Mediation Settlement Day

Mediation Settlement Day is an annual event designed to raise awareness about the many benefits of mediation and the wealth of available resources for people in conflict. Organizations throughout the United States and beyond coordinate efforts to celebrate and promote mediation on the same day each year. On this day and throughout the month of October, organizations conduct special programs to promote mediation and to educate potential parties and attorneys about the mediation process. The aim is to encourage parties to try mediation for the first time and to reinforce its value and effectiveness to those who have benefitted from it before.

Who Sponsors Mediation Settlement Day? Mediation Settlement Day is sponsored by: FINRA Dispute Resolution and the NYC Bar Association, ADR Committee in conjunction with the New York State Unified Court System and over one hundred national and regional alternative dispute resolution programs, bar associations, community-based programs, public service and non-profit organizations, and schools. Professional mediators and for-profit organizations can participate by hosting or attending events surrounding Mediation Settlement Day.

Annual Kick-Off Event
Because many of the sponsoring organizations conduct their own individual programs in various locations on Mediation Settlement Day, an energetic Kick-Off Event is held in advance to bring the community together to celebrate mediation. At the Kick-Off Event, an Honorary Chair addresses the attendees, and front-line champion awards are presented to individuals recognized for their pioneering and meaningful contributions to the practice of mediation. The Kick-Off Event also includes an open house, where attendees can network and learn more about mediation services.

Honorary Chairs
This year's Honorary Chair was Michael Sardo, Creator and Executive Producer of USA Network's Fairly Legal.

Former Honorary Chairs include the Honorable Janet Reno, former U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young Jr., Kenneth Feinberg, the Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, Lenny Wilkens, former N.Y. Knicks Head Coach Michael Greco, former President of the ABA, Honorable Milton Mollen, Spencer H. Lewis, Jr. Esq., Director U.S. EEOC New York District Office, Hon. Ann Pfau, Chief Administrative Judge New York State Unified Court System and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

Frontline Champion Award
The Frontline Champion Award recognizes individuals who have made a meaningful impact on the field of mediation or helped others through their commitment to the effective practice of mediation. This year's award recipient was Maria Volpe, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Dispute Resolution Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice - City University of New York.

Past winners include Professor Carol Liebman, Columbia Law School (2006), former Chief Judge Tina Brozman, Southern District Bankruptcy Court (2007), Roger Brach, Safe Horizon Brooklyn/Manhattan, Bill Powell – Center for Dispute Settlement Inc. and Bill Carroll – Mediation Center of Dutchess County (2008 tri-champions recognized for 25 years of volunteer service as mediators in the Community Dispute Resolution Centers Program), Professor Lela Love, Director, Cardozo Law School’s Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution (2009), and Margaret Shaw Esq. (2010), JAMS mediator.

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The Unified Court System, in collaboration with FINRA Dispute Resolution, hosted its annual Mediation Settlement Day Kickoff on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at the New York City Bar. The program began with an open house of networking and learning opportunities on how to become a mediator, followed by a panel discussion and a keynote address.

On hand for the event, from left, are Lela P. Love, Professor of Law, Director of the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution and the Cardozo Mediation Clinic; Dan Weitz, Statewide Coordinator of ADR Programs for the NYS Unified Court System; Frontline Champion Award Recipient Maria Volpe, Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Honorary Chair and keynote speaker Michael Sardo, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer of USA Network's "Fairly Legal"; Kenneth L. Andrichik, Senior Vice President, Chief Counsel and Director of Mediation and Strategy for FINRA Dispute Resolution.

Proclamations from Governor and Mayor.

Listing of sponsoring organizations.