Jed D. Melnick Symposium: The Death and Resurrection of Dialogue

Join namesake Jed D. Melnick, Esq. and the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution for the Jed D. Melnick Annual Symposium. The theme of the Symposium this year is the "Death and Resurrection of Dialogue," where we will explore the decline and rise of dialogue in the public and political spheres, in communities, and in mediation itself with the disappearance in some quarters of joint sessions. Our four panels will include journalists, academics, ADR practitioners, and experts who will share their views on the potential of the news media to develop public discourse and prevent conflict, the importance of dialogue and civic engagement in community building, methods to bridge inequalities in communities and in mediation, and the effect of virtual and caucus-only mediation on conflict resolution.

In addition, this year we are hosting the International Advocate for Peace Award on the same day as the Melnick Symposium. Professor William Ury, the co-author of "Getting to Yes," and one of the most influential experts in negotiation and international mediation, is the recipient of the Award. The Award Ceremony will begin at 9:00am and the Melnick Sympsosium will start at 10:00am. The events this year will be conducted virtually over Zoom and are free to all.

Program Agenda

9:00 - 9:15 AM | Welcome Address

• Dean Melanie Leslie | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Professor Lela Love | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Samuel Ditchek | Editor-in-Chief, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution
• Alexandra Sandler | Symposium Editor, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

9:15 - 10:00 AM | Twenty-First Annual International Advocate for Peace Award Honoring William Ury

10:00 - 10:15 AM | Introduction to the Melnick Symposium

10:15 - 11:15 AM | Panel 1 | Political Discourse: Journalism, Blogs, Radio and Television: Their Effect on Developing Public Discourse | 1 CLE Areas of Professional Practice
Moderator:

• Noam Levey | Senior Correspondent, Kaiser Health News

Panelists:

• Claudia Maffettone | Program Manager, Track II Mediation at the Search for Common Ground
• Professor Carol Pauli | Texas A&M University School of Law
• Professor Kate Shaw | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

11:15 - 11:30 AM | Virtual Remarks from the Divided Communities Project (DCP)

• Bill Froehlich | Associate Director, DCP
• Maqube Reese | Assistant Director of Diversity Initatives, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
• Carl Smallwood | Director, DCP
• Ted. L Ramirez
• Andrew Thomas | Community Relations & Neighborhood Engagement Director, City of Sanford, FL

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM | Panel 2 | Community Discourse: Building Community with Dialogue | 1.5 CLE Areas of Professional Practice
Moderator:

• Glen Parker | Assistant Director, Office of ADR, NYS Unified Court System

Panelists:

• Peter Block | Author and Speaker in the area of community building and civic engagement
• Se Won Park | Cardozo ‘23; Fellow, Red Hook Community Justice Center
• Jeff Thompson | Professor; Detective

1:30 - 2:30 PM | Panel 3 | Race: Approaches to Dialogue to Address Issues Relating to Racial: Inequalities, Implicit Bias, and Discrimination | 1 CLE Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias
Moderator:

• Professor Maurice Robinson | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; EEO Officer, NYCHA Department of Equal Opportunity

Panelists:

• Bobby Codjoe | Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Cardozo
• Professor Ellen Deason | Professor in Law, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
• Professor Isabella Gunning | Southwestern Law School
• Payton Silket | Resident Advisor, Pepperdine University
• Professor Sharon Press | Mitchell Hamline School of Law

2:45 - 4:00 PM | Panel 4 | Mediation: The Decline of Joint Sessions & In-Person Contact | 1.5 CLE Areas of Professional Practice
Moderators:

• Professor Lela Love | Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law
• Professor Donna Erez Navot | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Panelists:

• Professor Robert Collins | Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Eric Galton | Mediator, Lakeside Mediation
• Professor Jerome Weiss | Case Western Reserve University
• Professor David White | Seton Hall Law School

4:00 PM | Closing Remarks

• Samuel Ditchek | Editor-in-Chief, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution
• Alexandra Sandler | Symposium Editor, Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution