(BALTIMORE – Sept. 15, 2009) The Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) will host a free program about community mediation to help people who work to resolve neighborhood conflicts and disputes. The program will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6:30-9 p.m., at the University of Baltimore John and Frances Angelos Law Center’s Venable Baetjer Howard Moot Court Room, 1415 Maryland Ave.,
Baltimore.

Andrew Thomas, a pioneer in community mediation and founder of one of the top three community centers in the U.S., will discuss “Creating Conflict-Resolving Communities,” and will lead a discussion of how neighborhoods can reverse cycles of crime and violence through the use of active and aggressive community initiatives that use peaceful dispute resolution processes.

Thomas is the president of ALT Associates in Lake Mary, Fla., and has more than 29 years experience in alternative dispute resolution. He served for 26 years as the executive director of the Center for Dispute Settlement in Rochester, NY, the first of its kind in the state. He has designed ADR processes and programs for state and local agencies, police departments, private corporations, public schools, community organizations and Native American Nations in New York and Ontario, Canada.

The program is part of MACRO’s “Evening With” series, which gives Maryland alternative dispute resolution professionals the opportunity to hear from national ADR leaders. MACRO is hosting the event with the Negotiations and Conflict Management Program at the University of Baltimore.

The program is free; no reservations are required. Discounted parking vouchers will be given to the first 55 participants who sign in at the event. For more information, visit www.mdcourts.gov/macro.

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