May 2026 Newsletter

Monday, May 4, 2026 - 10:30am

May 2026 Newsletter

Annual Report 2025-26

The Center for Dispute Settlement's Annual Report for 2025-26 is now available for download on our website's About page: https://www.cdsadr.org/?q=about

This year's theme is "The Business of Peace," highlighting the strategic advantage of CDS's alternative dispute resolution services, leading to measurable outcomes for courts, workplaces, families, and communities.

Film Screening:

Hundreds of Thousands

One family's journey to rectify a systemic wrong after a mentally ill's loved one's incarceration

In honor of

Mental Health Awareness Month

May 26, 2026

6:30pm Film Screening

Followed by Speaker Panel Discussion

The Little Theater

240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY

Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the box office

or purchased online at: https://thelittle.org/

Hosted by

Center for Dispute Settlement

and

HOPE First Roc

Request for Sponsorships

We invite our community partners to help us raise awareness about the intersection of incarceration and mental health by sponsoring this special event. Sponsors will be acknowledged in our program, website, social media, and other media publications.

Sponsorship Levels:

$1,000 Champion: Name/logo recognition on printed event program, plus all recognition listed below

$500 Leader: Name/logo recognition on screen at the film screening, plus all recognition listed below

$250 Investor: Name/logo recognition on social media and newsletter, plus all recognition listed below

$100 Partner: Personalized thank you letter

Custom amount: We appreciate sponsorship commitments of any amount

Click the link below to complete the sponsorship form and make your payment. Thank you for your support!

SPONSORSHIP FORM

Board of Directors

Annual Meeting Highlights Agency Accomplishments

The CDS Board of Directors held its Annual Meeting on April 28. Board members were joined by CDS staff in the First Federal Building in Rochester to enjoy lunch together and attend a presentation on our 2025-2026 Annual Report.

The Board of Directors also re-elected its officers for the 2026-2027 fiscal year:

Board Chair: Parris Bryant II

Board Vice-Chair: Milo Obourn

Board Secretary: Mary Williamson

Board Treasurer: Joe Brown, Esq.

Gender Identity Training

On April 9, CDS staff and volunteers attended a training led by Caelan ‘Cal’ Holcombe, LMHC, NCC, on the topic of inclusive and affirming communication relating to gender identity, names, and pronouns.

The training covered the gender identity spectrum, why names and pronouns matter, legal policies addressing gender-based harassment and discrimination, gender terminology, and inclusive communication practices.

Resources:

•Trans Lifeline Library for Allies and Supporters: https://test.standwithtrans.org/trans-lifeline-library-allies-and-supporters/

•https://translifeline.org/resources/

•https://pronouns.org/what-and-why

•https://practicewithpronouns.com

•https://minus18.org.au/pronouns/

•https://students.duke.edu/belonging/icr/csgd/pronouns/gender-pronoun-exercise/

CDS Announces New

Lending Library for Staff and Volunteers

Thanks to a generous gift from former volunteer mediator Michael West, in the form of approximately 200 books on conflict resolution from his personal collection, CDS is now home to a beautiful new lending library available to CDS staff and volunteers in our Rochester main office location.