As conflict resolution specialists, we don't shy away from tough situations. In fact, one of our slogans is "we follow the heat" - meaning, we focus our attention on those interactions when emotions are most escalated. That's why, when the opportunity arose to tackle the increasing problem of gun violence in urban neighborhoods, our staff rose to the occasion and asked, "How can we help?" Photo credit: Democrat & Chronicle

In 2021, as cities across the country saw record-breaking homicide rates, legislators and community leaders looked for proven strategies to reduce the violence. This past Sunday, Rochester's local newspaper, the Democrat and Chronicle, featured a story about "credible messengers" - neighborhood leaders with relevant life experiences, who engage with youth and create the kind of relationships that can stop violence before it starts.

One of these credible messengers is Justin Morris. The founder and CEO of Untrapped Ministries, Mr. Morris takes on the role of a big brother to youth in Rochester's schools and neighborhoods, providing mentoring, de-escalation, and conflict resolution interventions. His vision is to expand his impact by supporting youth in creating career paths and connecting them with resources to address health disparities. 

After our first meeting with Mr. Morris a few months ago, we recognized an opportunity that our agency could play in supporting the critical work of credible messengers. The Center has begun collaborating with Mr. Morris to identify sources of funding that align with our mutual values and skill sets. We have also been providing the Untrapped Ministries team with mediation training and operational support.

As we enter 2022, I am hopeful that the spirit of collaboration will guide us to increase our impact and continue to contribute to a less violent, more resilient world.

In peace,

Shira May, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Reference: Democrat and Chronicle: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/12/27/credible-messengers-volunteer-help-stop-violence-rochester-ny/8993764002/

Orientation to

Transformative Mediation

January 24, 4:00-5:30pm

Join us for an informative and interactive workshop to learn about the Center's mediation programs and find out about upcoming opportunities to attend our Basic Mediation Training (BMT) and join our community of peacemakers!

Click this link to register in advance:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvf-qtrzouH9yQaXzkvGwZo9YBpyGoKQVd 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Serving Youth and Families

The Center received a contract from Monroe County to provide services to youth and families that enhance parent/child and interfamilial relationships. This project represents a partnership between the Center and Untrapped Ministries, a grassroots Rochester-based organization that focuses on serving youth impacted by or at risk of being involved in violence.

For more information, contact Clayton Lyons: clyons@cdsadr.org

Staff Represent the Center on NYSDRA Board

Kim Reisch, Director of Ontario/Yates Counties, will join the board of directors of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) this month.

Donna Durbin, Director of Monroe County, has served on the NYSDRA board for two terms and has completed her service in this role.

Thank you, Donna and Kim for your service to our state association!

Beginning on January 18, the Center for Dispute Settlement will begin a pilot diversion project in partnership with Monroe County Supreme Court to provide divorce mediation services to parties prior to their preliminary court appearance. This project aligns with New York State’s presumptive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiative, which is designed to expand court-sponsored early and automatic referrals to mediation.

Each week, the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office will assign up to five appropriate cases to pre-designated time slots for intake at the Center. If parties agree, they will then work with one of our extensively trained and skilled divorce mediators.

The project will continue as a six-month pilot and will be evaluated by both the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office, the 7th Judicial District’s Matrimonial Department, the ADR Coordinator, and the Center for Dispute Settlement during and after the pilot period.

Donna Durbin, Director of Monroe County Programs, and Cheryl Prewitt, Program Manager, will manage the Center’s role in the program. Donna tells us that, “This is a very exciting project and the first of its kind in New York State. Many couples who have filed for divorce will be given the opportunity to bring their concerns to mediation with minimal court involvement.” 

Although the Center began offering divorce mediation in the early ‘80s, the program relied on self-referrals, meaning that parties had to seek the service. This project will offer mediation to those who have an action pending in court.

The presumptive ADR initiative was endorsed by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in May of 2019. As stated in the press release for this initiative:

“While the courts’ ADR programs have grown in recent years, with thousands of New Yorkers benefiting from these services annually, court-sponsored mediation remains underutilized. Currently, most mediation referral relies on the parties to opt in to mediation or on individual judges to refer parties to mediation in individual cases. Transitioning to an early and presumptive ADR model ̶and expanding the scope of ADR to include the broadest possible range of civil case types ̶will play a significant role in decreasing costs to the parties and the judiciary and improving case outcomes as well as reducing case delays.”

See the full report on Presumptive ADR here: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/files/2019-05/PR19_09_0.pdf

For more information about the Monroe County Divorce Mediation Diversion Pilot program, contact Donna Durbin: ddurbin@cdsadr.org. Or visit www.cdsadr.org.

Show 'Em The Ropes: Mentoring Our Mediators

Each time one of our volunteer mediators joined a new company they’d find the most recent new hire in the department and ask that employee to coffee or lunch. It was a way to learn a little about each other and their first experiences in their new positions. It was also a way to determine what someone new to the environment needs to know to quickly settle in. In essence our volunteer mediator was saying, ‘Show me the ropes’.

Show ‘em the ropes? In the thrilling days of sailing ships an experienced sailor would show the newer deck hand the complex system of a ship’s rigging. Ensuring everyone onboard the ship knew what to do, how to do it and when to do it was essential to the work and their survival. Today, and in our line of work, it’s both the same and a little different. It’s different because what we’re trying to convey is a little less tangible, but no less important. It’s really the same because we’re passing on some valuable information and techniques to those who need it to succeed.

We’d like new mediators to know they won’t be put into a complex situation without ample time to understand the process. We want new mediators to become comfortable with mediating in their own way and at their own pace. We do this through co-mediations, observations and plenty of discussion with staff and more seasoned mediators. We do this prior to the first ‘solo mediation’ and afterward. The message: we’re taking care of you now and we’ll continue to take care of you.

We’re told mentoring is a process for the informal transmission of knowledge, social capital, and the psychosocial support perceived by the recipient as relevant to work, career, or professional development. Mentoring entails informal communication, usually face-to-face and during a sustained period of time, between a person who is perceived to have greater relevant knowledge, wisdom, or experience (the mentor) and a person who is perceived to have a little less (the protégé or mentee).

The Center’s apprentice process is actually a form of mentoring. It certainly has all the earmarks of mentoring, even when we may not call it that. The message: we do a great job of Showing ‘em the ropes! 

Article submitted by an anonymous volunteer mediator

Agency Updates

• Welcome to Ronalyn (Ronnie) Pollack, who joins our main office in the role of Director of Training and Community Engagement. Ronnie is the former Executive Director of the Native American Cultural Center in Rochester, adjunct professor of Health and Physical Education at Monroe Community College, and a Certified Holistic Health & Forgiveness Coach.

• We send our best wishes to Joe Knox, who ended his service as our Youth Coordinator in Steuben County. Rick McInroy will support this program until we have a new staff person in this position.

• We currently have two openings for staff:

• Case Manager, Monroe County
• Youth Coordinator, Steuben County

Interested applicants may contact Kim Stowell: kstowell@cdsadr.org.

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