April 2022 Newsletter

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - 8:00am

April 2022 Newsletter

Message From Our President/CEO

Our world can seem like such a violent place, it can be hard to have hope for peace. Watching the news about the war in Ukraine, now entering its second month, or any number of other armed conflicts around the world, we might feel powerless to do anything. What can any of us do to stop the tide of war?

As dispute resolution practitioners, we know that the seeds of violence emerge when our "fight-or-flight" response directs our behavior. When our "primal brain" (the basal ganglia, or "reptilian brain") is activated, our energy is directed to our innate and automatic self-preservation function, which evolved to ensure our survival and that of our species. It can take an enormous amount of effort to overcome the impulse to use violence when the survival-focused part of our brain (often supported by our life history and community history) is telling us that the person in front of us is a threat to our very existence.

It's no wonder conflict is often talked about through the metaphor of war: we speak of people "retreating" to their separate "camps," gathering "ammunition" for the next "attack" on their "opponents," and the solution is either "win or lose." When we see conflict through the metaphor of war, it can seem impossible to see the person in front of us as anything but our "enemy."

As mediators, we support people in engaging their "rational brain" (the neocortex, or "neomammalian brain"). By creating spaces that are safe, voluntary, and confidential, we aim to de-escalate conflicts before they to rise to the level of litigation, retribution, or violence.

When we see an opportunity to create dialogue, especially around difficult topics such as oppression and violence, we offer support in whatever way we can. That's why I'm proud that the Center is co-sponsoring the upcoming event: Towards a Just and Sustainable Future for Israel/Palestine on May 22nd (see flyer below). This event will feature courageous speakers from Israel and Palestine who are members of Combatants for Peace, a group that works to promote nonviolence and end military oppression in their shared homeland.

I believe we all have a part to play in creating a more peaceful world. How will you contribute to this vision today?

In peace,

Shira May, Ph.D.

President & CEO

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to continue in spite of fear.

-Randal Pinkett, author of "Black Faces in High Places: 10 Strategic Actions for Black Professionals to Reach the Top and Stay There"

Center staff and board members on our internal change team attended the Urban League of Rochester's Interrupt Racism Conference, featuring keynote speaker Randal Pinkett. See Dr. Pinkett's three key principles below.

Basic Mediation Training

Trainer: Kim Reisch

May 16-18, 23-24

Notre Dame Retreat House

Canandaigua, NY

This 35 hour training will provide an introduction to the theory, principles and practice of mediation in the Transformative Mediation framework to prepare participants to mediate community disputes as a volunteer with the Center for Dispute Settlement. Community members may also attend for professional development purposes, space permitting.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

Explore their values, biases, and experiences with conflict.
Understand the core values of mediation and standards of practice for community dispute resolution centers, like the Center for Dispute Settlement, and the Unified Court System.
Understand and practice the core activities of a mediator practicing with a transformative mediation orientation.
Develop the ability to engage in a reflective practice of mediator self-assessment and continued learning.

For more information, contact Ronnie Pollack, Director of Training and Community Engagement: rpollack@cdsadr.org

Spotlight on:

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a victim-centered approach that seeks to repair harm by providing an opportunity for everyone involved to communicate in the aftermath of a crime or harmful event. In contrast with a punitive or retributive approach, a restorative or relationship-based approach focuses on collaborating to repair the harm, mend relationships, and prevent the harm from happening again.

The Center for Dispute Settlement has a long history of providing restorative justice services to our communities, including victim-offender conferences for criminal cases. We provide a range of other interventions that fall under the umbrella of restorative practices, including community building circles, mediation, harm circles, as well as facilitator trainings. We also host the Community Mediation Service Corps (CMSC) Americorps program, coordinated by the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA), which operates in schools to provide restorative services to students and staff.

Since 2018, Center staff have been participating in the Ontario County Restorative Practices Collaborative (OCRPC), a community group consisting of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including mediators, law enforcement, educators, and community volunteers. We are also a member of the Rochester Restorative Administrators Group (RRAG), along with Center for Youth, Ibero American Action League, M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PiRI), Pathways to Peace (City of Rochester), and the RocRestorative team at the Rochester City School District.

Recently, members of the RRAG met with the Rochester delegation of legislators to propose a pilot Restorative Justice program for cases of severe harm. The RRAG also spearheaded the creation of an infographic - below - designed by CDS staff member Diana Ray (Director, Livingston County), to promote restorative practices in schools.

For more information, contact Shira May at smay@cdsadr.org