Our goal is to lead the nation in implementing standards that serve as a model for other organizations and mediators. As Oregon’s statewide association of mediators, we would like to ensure everyone has an opportunity to review, comment on, and provide input on any new standards, given their importance. This includes members of OMA, unaffiliated individual mediators, community programs, the OSB ADR Section, and the Court mediation programs. This project would not be possible without the efforts of the Standards and Practices Committee members Kate Hall, Jack Hollis, Steven Leskin and Lynn Steyaert. Revisit this page for future updates. If you have any questions, contact us.

Meet the OMA Board & Team 

Presenters

Abbey Bowman (she/they) is the Manager for Clackamas County Resolution Services and has been a practicing mediator since 2014. She’s worked in private practice, government and non-profit doing Landlord Tenant Mediation, Equity Informed Mediation, Small Claims Mediation, Community Mediation and more. 

Amy Watts-Padilla, MA joined the Center for Mediation and Dialogue team in 2018 as a Program Coordinator. She supports the restorative dialogue program that brings together victims of crime and youth in the WA County Juvenile Department to talk about what happened, the impact, and what can be done to make things right. She also supports the community mediation program through trainings and volunteer management. Amy loves guiding processes and teaching tools that help individuals and groups address conflicts or respond to harm in new ways. She holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MA in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies from Universitat Jaume I in Spain. Before joining the CMD, her previous work experience included a blend of peace building, community organizing, program management, mediation, and facilitation work in the U.S. and abroad.

Anthony Jackson is currently employed as a federal government agency internal Senior Associate Ombuds in the Conflict Management and Prevention Center office for over two years. He has provided workplace Alternative Dispute Resolution (or ADR) activities for the Federal Government in person in at least 23 states and in all regions throughout the United States (including Puerto Rico) virtually. Mr. Jackson assists employees and supervisors through the delivery of mediation, facilitation, training, consultations, team building, personal and group assessments, and one-on-one conflict coaching services upon request. Anthony is a certified master trainer, professional facilitator, and mediator. He has performed ADR work for 20 years for more than a thousand individuals plus groups and teams. Mr. Jackson worked in multiple Federal agency Civil Rights/EEO positions for over 15 years, as a Race Talks facilitator in Portland since 2012, and is a member of the Portland Peace Team (PPT). Within the PPT, he contributes as a member of the Core De-escalation Training team and the Bystander Intervention Training team.

Ben Landsverk is an American composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, based in Portland OR, whose work focuses on social change through music. Hailed as a “prominent Portland composer” (Bloomberg Magazine) and “a unique musical talent” (Willamette Week), he is best known for his work with Portland’s Low Bar Chorale and as one half of the duo Wonderly, whose compositions include numerous podcast/radio theme songs including the New York Times’ The Daily, Cheryl Strayed’s Dear Sugar Radio, and American Public Media’s Sold a Story. An active session musician and orchestral/choral arranger, Landsverk has worked with such musical luminaries as Father John Misty, Pink Martini, Storm Large, Ruby Friedman, Smokey Robinson, Van Dyke Parks, Rachel Taylor Brown, Kasey Anderson, and Alela Diane. A graduate of Yale, he has directed choirs of all types for over 20 years. He thinks it’s funny when you tell him, “I can’t sing.” He bets you can.

Brandon Giles (they/he) is a seasoned Collaboration Facilitator and Co-owner of LB Collaborations. Leveraging their experiences throughout a long and diverse career at Starbucks HQ, Brandon guides their teams and projects to success through collaborative, human-centered practices and partnerships. An engaging, freelance facilitator with a developmental mindset, Brandon has served as a unique sounding board for diverse leaders and teams, regardless of their industry or specialty, including immigration non-profits, ADHD therapy clinics, queer community and business groups, solopreneurs and small business leaders. This is Brandon’s first time working with OMA.

Carley Adams, MA, started with the Center for Mediation and Dialogue (CMD) in 2012. In her role, she oversees CMD programs, supports staff and volunteers, trains mediators and facilitators, collaborates with community partners, and serves in leadership roles in statewide mediation and restorative justice organizations. Carley began in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution at the age of 11 as a peer mediator in her middle school. She then mediated peer conflicts through high school before pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Hawaii and then a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University. As a lifelong peacemaker, Carley believes mediation is an empowering way for individuals to build empathy and see new perspectives when resolving conflicts. Before working with the CMD she taught Conflict Resolution, Art, and English to students in Colorado, Hawaii and Oregon.

Chandra Emery, LCSW, MSW, JD, LLM, is a relationship therapist and mediator based in Oregon. Her mission is to guide individuals, couples, and families through life’s challenges and conflicts toward greater clarity, connection, and calm. Drawing on training in therapeutic, somatic, and relational frameworks as well as in process design, communication, and conflict resolution, she brings an integrative, relationship-focused, and strengths-based approach grounded in acceptance and collaboration. For more than a decade, Chandra mediated family law cases and led the clinical internship program at Clackamas County Resolution Services, where she also founded and directed the Family Law Clinic, a program designed to keep successful mediation cases out of court entirely.

Corey Falls, MA, is the founder of 21st Century Management Solutions and a proven organizational strategist with over 25 years in public-sector leadership and higher education. A skilled mediator, he blends trauma-informed, equity-centered, and evidence-based approaches to resolve complex disputes with integrity and compassion. Drawing on experience from law enforcement, higher education and executive leadership, he provides mediation, facilitation and coaching that help organizations reduce conflict, strengthen culture, and achieve sustainable results. An FBI National Academy graduate and Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education alumnus, he holds advanced credentials in mediation, workplace investigations, and organizational management. He also serves his community as a volunteer mediator for Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Services in small claims court.

DeWanna Harris’ (she/her) lived experience as a cis-gender, Black woman, trauma survivor drives her passion for equity, inclusion, belonging and accountability. Those experiences have been foundational in her passion for championing conflict resolution and effective mediation. This Portland State alum works for Multnomah County as an HR manager. Ms. Harris has performed mediations between leadership and union representatives, managers and direct reports, as well as peer to peer. Ms. Harris’ background includes more than 16 years of trauma-informed support, mediation, coaching, training, counseling, and being an equity practitioner. In her spare time DeWanna enjoys spending time with loved ones, karaoke and traveling. She is overjoyed to be participating on OMA’s Conference for the first time. Motivation quote: “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” ~ Angela Davis

Diane Gans, MA LPC is a psychotherapist and educator who has served children and their families for over 25 years as a classroom teacher and counselor in private practice. She is an instructor at Lewis and Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling. She is the co-founder of GEM (Girls Empowerment Movement).

Emily Martin is a mediator/adjudicator at the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission, an administrative agency that that deals state and local collective bargaining. At PERC, she also co-hosts The Percolator Podcast. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and The American Bar Association. She is a membership of the leadership council of the ABA’s Section of Labor and Employment Law. She the sole American member of Pig and Potato, a Canadian group of conflict resolution professionals who explore promoting collaborative culture via gaming. This group successfully kickstarted Zombie Fight and Flight, a cooperative zombie survival card game and also won GISH in 2019, which was the greatest international scavenger hunt the world had ever known.

Emily Shannon, JD, has been mediating since 2009 both in private practice and as a certified court-connected Family Mediator with Clackamas County Resolution Services. Emily honed her skills as a public high school teacher, a staff attorney at a juvenile rights law firm and as a mother to three active children. She has been training and mentoring mediators for over a decade. She is licensed to practice law in Oregon and is a former adjunct professor of Family Mediation at Lewis and Clark Law School.

Erin Ruff (she/they) has been a mediator and OMA member since 1996. Passionate about effective, interest-based problem solving, she has mediated workplace, domestic relations, community, small claims, eviction, neighborhood, and community conflicts. She also teaches conflict management theory and technique to students aged 9 – 99, with specialized courses for mediators, teams, therapists, parents, law enforcement, attorneys, and judges; and as an adjunct professor at Marylhurst and Portland State Universities.

Erion Moore is a director of mediation at Resolutions Northwest. He has a Bachelors in Criminology from Southern Oregon, and an Associates in Ethnic Studies from Foothill College. In addition to his work as a mediator, he volunteers with other organizations for victim-offender dialogues. Erion participates in many adaptive and disabled sports, and is happy to attend his first OMA conference.

Frances Portillo, M.Ed, is a facilitator and trainer specializing in cross-cultural communication, conflict management, team-building across cultures, change management, leadership, and teambuilding. Frances has been in the training and consulting field since 1979, and has worked in nearly every state in the United States including Guam and Puerto Rico, and many countries including in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, and a student of several languages. A Portland resident, Ms. Portillo holds a Masters degree from the University of Washington in Higher Education/Adult Learning and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Jae Rutherford Tai (she/her or they/them) is an equity-informed mediator, educator, and cultural strategist committed to dismantling systemic oppression through intentional dialogue, restorative practices, and transformative education. She is also the founder of Responsible Media Group, an initiative dedicated to media accountability and justice-centered storytelling.Grounded in the GRACE framework—Gender, Race, Ability, Culture, Class, and Ethnicity—her work bridges theory and lived experience to cultivate self-awareness, critical consciousness, and inclusivity in classrooms, communities, and organizations. With a background in media literacy, racial justice, and educational equity, she equips educators, creatives, and facilitators with the tools to name bias, interrupt harmful narratives, and center marginalized voices. Whether guiding parties through difficult conversations or leading workshops on the psychological impact of media representation, her approach is trauma-informed, identity-conscious, and unapologetically rooted in justice. As a light-skinned Black American woman, she honors the complexities of positionality and privilege and invites collective reflection on our roles within systems of power. Her facilitation blends accountability with compassion—always centering the full humanity of those most impacted by structural harm.

Jennifer Price, LPC, works as a court-connected domestic relations mediator, mediation trainer, and co-parent communication coach for Multnomah County Family Resolution Services. She additionally coordinates and leads the department’s mediation intern program and regularly mentors intern mediators. Jennifer serves on the SFLAC mediation subcommittee and has worked for Family Resolution Services since 2015.

Jill Goldsmith, JD, M.Div. (www.workplacesolutionsnw.com), is a mediator, neutral, trainer and coach, consulting with organizations and individuals to develop strategies for resolving difficult situations with clarity, trust and compassion. Jill serves on the Board of Mindful Medicine, a non-profit whose mission is to enhance coping skills, resiliency, empathy and compassion while reducing and preventing burnout in health care professionals. Jill is a trained teacher of Germer & Neff’s program, Mindful Self Compassion (MSC), Self Compassion for Health Care Communities (SCHC) (UC San Diego) and of Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) program, offering these courses to the public, in house and through Mindful Medicine. Jill is also an International Coaching Federation Certified Coach and an affiliated teacher with the Right Use of Power Institute.

Judith Swinney, JD, a parent educator and coach, is also a child welfare mediator with the New Mexico Children’s Court Mediation Program. Since 1987, she has facilitated the court-mandated parent education classes for separated/divorcing parents in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties, Oregon. Since 2002, Judith has facilitated the Parenting Beyond Conflict class, now on Zoom. She serves on Oregon’s State Family Law Advisory Committee’s Parental Involvement and Outreach subcommittee, and is a founding board member of Oregon’s Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) chapter. Judith is licensed to practice law in Texas and Oregon and is an avid baseball fan.

Karla Zirbes is a mediator and dispute resolution consultant whose patience is grounded in the belief that conflict leads to growth. She began by resolving playground disputes in elementary school, earned a BS in Psychology from the University of Oregon, and later was trained and mentored by Tsipora Dimant in mediation and dispute resolution. She gained experience with three years at the Better Business Bureau conciliating and mediating hundreds of disputes as well as coaching business managers. She is a coach for students of Portland Community College’s Basic Mediation class and a volunteer mediator with the Multnomah County Small Claims Court.

Kellie Shaw (she/they) is a proud Black woman from Portland, Oregon, who has spent over 15 years committed to advancing racial and social justice in her community and beyond. As founder and co-director of The Poetic Justice Foundation, Kellie leads transformative community empowerment initiatives rooted in equity, education, and healing. Her work centers on helping individuals and organizations uncover their authentic voices and stand boldly against bias, racism, and systemic injustice. An experienced facilitator, trainer, coach, and advocate, Kellie specializes in designing and leading racial equity workshops for educators, youth, nonprofits, and public and private organizations. She brings a deep commitment to grassroots movements and has served on and led multiple nonprofit boards supporting historically marginalized communities. Since 2011, she has worked as a life and executive coach, guiding individuals in building anti-racist practices, unlocking their potential, and viewing the world through a more equitable lens. Whether in boardrooms or classrooms, she challenges others—and herself—to do the necessary work of justice, compassion, and lasting change.

Ken Cloke is a world-recognized mediator, dialogue facilitator, conflict resolution systems designer, teacher, public speaker, author of numerous books and articles, and a pioneer and leader in the field of mediation and conflict resolution for the last 45 years.

Kenya Budd is an Inclusion, Diversity & Equity consultant in Portland, Oregon who provides training, mediation, facilitation, consultation, HR services and strategic services to public and private entities. Kenya’s work is grounded in workplace culture, conflict resolution, anti oppressive practices, Promising HR practices and anti racism and supremacy frameworks, as well as inclusion and equity best practices.
Kenya has worked in the PNW region transforming teams, systems and individuals in government agencies, including various Departments at Multnomah County, City of Portland, The Veterans Association Hospital, The Army corps of Engineers, and numerous non Profit organizations such as The Dougy center, Lines 4 life, the YWCA as well as with Institutions of Higher Education, including Portland State University and National University of Natural Medicine and OHSU. Kenya’s work has spanned 20 years and numerous iterations of what we have learned about Equity, Equality, and Race. She amplifies the voices of Scholars, Elders and leaders from marginalized communities and identities.

Kim Gordon, JD, is on the Faculty and Board of Directors of Insight Collaborations Institute, an international organization whose mission is to provide training and continuing education for conflict and social change professionals worldwide using the Insight Approach – a cutting edge and transformational approach to mediation, collaboration and other models of conflict resolution. Kim has been an Oregon attorney and mediator for over 35 years, and a collaborative law practitioner for 25 years. She is an international collaborative law and conflict resolution speaker and educator; teaching both basic and mastery level work from workshops to several month and yearlong classes. Kim was recently awarded the Oregon State Bar President’s award and the Oregon State Bar Family Law Section Professor’s award.

Lee Hamilton, MA, began her career of 28 years in the Parkrose School District; first as a Special Educator and then, after completing her Masters in Counseling Psychology, she became an Elementary School Counselor. In 2007, after retiring from Parkrose, she began her Mediation training, She spent the next 2 years mediating in Small Claims Court and mediating work place issues. In 2009 she was trained in Collaborative Family Law and spent the next 15 years working with divorcing couples as a Family Transition Specialist. During this time she helped couples work amicably through their divorce process by facilitating healthy communication and co-parenting agreements. In 2019 Lee joined the OEA Mediation Network. She, along with Tsipora Dimant, trains OEA members in the skills of Mediation and Conflict Resolution. She mentors trainees until they have the skills to work with educators who are experiencing conflict in their schools. Lee currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Collaborative Professionals of Oregon.

Lisa Fitzgerald, JD, is a Program Coordinator at the City of Beaverton, Center for Mediation and Dialogue. She holds a JD from Harvard Law school where she was the President of the Harvard Mediation Program. As an attorney, Lisa worked representing low-income clients and homeless youth. She is passionate about the opportunities that arise when we take a relational approach to addressing conflict and harm.

Mariann Hyland, JD, MSW (She/Her), founder of Hyland Solutions, brings a powerful blend of legal expertise and compassionate insight to conflict resolution. A seasoned mediator, she draws on her experience as a labor and employment attorney and her mediation training from Pepperdine and Harvard Schools of Law. Mariann also has resolved conflict, reduced harm and empowered transformation in leadership roles at Chemeketa Community College, Oregon Health & Science University, the Oregon State Bar Association, University of Oregon, and Oregon Community Foundation. With a master’s degree in social work, Mariann leads with a strength-based, trauma-informed lens. She completed Level I Internal Family Systems (IFS) training in 2024, which she applies to conflict coaching and mediation as an IFS practitioner. Mariann empowers transformative communication and connection by all participants leading to desired outcomes and durable solutions.

Martine Coblentz, MA, is a passionate and dedicated professional, specializing in culture change, creating belonging in the workplace. With a background in mediation, facilitation and restorative practices, she addresses systems and organizations cultivating a culture of learning and belonging. In her 20 year career, Martine has developed and delivered several trainings on cultural and linguistic responsiveness, including working with immigrant and refugee populations, communicating across cultures, addressing implicit bias, managing conflict, inclusive leadership and more. Her approach is to meet individuals where they are, develop relationships and engage in dialogue.

Melanie “Mel” Pascual, MPP, is the Quality and Data Manager for Clackamas County’s Housing and Community Development Division. She oversees governance, quality, and strategic data use for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to support coordinated entry, housing placements, and program evaluation. With a Master’s in Public Policy and a Master’s Certificate in Program Evaluation, Melanie has over a decade of experience in public policy, equity-centered evaluation, and data governance. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her spouse and two young daughters, poetry writing, and live music that speaks to her punk rock sensibilities at heart.

Melissa Miller, MS, is the Landlord Tenant Mediation Coordinator for Clackamas County Resolution Services (CCRS). She has successfully built a fully operational program that served approximately 1200 housing mediation clients a year along with her contractors and admin support. Melissa graduated with a Master’s degree from the Portland State Conflict Resolution Program in 2003. Prior her role at CCRS she was the Director of a Supported Employment program she developed at United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and SW Washington. She spends her non-work hours gardening, woodworking and is an avid Cross Fit enthusiast!

Miles Brady began his conflict and mediation career in 2017 after 10 years as a firearms trainer and gunsmith where de-escalation and conflict management was at the center of his work. Equity, anti-oppressive practices, and collaborative a collaborative approach to conflict is the heart of his work. He currently is the Restorative Justice and Community Mediation Coordinator for Clackamas County.

Nyanga Uuka has been a Conflict Explorer, and Conflict Resolution Practitioner since late 2015 after completing Basic Mediation Training at Resolutions Northwest (RNW). After starting out as a volunteer mediator, Nyanga served as a Restorative Justice Coordinator at a local High School and later became the Mediation Program Coordinator for RNW in 2018, where he took the lead on integrating equity practices in Mediation by way of presenting on Equity-Informed Mediation at the 2018 fall conference, creating an Equity Informed Mediation training for RNW, briefly serving on the OMA board, and training two cohorts of Mediators of Color in Equity-informed Mediation. Since then, Nyanga has been working to bring equity into mediation practices statewide. Nyanga has worked with 11 CDRC’s to bring in ideas on how to make the mediation process more equitable and accessible for all people in Oregon.

Nyscelle Garcia Duffy, MS, works as a bilingual court-connected domestic relations mediator, co-parent counselor and Parent Education facilitator for Washington County Conciliation Services and Multnomah County Family Resolution Services. Additionally, Nyscelle has served as a Parent Child Interaction counselor with Proyecto Unica, an organization providing services and support to Latinx survivors of domestic violence and their children and has assisted in the development and facilitation of 40-Hour DV training in Oregon and California.

Patrick Sponsler, MPA, is the Administrator of Resolution Oregon at the University of Oregon School of Law where he supports government and non-profit programs with grant administration, data collection, capacity building, and collaborative process management. Patrick is a current member of Oregon Judicial Department’s Court-Connected Mediator Qualifications Advisory Committee and the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Subgroup of the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee on Civil Justice.

Patty Arjun, JD, is an owner and a founding partner of DBMA Family Law Group. She has practiced family law since 2004 and focused on mediation and collaborative law in the last decade. Patty earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science at the University of San Francisco and a JD from Lewis & Clark Law School. She began her collaborative training in 2009 and has continued to receive advanced and in-depth training in the subsequent years. Patty also serves on the board of the Oregon Association of Collaborative Professionals and served as president to the organization for the past two years.

Ruth Berkowitz, JD, has been a mediator since 2003, helping solve agricultural issues for the USDA, family disputes both privately and for the courts, and business disputes. She teaches basic mediation for Six Rivers Mediation Dispute Center. Ruth loves tackling projects huge or small, whether it’s sailing across the Pacific Ocean, fighting for women athletes or writing about farmers and Life Flight nurses for The Gorge Magazine. After graduating from UC Davis Law School (1991), Ruth clerked for a judge in Alaska and then worked for a law firm in San Francisco. The case she is most proud of involved representing the National Organization for Women in a Title IX lawsuit against all 19 campuses of the California State University for cutting women’s teams. Ruth also litigated some of the famous and tragic cases involving sexual abuse of altar boys in the San Francisco Diocese. Becoming a mother pivoted Ruth’s urge to litigate and when she moved to Hood River in 2001, her focus shifted to mediation rather than litigation. When not problem-solving, Ruth loves to kid around the Gorge and jump on her bike, wingfoil on the river, hike with her dog Stormy, ski in the mountains, or write stories for The Gorge Magazine.  She co-authored all three of the Kidding Around the Gorge Books — The Hood River Area’s Ultimate Guide for Family Fun. 

Sandra Jackson, Principal of Resolution Conversations, specializes in mediation, facilitation, and training. Sandra has a passion for helping people to have open, honest, and productive conversations to gain clarity, create understanding, and generate forward thinking. Her mediation experience includes workplace, landlord-tenant, business disputes, and community cases. In addition to her private practice, she also mediates for Multnomah County Small Claims Court and has been a co-trainer for the program since 2014. Sandra has also been a co-trainer for East County Resolutions’ 48-hour basic mediation training as well as their Conflict Management training since 2016. Sandra’s facilitation experience consists of retreats, board meetings, community-input meetings, team building, strategic planning, Foreclosure Avoidance conferences and DHS family decision meetings.

Sandy Bacharach (she/her/ella) is a white cisgender queer woman. Sandy develops and leads educational series in English and Spanish on communication and conflict resolution, advanced bilingual mediation and addressing the intersection of race/racism in mediation, interrupting racism, institutional equity, and practicing pronouns. Sandy also provides executive equity coaching and white learning space facilitation and dialogues to deepen learning and growth to effect positive intra- and interpersonal and systemic change.

Scott Smith is the Director of Restorative Justice for Neighbor to Neighbor, Inc, which serves four Oregon counties with juvenile justice casework. His prior restorative justice experience includes with adult diversion, schools implementation, organizational conflict, and campus-based sexual harms. He is on the Coordinating Committee of RJCO. Scott has worked in the U.S. and abroad in education and in conflict transformation, and his experiences in each arena greatly inform his practice in the other. He lives with his family in Corvallis.

Tsipora Dimant has been practicing mediation and has been an OMA member since 1993. She has experience with court, neighborhood and workplace mediations. Tsipora also teaches a number of mediation and other related classes, including Mediation Skills for Managers, Conflict Management/De-escalations Skills and Emotional Intelligence for Mediators. In 2019, Tsipora Launched a mediation program for the Oregon Education Association, using internal mediators, who now provide 42,000 union members with free mediations.

Veronica York is a dedicated domestic violence (DV) author, speaker, and expert. As a partner at Goldstein & York, DV Experts, LLC, she serves as an expert witness in child custody cases involving allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. She is currently qualified as an expert in 10 states. Veronica is co-owner of York Consulting and Family Services and provides services as a Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach and Family Law Mediator. As a survivor of domestic violence, Veronica deeply understands the challenges posed by the family court system’s harmful response to DV custody cases. She is passionate about advocating for systemic change, including improved training and education for court professionals on domestic violence and its impact. Her mission is to support a family court system that prioritizes the safety and well-being of survivors and their children.

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.