~ Union College RA’s ~

~ Gail receives MCFM Fiske Award for Excellence ~

~ Visitors from South Korea ~

~ Providers’ Council ~

~ CDSC at Teen Summit ~

~ Mayor Maher celebrates CDSC Volunteers ~

~ Volunteer Recognition: Ruven Liebhaber and Ellen Sullivan with Mimi ~

~ Legislative Action! ~

~ Spring 2016 Basic Mediation Training ~~ Emerson College ~

~ CDSC at the Statehouse ~

~ Pine Manor RA’s ~

~ Nelson Lindsay Fellows, U.S. District Court ~

~ Delta Sigma Theta Sorority ~

~ Streetworkers/Boston Centers for Youth & Families ~

~ TAP: Waltham Tenants ~

60 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 • Tel: 617-876-5376 • Fax: 617-876-6663 • Email: cdscinfo@communitydispute.org • www.communitydispute.org

~Fiscal Year 2016~ANNUAL REPORT

Mediate It!

OUR MISSIONEstablished in 1979, the Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC) is a private, not-for-profit mediation and training center dedicated to providing an alternative and affordable forum for resolving conflict.

CDSC promotes better ways to understand and deal with conflict through skilled teams of pro bono mediators, training programs in mediation and conflict management, and broad community outreach.

We are committed to making our services accessible to underserved populations and to addressing emerging community needs.

CONSUMERS/SMALL CLAIMSèMediate on-site in any of three District Courts: Cambridge, Waltham & Woburn.

NEIGHBORS

ELDERCARE

WORKPLACE

èUnaddressed conflict

can impede productivity.

Come talk it out.

LGBTQ

PARENTS/TEENS

FAMILY: DIVORCE/SEPARATIONèParent Mediation Program: 4 hours FREE mediation for eligible couples.

LANDLORD/TENANTèMediation canprevent eviction and the crisis of homelessness.

Got Conflict?SM

60 Gore Street, Cambridge, MA 02140 • Tel. 617-876-5376 • www.communitydispute.org • cdscinfo@communitydispute.org

TRAININGMEDIATION FACILITATION

OUR SERVICES

COMMUNITYFamily– Divorce/Separation– Parents/Teens– Elders– LGBTQNeighborhoodHousingWorkplace OrganizationsCommunity Partners• Police• Legal Services• Social Services

COURTDistrictProbate & FamilyJuvenileSuperiorLand

YOUTH– Schools– Communities

MEDIATIONBasicAdvancedSpecialized, e.g.– Divorce– Elders– Landlord/Tenant

PRACTICUMSupervised Mediation for New Mediators– Observe actual mediations– Co-mediate with experienced mediators– Receive feedback

CONFLICT SKILLS WORKSHOPS– Staff/Managers in Human Services Organizations– College Resident Advisors (RA’s)– Professional Groups: HR, Eldercare, Legal, Educators– Youth: Leaders and Advocates– Municipal/Public Entities/Law Enforcement

FOR GROUPS– Non-profit boards– Workplace teams– Housing communities– Social change activists– Municipal agencies– Schools & Colleges

Judy AbramsChris AffleckMaria-Paz AveryMark BamfordBarbara BeardsleeMartha BeldenPatricia BernsteinBrian BlanckeMonique BleriotChris BrodieMelissa BrodrickHalee BurgAmy Cashore MarianiSarah K. ChaseJeanne ClearyLynn CooperJanice DurhamLydia EdwardsDawn Effron Debra FiliurinJeffrey Fink

Cathleen FinnRuth FreedmanKimberly FrizziGary Gill-AusternFrederick GolderSteven GreenzangJohn H. HachemDeborah HellerJane C. HoffmannArline KardasisRoberta KosbergAudrey J. LeeJo-Ann LeinwandRuven LiebhaberSteve Lilly-WeberStephen LinskyJohn MaionaHarry ManasewichMiriam MandellThomas MartonMindy Milberg

Steve Morr-WinemanAmy NeeShippen PageCynthia PasciutoPaul PedullaAna Carolina RiellaRichard ReillyNatalie RobergeCynthia RungeZachary Thorp SeeSteven SeecheSusan SloaneRobert SmithAnn SullivanEllen SullivanMark A. SullivanGillien ToddRobert TuchmannKim WhelanFran WhymanJustin Wright

Alisha Bloom, PresidentPrincipal, Ivy Legal Group

Matthew Moschella, Vice PresidentAttorney, Sherin and Lodgen, LLP

Michael Massicotte, TreasurerFinance and Administration ProfessionalNew Entry Sustainable Farming/Tufts University

Jack Esher, ClerkAttorney & MediatorMWI/CBInsolvency LLC

Debbie EvansAttorney & Mediator

Michael LeshinAttorney & MediatorGinsburg & Leshin, LLP

Cathy MondellAttorney & Mediator

Delphene MooneyDirector of Development &CommunicationsOn The Rise, Inc.

Jacquiline PerryAuthor & MediatorCity of Boston

Steven SeecheCDSC Pro Bono Mediator Board Chair, Mediators Beyond Borders

Rafaela G.P. SerranoAttorney & Mediator

Conna WeinerIndependent Mediator,Arbitrator & Consultant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADVISORY BOARD

Why CDSC Matters: Conflict hurts. Mediation helps.

1,566 people benefited from CDSC’s peacemaking servicesDisputes resolved through mediation:• Screened 475 referrals, 22% increase from last year.• Mediated 299 disputes, 15% increase.CDSC measures success by progress toward resolution: 60% were resolved by mutual agreement, and the other 40% met face to face and heard each other’s points of view; many gained new understanding and/or narrowed their issues.

Trainings provided in mediation & conflict skills:• Trained 790 participants in mediation and conflict management skills, 22%

increase.• Customized and conducted Got Conflict? workshops: elder residents in public

housing and elder care professionals; at-risk youth and youth advocates; staff dealing with civil/human rights issues; professional groups of human services providers; RA’s on college campuses.

• Conducted a Training of Trainers and expanded our team with 5 new trainers.

CDSC runs on volunteer power:Our ability to leverage significant people resources makes CDSC both a cost-effective investment and an affordable low-cost option.64 Pro Bono Mediators donated 1,356 hours.4th Annual Mimi Grosser Volunteer Recognition Award went to Ruven Liebhaber and Ellen Sullivan, mediators affiliated with CDSC for 5 and 16 years respectively, for their outstanding service.

NEW: Facilitation services for groups:Responding to an emerging need from groups in conflict, CDSC has expanded our services to include facilitation. Special thanks to Essential Partners, formerly the Public Conversation Project, who provided training and consultation to our mediators and staff. We launched our facilitation services this year and worked with several groups: housing co-op, social justice activists, and high school admin/faculty.

Reaching out to youth:CDSC trained youth in alternative schools, colleges and community-based settings with our curriculum, Deal with Violence Differently: Streetworkers/Boston Centers for Youth & Families, Judges Nelson and Lindsay Fellows and college Resident Advisors.

Reaching out to elders:CDSC provided on-site conflict skills workshops to senior residents in public housing sites as part of the MassHousing/Tenant Assistance Programs (TAP) as well as to other senior groups in Cambridge and other communities.

Recognition:• Our Executive Director, Gail Packer, received the John Fiske Award of

Excellence by the MA Council of Family Mediators (Fall 2015)• Cambridge Mayor David Maher hosted a Volunteer Appreciation reception

and CDSC was one of three programs spotlighted to share our volunteer story. (December 2015)

Partnerships:Cambridge Non-Profit Coalition: CDSC participates on the leadership Steering Committee to help identify community needs and promote citywide collaboration within the non-profit sector.MA Office of Public Collaboration & the MA State Legislature: together we successfully secured public funding for community mediation for the 5th year.

Exploration of new initiative:Prisoner Re-Entry Mediation: Inspired by a program in Maryland, CDSC’s mediators and staff learned about a unique and innovative approach to provide mediation services to prisoners at point of their re-entry back into the community. Next program steps subject to funding.

Celebrating Community Peacemakers:At our annual Spirit of Mediation Bash in Fall 2015, CDSC presented Community Peacemaker Awards to: • Hon. John Cratsley (Ret.), lifetime achievement in the field of mediation and

ADR• Jon Feinman, innovation as founder & Executive Director of Inner City

Weightlifting• Cambridge Rindge & Latin Mediation Team, youth leaders as Peer Mediators

James Grumbach, President EmeritusAttorney & Mediator

Chris BrodieNegotiation & Conflict Competency CoachCDSC Pro Bono Mediator

Patrick FieldConsensus Building Institute

Vivian HsuHSU & Associates LLC

Claudia KaufmanMarketing Consultant

Fredie KayFormer Director,MA Office of Dispute Resolution

Victoria LazzellBoston Private Bank

Barbara LundDovetail Health

Steven ManosMediator; Chief Operating Officer,Brandeis University

James McGuireJAMS

Edye RulinNon-Profit Financial ManagerJacqueline SonnabendConsultant at Ignite

Emily WeinerAssociate Director of The Lewis Institute & Babson Social Innovation Lab

John G. WoffordMediator

Frank ZitoCBIZ Tofias

Gail S. PackerExecutive DirectorDebra FiliurinDistrict Court Supervisor

Molly FroelichCase CoordinatorDanae KristiansenOffice Manager

VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS

STAFF

Intern:Jonathan KolodziejBoston College School of Social Work

July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016We thank those who, in the past year, have demonstrated a commitment to community mediation through their financial support of CDSC, and invite others to join us in our efforts.

Foundation & Contract SupportCambridge Community FoundationMassachusetts Bar FoundationMA Office of Attorney GeneralMA Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) – Community Mediation Center – Parent Mediation Program

Bash & Friends Appeal Donors$2,500–$5,500Alisha BloomGardiner Howland Shaw FoundationSteve Manos & Barbara RubelThe Mediation GroupEmily Weiner

$950–$2,000AnonymousBoston Law Collaborative LLC/ David HoffmanChris Brodie/CBDifferenceworksJohn & Holly CratsleyJack Esher & Karen SchwartzGinsburg Leshin Gibbs & Jones, LLPMimi GrosserJames Grumbach & Beth ButlerFredie KayJo-Ann & Martin LeinwandJim & Claire McGuireGail Packer & Warren KaplanShippen Page & Anne St. GoarEric & Shirley PaleyEdye RulinEllen SemonoffGillien Todd & Kingsley Taft

$500–$800Judy & Jerry Abrams Bank Of AmericaJeanne ClearyJAMSBernie Lebow & Barbara Guilfoile/ SignWorks GroupSteve Lilly-Weber*Matthew Moschella/ Sherin & Lodgen LLPPaul Parravano/MITCarmin Reiss & Eric Green/ Resolutions, LLCSusan Sloane & Kenneth MaddenRobert & Elizabeth SmithMark Sullivan*Nate TaberThe Del Nero, Calbi & Abbate Group at Merrill Lynch

Conna WeinerWilchins Cosentino Friend LLPWilmington Family Counseling Services, Inc./Alan WebberJohn Wofford

$250–$499American Bar AssociationAnonymousMaria-Paz AveryIsraela Brill-CassMelissa BrodrickDavid BunisCambridge Family & Children’s ServicesCambridge Trust CompanyCentury BankJulian ChuLynn Cooper & Michael AmbrosinoJudith Dein & Alan ReischEbLens Clothing & FootwearPaul Finn/Commonwealth Mediation, IncStuart Fischer & Jeanette MallStephen FrenkelRichard GodesEllen KannerClaudia & Michael KaufmanTom & Linda LondonBarbara LundMA Dispute Resolution Services/ Brian JeromeMichael & Lisa MassicotteCatherine MondellDavid & Daria O’ConnorRichard Reilly & Judy McMorrow*Sara Rubin & David MontanariJacqueline SonnabendJudith Stein & Kenneth DardickEllen & John SullivanEric Van LoonJohn WeidenbruchKim Whelan Mediation

$25–$249Carol Addy & Gene O’DonnellKate AndersonAnonymous*AnonymousGloria ArrudaRichard BarbieriPeter BarkleyPhyllis BernsteinDebbie & Alan BieriMargie & Buzz BirnbaumBrian Blanke

Mark BleierMonique BleriotGloria & Buzz BloomSusan Bob & Stephen Prieston*Linda Brion-MieselsLee Brown & Larry DubersteinAmy Cashore MarianiSarah Chapple SokolPaul ChernoffRichard CohenKathy & Bob ConwayMark CovenJill CrockettLisa DealyAnita DiamantRalph DunhamBrandon DunnJanice DurhamDebbie EvansCatherine FarrellPatrick FieldJeffrey FinkCathleen FinnJohn FiskeTom FlanaganJosh FlaxKate FrankRon FredeyRuth & Don FreedmanLynne & Bob GaynorDavid & Ellen GibbsGary & Brita Gill-AusternDwight GolannFrederick GolderKristen GordonSteven GreenzangVirginia GrumbachLim Heang HengSusan HegelDeborah HellerMary Ann HigginsJane Hilburt-DavisJosh HochRoberta Hodson & Herbert KornCharles Homer & Judith FabricantAmy HoodVivian Hsu*Laurie Jo WallaceMichael KalikowRudy KassEthan KatshJamie KatzChris KaudersJoyce KauffmanBarbara Kellman

Cheryl & David KiserRoberta KosbergSusan LabovitzVictoria LazzellLiz LeahyMichael & Rosalyn LeshinJay LevinRuven LiebhaberCarol LiebmanStephen LinskyRobert Lisle BakerEric LockwoodHarry ManasewichMiriam MandellThomas MartonSally McCoubreyMax McMahonElizabeth MeyerMindy MilbergBeryl Minkle*Marta MinnetyanAlan MinuskinWilliam MooreStephen & Barbara NeelRobert NoaJoanne PackerJames PackerBuddy & Lynda PackerPaul PedullaPaula RaymanBillye Ruth ThomasFrank SanderSusanna SchweizerSteven SeecheDavid SeibelEileen ShaevelMaria SinanisZoya SliveLisa SmithThomas Smith*Michele SnowRichard SnyderLou Soltys & Chris MorseDebra Sosin & Warren SchwartzIlene Spiro & Ira SchorHayley SpizzRobert StainsOrna & Yosef Stein

Marcus StergioPeter Sturges & Sasha LauterbachAnn SullivanTanisha SullivanChristopher SweeneySusan SylvaTimothy ToomeyAnne & Sheldon TowsonEdna Travis & Bernard AdamsKatherine TriantafillouRobert & Naomi TuchmannBeth & Lewis TurnerJane WilliamsMary & Joe WrinnPatricia Zonnenberg

Pro Bono ServicesMA Continuing Legal Education The Lewis Institute & Babson Social Innovation Lab: Cheryl Kiser & Emily Weiner

➢Pro Bono Staff:Mimi Grosser, Case CoordinatorEllen Kanner, Development Consultant

➢Pro Bono Trainers:Chris Chen Jeanne Cleary Joyce Kauffman Hon. Maureen Monks Thomas Seder Robert Smith

➢Pro Bono Interns:Aldis Gamble, Haverford College Suzanna Sudborough, Emerson College Nicole Sonnabend, East Carolina University Ogo Ngobidi, Wheelock School of Social Work

➢Annual Bash:The Lewis Institute & Babson Social Innovation LabSilent Auction: 26 businesses and individuals

Tax-deductible donations can be made directly to: CDSC, 60 Gore St., Cambridge, MA 02141Or through our website at: communitydispute.org/get-involved/donate

Mimi Grosser Scholarship FundCDSC has created a permanent fund in the name of Mimi Grosser, celebrating her 25+ years of volunteer service with CDSC. The Mimi Grosser Scholarship Fund honors exceptional CDSC volunteers and provides scholarship support for deserving participants of CDSC training and professional development programs.

REVENUES:Revenue: $265,194In-Kind Donations: $158,285– Mediators– Trainers– Administrative SupportTOTAL: $423,479

In-KindDonations

Grants &Contracts

Mediation Fees

Contributions and Annual Bash

Training Programs

4%

16%

15%

38%

27%

EXPENSES:Expenses: $278,414In-Kind Donations: $158,285(Cost to purchase services)TOTAL: $436,699

Training Programs

36%

14%

18%17%

15%

Community Programs

General & Administrative and Annual Bash

In-KindDonations

Court Program

*Donation to the Mimi Fund

OUR DONORS