New York State Dispute Resolution Association -NYSDRA

🎉 Happy AmeriCorps Week! 🎉
Today we’re shining a spotlight on our Community Mediation Service Corps (CMSC) and the incredible AmeriCorps members who make this work possible. CMSC is an AmeriCorps State and National program of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA).

CMSC members help strengthen community mediation programs across New York by supporting conflict resolution services, assisting families, empowering youth, expanding outreach, and helping mediation centers grow their capacity behind the scenes. Their service ensures that more people can access peaceful, supportive options during moments of conflict.

We’re so grateful for their dedication and so proud of the work they do.
💙 Thank you for serving our communities and helping create a more peaceful New York.

🌟 Day 1 of the NYSDRA Legacy Conference 2025 starts tomorrow with two essential sessions exploring how mediation supports families and strengthens justice in New York State.

Navigating Mediation Rosters: A Practitioner’s Guide (CLE)
📅 September 25 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM ET

Bridget O’Connell, Esq., Court Attorney Referee and ADR Coordinator, and Krysta Hartley, Esq., Assistant Deputy Counsel for the NYS Unified Court System’s Division of ADR, will guide attendees through the framework for court-annexed mediation in NYS.

This session provides a clear overview of the roster application process, the role of roster mediators, and how rosters support just, fair, and timely resolution of disputes. Attendees will gain insight into current programs, accessibility, and strategies for sustainability and diversity.

When Child Welfare Cases Stall: The Role of Mediation
📅 September 25 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Suzanne K. Shafer, Assistant Director for the Child Welfare and Family Justice Division in the Office for Justice Initiatives, will highlight the NYS Child Permanency Mediation (CPM) Program.

Participants will explore how CPM helps “unstick” cases in Article 10 proceedings, creating space for solution-focused dialogue, and improving timeliness to permanency for children.

📅 Conference Dates

September 25, 2025 (Virtual)

September 26, 2025 (Virtual)

👉 Register here: https://www.nysdra.org/nysdra-legacy-conference-2025

We’re delighted to feature Robert A. Baruch Bush, J.D., Rains Distinguished Professor of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; Co-Founder and Board Member, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, as our Afternoon Keynote Speaker for the NYSDRA Legacy Conference 2025.

Keynote: The Moral Dimension of Mediation: Celebrating my Friend and Colleague Len Riskin

📅 September 25, 2025 | 2:15 – 3:15 PM ET (Virtual)
Mediation is more than conflict resolution—it’s a chance for “moral growth.” Join Robert Baruch Bush as he reflects on lessons from Len Riskin and explores decades of transformative mediation, where parties find their “best selves” even in the hardest moments.

📅 Conference Dates
September 25, 2025 (Virtual)

September 26, 2025 (Virtual or In-person, Albany NY — Crowne Plaza/Desmond Hotel)

✨ Join us for two days of connection, insight, and growth with leaders in the field of dispute resolution!
🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eVncGJs4