March 2023 Newsletter

Women's History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the impact women have made in history through the present day.

Today we honor some of the influential women who lived here in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, including:

• Jigonsaseh, known as "The Mother of Nations," was an O-non-dowa-gah (Seneca) woman who was the first individual to accept the Peacemaker's message of peace, leading to the formation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy
• Susan B. Anthony, a pioneer of American women’s suffrage, was prosecuted for voting at the Ontario County Courthouse in Canandaigua
• Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the Unites States to receive a medical degree
• Maria Lopez, a Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican woman, successfully challenged the New York State mandate that voters must be educated in English in order to register to vote.
• Mara Ahmed is an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker who writes and presents regularly on topics related to Islamophobia, diversity education, and cultural competence. She is featured as a changemaker in Rochester Museum and Science Center's exhibit, The Changemakers: Rochester Women Who Changed the World.

These women's courageous actions inspire us to continue their legacy of peacemaking and social justice. How will we nurture the next generation of powerful and influential women in our communities?

In peace,

Shira May

President/CEO

Free Virtual Volunteer Orientation

Monday, March 27

4:00 - 5:30 PM

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/tZEpdO-rrDwsGtfDnGNMO0XRm5hl7OM2Ukd-

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

Community Building Circle Training

 April 11-13

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Notre Dame Retreat Center, Canandaigua

Trainers: Kim Reisch, Ingrid Welch, and Ronnie Pollack

$50 for community members and volunteers

This three-day training is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to facilitate community building circles, also known as talking circles or peace circles.

Lunch and snacks will be provided.

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

Basic Mediation Training

May 9-11 & 17-18

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Notre Dame Retreat Center, Canandaigua

Trainer: Kim Reisch

$200 for volunteers, $1,000 for those taking the course for professional development. Scholarships are available, with priority given to People of Color (POC) and participants from other underrepresented communities

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

Intimate Partner Violence Training

The NYS Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) network has partnered with the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) to provide training on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) for mediators across the state.

The Center is now requiring staff, volunteers, and contractors who conduct any mediations through the Center to complete the OPDV's 2-hour training every two years.

The Center has recently revised our IPV manual and will continue to update our policies and practices based on OPDV standards.

As a NYS policy, mediation may not be conducted where there is ongoing IPV, or where a power difference prevents either party from engaging safely and fully in the mediation process.

Feedback from the 2nd Session of Our Advanced Regional Training:

"A Transformative Approach to Working with Parties with High Conflict Behaviors"

Trainer Gina Tinker-Williams facilitated this second training session for mediators and apprentices - this time via Zoom.

The Zoom format was appreciated by participants, some of whom were not able to attend the in-person training format.

Evaluation forms revealed that participants found the training to be engaging and effective. Some experiences that were appreciated included:

"[The ability to role play] a mediation to a high intensity situation"

"Plenty of discussion"

"Appreciated being included in some of the decisions (role-plays)"

We would like to once again thank our grant funders from the Unified Court System, Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as our sponsors:

Partner

Custom 100

Parris Bryant

Ronald Johnson

Joseph Stulberg

Jean Ticen

Sherry Walker-Cowart

Leader

EDI Executive Search/Consulting Firm

I. Gordon

Wegmans

Monroe County Diversion Stakeholder Meeting

On February 24th, stakeholders from across Monroe County gathered at the RIT Lobozzo Alumni House, as well as on Zoom, to discuss criminal diversion programs and to identify gaps in services.

This meeting was hosted by the Monroe County Criminal Case Diversion Implementation Project (MCCCDIP), part of the Seventh Judicial District's Embracing Our Community (EOC) committee.

The Center for Dispute Settlement's President/CEO Shira May is chair of the MCCCDIP Phase 2 Subcommittee which hosted this event.

Staff Updates

• Welcome to Ivelisse Gonzalez, our new Director of Restorative Practices! Ivelisse comes to us with a wealth of talent and experience. We are so pleased to have her join our Center family! Ivelisse can be reached at igonzalez@cdsadr.org

Job Openings:

• Case/Program Manager, Monroe County (Rochester office)
• Case/Program Manager, Livingston County (Geneseo office)
• Case/Program Manager, Steuben County (Bath office)
• Program Manager, Youth Program, Steuben County (Bath office)

For more information, visit our Job Postings on our website: https://cdsadr.org/?q=job-postings or contact Kim Stowell: kstowell@cdsadr.org

Will you help make a difference today?



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