Los Angeles – The JAMS Foundation has granted $450,000 to the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in support of its planned two-year training and engagement program to address the relationship between the Los Angeles community and law enforcement. The program, which is part of the Institute’s “Beyond the Dialogue” initiative, will use dispute resolution techniques to advance understanding and collaboration between the two constituencies, with the goal of restoring relationships and inspiring unity across the city. The program aims to transform the culture of conflict in Los Angeles by honoring the distinct experiences of community members and law enforcement officers, and rebuilding trust through training and shared-experience interventions.
We see this initiative as a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and Los Angeles community members. We are grateful to have the support of the JAMS Foundation as we look to provide our community with tools to resolve conflict, share experiences and encourage empathy for one another.
- Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh, Judge Danny Weinstein Managing Director for the Straus Institute.
I am delighted that our distinguished faculty, who are global pacesetters in the ADR field, will have the opportunity to promote dialogue and understanding closer to home through this transformative initiative.
- Paul Caron, Caruso School of Law Dean
A pillar of the program will be shifting the dialogue within each group away from negative perceptions of the other by cultivating understanding, identifying shared interests and facilitating positive engagement that may foster trust. Accordingly, the program will provide community members and police officers with unique conflict resolution skills so that interactions between the groups may begin from a foundation of respect.
We are proud to support the efforts that the Straus Institute is undertaking in working to resolve long-standing conflicts between law enforcement and community members in Los Angeles. We think the program provides an innovative approach that leverages ADR principles to navigate the nuances of Los Angeles’ complex history with law enforcement, and we are optimistic that it will prove impactful in rebuilding trust and mitigating conflict.
- David Brandon, JAMS Foundation Managing Director
About the JAMS Foundation
The nonprofit JAMS Foundation was established in 2002 by JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. The mission of the JAMS Foundation is to provide financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national and international impact and to share its dispute resolution expertise for the benefit of the public interest.
The Foundation is funded entirely by contributions from JAMS neutrals, executives and associates, and by a substantial annual donation from JAMS. To uphold the company’s core value of neutrality, the Foundation accepts no donations outside of JAMS. The Foundation currently boasts 300 principal benefactors and has provided more than $9 million in grant funding since its inception.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.
About The Straus Institute
The Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution is one of the world’s leading educational programs in the field of dispute resolution. In its nearly thirty-five year history, the Institute has educated thousands of lawyers and non-law professionals on the foundational theories and cutting-edge practices in ADR, both in the United States and around the world. Straus’ students and alumni span the globe—hailing from countries like Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, and Korea—and of course across the United States and Southern California. Indeed, a leader in the ADR field, the Straus Institute is committed to preparing the next generation of negotiators, peacemakers, and problem solvers and serving as a driving force for improving the culture of conflict in America.