Thursday Morning Plenary: 9:00 – 10:15 am
Keynote speaker: Ken Cloke, “Restorative Justice, Dialogue, and Democracy: Scale Free Principles and Technique”
Thursday Morning Workshop Sessions 10:30 am – 12:00 noon:
1. Equity Informed Mediation – A Conversation with Content Creators
Presenters: Erion Moore; Kellie Shaw; Nyanga Uuka; Jae Rutherford Tai; Sandy Bacharach and Abbey Bowman
Description: Equity Informed Mediation is a form of mediation where the mediators recognize systemic power imbalances that arise within conflict and have the skills to navigate the conversation in a way that supports all parties. Come meet some of the original content creators from Resolutions Northwest and hear about their experiences with this work. This presentation will be in panel format and there will be time for open discussion/questions. Moderated by Erion Moore. Special acknowledgement to Sunsong Firedancer for being a foundational content creator for Equity Informed Mediation.
2. The Cliffs of Uncertainty: Better Navigation of the Unknowns
Presenter: Emily Martin
Description: This session will explore uncertainty in order to improve conflict resolution skills. By entering into a negotiation, parties enter into a liminal space where the outcome is unknown. The tensions inherent in such a state, can limit the potential outcomes. By learning to become more comfortable with uncertainty, we can improve our ability to better resolve our own conflicts and help other with their disputes.
3. Mediation & Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
Presenters: Jennifer Price, LPC; Nyscelle Garcia-Duffy, MS; Emily Shannon, JD
Description: This presentation will provide an overview of topics related to intimate partner violence (IPV) and custody, parenting time, and domestic relations financial mediation. Panelists from Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah Counties will share information regarding effective screening, the decision of whether/how mediation should proceed, and how to responsibly provide mediation services when IPV or power imbalances are present. We will also discuss the intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and immigration status with IPV experiences and the potential impact on mediation.
4. Community Conferencing – Restorative Justice in Action
Presenter: Carley Adams, MA & Amy Watts-Padilla, MA
Description: Interested in Restorative Justice for adults? Join us for an experiential Community Conferencing Circle, where participants will role-play a restorative justice process designed for adults who have caused harm. These circles offer a powerful space for individuals to engage directly with trained community members, facilitators, and those affected—fostering dialogue about impacts, needs, and steps toward meaningful accountability. This interactive workshop will also highlight how the Center for Mediation and Dialogue is applying this approach in partnership with Beaverton’s Municipal Court.
Thursday Afternoon Workshop Sessions 2:00 – 3:30 pm:
1. A Child’s Voice In the Room: The Enduring Impact of Images, Stories and Poetry
Presenter: Judith Swinney, JD
Description: We remember images more and longer than mere words. Making or having a mental image of what you are learning boosts your memory for it. The more we use imagery, the better at solving lateral thinking problems (like decision-making amidst family changes). We also remember stories. They paint a picture and can make a point in a gentle, different way. This workshop offers creative way to work with families, featuring powerful images and stories, as well as poems in the voices and perspectives of children, parents and judges. They can provide a path to healing as well.
Learning Objectives: Understand how images and stories far outlast words. Explore and identify how a myriad of children’s voices relating to separation and divorce can be expressed via accessible stories, images and poetry; Articulate a theory of change in parents when they can hear the voices of children in a non-confrontational, often playful format; Describe a new approach for tactfully exploring important issues with parents regarding their children; Apply strategies for supporting parents in focusing on their children’s needs and perspectives.
2. Strengthening self-awareness & self-compassion in mediation using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens
Presenters: Jill Goldsmith, JD; MDiv; Mariann Hyland, JD; MSW & Tsipora Dimant
Description: How can mediators work with their own triggers in mediation, staying present and centered? Join us in exploring your own response to parties in mediation who can trigger your fears, biases and reactivity. Sometimes, we meet people who trigger us, putting us into a state of reactivity before our conscious mind is even aware it is happening. Sometimes, this happens in mediation. When it happens in mediation, we can struggle to maintain balance, calm energy and the perspective required to balance power, access our own emotional intelligence and create the kind of container the parties need to bring their best selves to the conflict. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory, this workshop presents a model for what is happening internally to demystify and unpack your emotional reactions. We’ll also cover the basics of what is happening on a body system level. Finally, we’ll teach practices you can use to lead with self energy while reassuring and calming the parts of your system that get triggered or overwhelmed.
3. Collaborative Facilitation for Neurodivergent Brains
Presenter: Brandon Giles
Description: Effective facilitation isn’t just about guiding a conversation—it’s about making sure everyone in the room can participate meaningfully, especially those whose needs and communication styles don’t match the cultural default. This workshop explores how group facilitators can better recognize, support, and include neurodivergent participants—those who often live at the edges of assumed norms but bring invaluable insight and innovation to collective work. In this session, Brandon Giles shares their firsthand experiences as neurodivergent person and hard-earned lessons from years of inclusive facilitation. From folks with ADHD and autism to those managing sensory, processing, or communication differences, we’ll explore how to make facilitation spaces safer, more flexible, and more impactful.
4. After the Agreement: Durable Housing Solutions Through Mediation
Presenters: Patrick Sponsler, MPA; Melissa Miller, MS; Abbey Bowman and Melanie Pascual, MPP
Description: There will be three components to the presentation provided by a variety of stakeholders in Landlord-Tenant services from across the State of Oregon. 1) Participants will hear from Landlord-Tenant mediators about what is working and not working that is drawn from Landlord-Tenant, court-connected mediation experience. 2) Participants will hear from Clackamas County Resolution Services program directors about how they built their Landlord-Tenant mediation program, including tips and tricks for building and sustaining new programs. They will focus on the support systems that went into starting the program and the value of collaborating with community resources such as housing supports, legal aid, rental assistance, and Landlord relationships. 3) Participants will hear from Resolution Oregon Administrator about collecting data and communicating mediation outcomes to the public and to state decision makers. They will focus on recent data collection and analysis efforts that aim to improve access to mediation for community members at-risk of experiencing homelessness.
Friday Morning Plenary & Workshops 8:00 am – 12:00 noon:
1. The OMA Annual Board Meeting, Q&A, and Core Standards of Mediation Practices Update.
Board members: Stephanie Leffler, Paul Allen, Steven Leskin, Jenni Hardnett, Robert Milesnick, Connie McKelvey and Jennifer Nackos
The meeting will give you an overview of what is happening with OMA and feature several reports, including the President’s Report, the Treasurer’s Report and the Secretary’s Report. Attendees will receive various Committee Reports, including an Update from the Standards and Practices Committee given by Steven Leskin and Paul Allen. The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session.
2. The Collaborative Process and The Role of Mental Health Professionals
Presenters: Patty Arjun, JD; Diane Gans, MA LPC; Lee Hamilton, MA; Chandra Emery, LCSW, MSC, JD, LLM.
Description: This workshop will explore the valuable role mental health practitioners play in collaborative mediation and the broader collaborative process, particularly in domestic relations matters. While the skills and insights offered will be beneficial to mediators generally, our focus will be on how mental health professionals can enhance the process by supporting constructive communication, managing emotional dynamics, and providing assessments and information that inform decision-making. They can also assist in developing and supporting the drafting of parenting plans that meet the unique needs of each family. By integrating these practices, practitioners can add significant value to the collaborative team, reduce barriers to resolution, and help families avoid the costly and adversarial nature of litigation.
3. Whiteness in Mediation
Presenters: Erin Ruff & Miles Brady
Description: Participants will explore how white supremacy culture impacts mediation. What common implicit biases, values, and expectations come up in mediation? What might the mediator be bringing? What are the participants bringing? How can a mediator raise their awareness and responsiveness to address impacts and open creative opportunity for resolution? Prerequisite: An understanding of Tema Okun’s White Supremacy Culture characteristics.
4. See No Enemy – seeding the beloved community in mediation and restorative dialogue
Presenter: Scott Smith
Description: Sometimes participants in mediations or restorative dialogues come away from the experience with not only a specific agreement in hand, but a shifted or expanded view of conflict generally, of the reality and value of other people’s needs and interests, and the possibility of reaching harmonious resolutions. When this happens, our work as mediators and facilitators can have exponential ripple effects for the future of our communities. In this session, we’ll examine particular elements that we can weave into the case process, with the intention of supporting this growth in our participants beyond the present case.
5. From Debate to Dialogue
Presenter: Lisa Fitzgerald, JD
Description: Our community has become so polarized that we rarely have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with people who hold different views. If we do get the chance, even if we are mediators in our professional lives, the exchange often becomes a shouting match. Dialogue offers a different approach that mediators can learn in order to expand our peace-making work. Instead of a debate with two sides speaking from their positions, dialogue invites participants to share their personal experiences, values, emotions, and even hesitations. Dialogue uncovers complexity and cultivates connection. Through dialogue, we aim to challenge our assumptions and arrive at a deeper understanding of our conversation partner, and ourselves. It can even be fun!
Friday Afternoon Workshop Sessions 2:00 – 3:00 pm:
1. Domestic Violence in Child custody cases: Using Scientific Research to Better Recognize, Understand, and Respond to Sensitive Custody Cases
Presenter: Veronica York
Description: This presentation explores how scientific research such as, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), can be used to more effectively identify, comprehend, and address the complexities of child custody cases involving domestic violence and child abuse. It emphasizes evidence-based approaches, (rather than ideological or subjective ideas), that are focused on the well-being of children in “high-conflict” custody cases.
2. Introduction to Insight Mediation: From a clash of positions to an encounter of persons
Presenter: Kim Gordon, JD
Description: Come learn about a new cutting edge model of mediation! The Insight approach to mediation and conflict resolution is anchored in how our consciousness works in decision-making. This approach helps conflict practitioners pay attention to what is going on in their minds as a way to help them elicit what is going on in the minds of conflicting parties. By focusing on a dynamic pattern of noticing, curiosity and learning, parties are freed from defending against others and regain their ability to engage in critical thinking and cooperative dialogue. Unlike other models of mediation, Insight mediation helps parties understand the deeper reasons behind their conflict, which fosters meaningful communication, reduces emotional tension, and leads to more sustainable resolutions.
3. The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Mediation
Presenter: Tsipora Dimant and Karla Zirbes
Description: The session will cover key components of emotional intelligence that help mediators assist themselves and the parties regulate emotional challenges experienced during mediations.