year after hurricane sandy because the way sandy hit and kind of, you know, shook people out of where they were, you didn't want to put your family through that again. the risk of that. >> how bad did it get hit out here? >> this was like something out of a movie. >> hurricane sandy pounded the east coast in 2012 and many communities suffered but the rockaways were hit with particular ferocity. how was the response? >> it was good, one of the best things about what happened right afterwards is the way people came together who lived here but also came in, pitched in, brought food, generators, but officially, it was like, government, the governmental groups. they dropped the ball. >> what was the problem? >> wer

. >> i was walking on rockaway parkway and he had came, he hit me and we got in an altercupion. >> i camo him and tried to discuss with him, but i didn't i tathe way i was supposed to, i actually put mattes in my own had i ended up fighting him. t >> we have time to where we can actually facilitate a real conversation. and it's n like, okay, we just don't want you guys to fight. but it's like what was the root of the fight?uy why were youfighting? >> how have you guys been since that time? >> the way i handle myself is-- usually i handle it with violence-- but ever since i encountered the mediation cile, i've learned how to control my anger and just talk about it. because taing doesn't hurt. it's better to use your words than to use violence. >> reporter: the circle helped the students realize the root cause of the conflict was simply a misunderstanding. >> we realsi had a lot of larities. like, we both played football-- like the same football players. >> ever since it's been resoeed, i've been seeing sh around. i've been treating him like he's one of myik bros,i've known him all my