PMI 2024 day at a glance
for attendees

 
 

8:00 am - 9:00 am

dr. beatriz solis hall

Check-In & Breakfast

Check-in and enjoy a delicious breakfast while getting to know your peers! If you’ve never been to The California Endowment, it is a beautiful campus where you’ll start your day in an inspiring setting! Download a map here.

9:00 am - 10:00 am

dr. beatriz solis hall

Welcome & Keynote Address

 
“The one concept that I can always count on is that kids today have a profound desire to do something that can make a difference.”
— Mario Fedelin

  • Mario spent over a decade in the national service movement with City Year. There he developed and oversaw civic leadership programs for youth in three different cities. In 2014, Mario conceived of, designed, and launched Changeist, a statewide youth empowerment program.

    Mario is currently a Board Member and Advisor to multiple community organizations in Los Angeles, a graduate of SCLN’s Leadership LA, recognized by the LA Empowerment Congress as a top 40 under 40 Civic Leaders, and serves as a Senior Fellow for USC Marshal School of Business, Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. In 2019, he was chosen out of 40 thousand applicants from over 160 countries to be an Obama Foundation Fellow. The Obama Fellowship supports outstanding civic innovators from around the world to amplify the impact of their work and inspire a wave of civic innovation.

Mario Fedelin

Obama Fellow and Changeist founder, Mario Fedelin will be this year’s Keynote, and we are honored to have him!

Mario was a peer mediator at his middle and high school in San Jose. What he learned about the power and collective wisdom of young people inspired him to a lifetime of action, dialog and community-building.

What to expect:

  • Connect with your fellow peacemakers from middle and high schools all around L.A. County.

  • Explore what it means to reimagine your school and how to make that dream a reality.

  • Learn how you can motivate your peers to create social change on your campus and beyond .

  • Q+A - Ask Mario anything!

Educators and other adult attendees are encouraged to participate!

 

  • Hello Mediation Mentors and thanks for signing up to be part of this incredible event!

    Here is what you can expect on the day of the event:

    8-9 AM - Enjoy an optional breakfast and hear from our Executive Director, Elissa Barrett, and other WJC staff who will introduce the day and set the tone. Please be sure to email Alexis if you want breakfast and a box lunch.

    9-10 AM - Hear from our Keynote Speaker, Mario Fedelin, ED of Changeist. He’ll be sharing what he learned about the power and collective wisdom of young people that inspired him to a lifetime of action, dialog and community-building.

    10-11:30 AM - Participate in Mock Mediation

    11:30-12 PM - Enjoy a box lunch and closing reflections with other mediation mentors

    We can’t wait to see you!

10:00 am - 11:30 am

dr. beatriz solis hall
CABRILLO | CATALINA
CEL LOMBARD | JOSHUA TREE

Level Up Your Peacemaking Potential: Mediation Skill Building

Peer mediation is a powerful tool for peacemaking that you can use to create a new way of dealing with conflict and behavior at your school. A skilled peer mediator helps their fellow students ease tensions, find new solutions, resolve fights and so much more.

Whether you are a seasoned peer mediator or new to it all, you’ll get key mediation tips and tricks from WJC. Plus, you’ll get a chance to practice mediation with real time coaching from professionals, who will be there to support you and share how mediation has helped them in their lives and careers.

Educators and other adult attendees are encouraged to watch & learn!

11:30 am -12:00 pm

dr. beatriz solis hall

Lunch

Lunch is an opportunity to hang out with new friends, make memories and capture fun pictures in our photo booth!


12:00 pm - 12:50 pm &

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Workshops & Panels:
Choose Your Own Adventure!

This is your chance for attendees of all ages to choose from a wide selection of workshops and panels.

All workshops are delivered twice. You can go the the same workshop or panel twice in a row or choose something different for each round.

Workshop Round #1 is 12:00-12:50 pm

Workshop Round #2 is 1:00-1:45 pm.

Scroll down for more info on the workshop topics and panelists.


Catalina

Organizing for Peace and Equity: Meet the Pioneers from
Azusa High School

Facing the consolidation of their district’s two major high schools and an outbreak of street violence in their community, these students got organized. They formed a Student Union, used restorative circles to build bridges across different social groups, learned what students wanted from their school experience, and advocated for equitable access to resources for all. 

In the last year, they’ve hosted a Youth Summit, written a Students Bill of Rights, formed the backbone of their school’s peer mediation program, taught middle and elementary school students what they know, and are leading healing circles throughout their district. 

These incredible people exemplify the transformative power of student leadership. Discover their resilience, the challenges they faced, and be inspired to build a culture of peace and equity in your own school and community. 

  • Jessica Perez is a senior at Azusa High School. Throughout this school year, Mr. Magana and Mr. Rodriguez has helped her grow leadership skills in and out of the Student Union. Jessica was inspired by Mr. Magana’s and Mr. Rodriguez’s leadership and wants to make a difference in her community. As part of the Student Union, she has seen the impact of community circles in her school community. She not only sees the impact of making the school better, but also sees the improvement of the student’s individual experience. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of La Verne to study Business Finance and continue to play a positive role in her community.

  • Valerie is a junior at Azusa High School and is involved in leadership and Student Union. More specifically, her role in leadership is Junior Class President, planning school events. Her main role on campus as a Student Union leader is facilitating circles with middle school students as well as aiding in any additional projects the Student Union has planned. After high school, she plans to major in Political Science and pursue a career as a criminal defense lawyer, aiming to work in the field of politics. As someone who has always been involved in leadership and works “behind the scenes,” she strives to work with her community in order to better it.

  • Eric Arguelles is a Senior at Azusa High School. With the support of WJC and being involved with Azusa High School Student Union, he has been able to form a deeper connection within his community. The connection and bond formed is what drives him to continue to support the Student Union as a lead facilitator. He intends to attend UC Berkeley and pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering.

joshua tree

  • Mr. Fidel Rodriguez is a producer, educator, mentor, and wellness facilitator. For over 20 years, Fidel has produced several number-one rated and award-winning radio programs for Clear Channel and Pacifica Radio. He developed educational conferences; concerts; and facilitated wellness and leadership training for numerous companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Fidel has been an international speaker on topics ranging from culture, history, wellness, spirituality, consciousness and creating paradigm shifts in thinking. For over a decade, Fidel has worked for the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission where he facilitates adult leadership training and creates youth development and wellness workshops for youth affected by childhood trauma and the juvenile and criminal justice system.

    Fidel is innovative, passionate, and visionary. Fidel graduated from the University of Southern California as a McNair Scholar with degrees in Chicano/Latino and African American studies, He was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, and is of Mexican, Indigenous, and African descent.

Inspiring Safe Havens:
Healing-Centered Wisdom for a Positive School Climate

Fidel Rodriguez

Join Fidel Rodriguez, a trailblazer in healing-centered practices, as he unveils the secrets to fostering a vibrant school climate and creating safe havens where young people can be seen, supported and thrive. Drawing from rich experience with Indigenous communities in South America, Africa and beyond, Fidel brings the wisdom of many cultures to his work. Whether you are a student or a teacher, you will learn fresh ways to infuse healing-centered approaches into every nook and cranny of your school. Walk away informed and inspired to reimagine the path to creating a positive school environment on your campus.

Mojave

The Power of Restorative Justice: Building Bridges through Community Circles

  • Schoene Mahmood brings 18 years of experience with Restorative Justice Practices implementation to Loyola Marymount University. Schoene serves as the Program Manager of the Center for Urban Resilience Restorative Justice Project to provide educational trainings, skill-building workshops, implementation coaching, and restorative conferencing facilitation services to academic and nonprofit institutions. Recently, the RJ Project established the Southern California Consortium that Schoene is overseeing the which aims to educate future generations of RJ leaders for scholarship, practice, and implementation, and to create a regional model that can be replicated nationwide. Schoene was the recipient of the LMU Center for Reconciliation and Justice Hidden Heroes Award in 2023.

    Before joining LMU, Schoene facilitated Community Conferences for 400+ juvenile expulsion, arrest, and court-diversion cases referred by the Maryland State Attorney’s office, the Department of Juvenile Services, the Baltimore City Police Department, and Baltimore public schools while working at the Community Conferencing Center (now called Restorative Response Baltimore). Since moving to Los Angeles in 2011, she has facilitated 300+ Restorative Conferences.


Schoene Mahmood

Community Circles are a profound way to build trust, create meaningful connections and foster relationships with intention and integrity. Learn about the Indigenous roots of Circles and their transformative power.

Find out how to use Circles to support dialogue among students and between students and adults. Discover how you can use Circles to create an inclusive school environment where everyone is welcomed and valued.

In a Circle, we are all equal.

Cabrillo

Panel Discussion
Using Data to Engage Communities, Tell Powerful Stories & Secure Funding

  • Dr. Joél Arvizo-Zavala (they/them) has nearly ten years of experience working in partnership or within the criminal-legal and judicial systems. Their work has included court advocacy, school to prison pipeline education, and research on the legal implications of debt and evictions. They completed a post-doc at the Utah Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice prior to moving to California. Currently, they serve as an Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Assistant Dean of Social Mission and Accountability at the California University of Science and Medicine. They also serve as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Resilient Education LLC – a private consulting firm focusing on community-engaged research, facilitation, and leadership development in the areas of equity and social justice.

    At the California University of Science and Medicine, Dr. Arvizo-Zavala has founded the INSPIRE Collaborative which supports medical student scholars in research for health equity and health justice in the areas of gender affirming care, trauma-informed care, elderly mental health and wellbeing, and reproductive health and justice. One of their most recent publications has been a chapter in the book, Children and Trauma: Critical Perspectives for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Educational Communities. Their current independent research and teaching focuses on the impacts of the 2023 SCOTUS decision eliminating racism-conscious admissions in higher education with explicit ties to how this decision is impacting the landscape of decision-making in medical education.

  • Dayna Mitchell, Ed.D., (She/Her) has served PK-12 public education for 30 years as a High School Teacher and Administrator, Middle School Principal, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and Assistant Superintendent. Using an equity lens, Dr. Mitchell developed a district-wide professional learning system focused on continuous cycles of improvement designed to increase student achievement, equity, and engagement in order to close opportunity gaps and accelerate learning for all students, with an emphasis on multilingual learners. Dr. Mitchell is an Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, CSU Pomona dlmitchell@cpp.edu.

Dr. Joel Arvizo-Zavalo & Dr. Dayna Mitchell

Delve into the fascinating potential of data beyond the numbers. Discover practical ways to craft compelling narratives that use qualitative and quantitative data to catalyze meaningful inter-generational engagement, lift up often unheard voices, and secure resources to expand your Community Schools Initiative and/or support conflict resolution education in your school or district. 

While this workshop is mainly geared toward adults working in and leading educational institutions, students interested in educational equity, social sciences and related topics are welcome to attend.

Dr. Beatriz Solis Hall

Panel Discussion
A Journey that Follows Many Paths: Careers in Mediation

Photos from left to right: Crystal Williams (moderator); Amber Ali; Jason Harper; Will Hoadley-Brill; Michael Powell.

Ever wondered whether the skills you’re learning as a peer mediator or Circle leader could turn into a career? Ever thought about the different paths through higher education that could take you on that professional journey? 

Hear from a diverse group of practitioners about the personal, educational and professional journeys they took to get where they are today. Our moderator is the Chair of WJC’s Program Advisory Council, Crystal Williams. She is joined by the Vice President of a national arbitration organization that helps people with all kinds of legal and business conflicts resolve their disputes. Our panelists include a case manager for a major Southern California mediation firm, an entrepreneur who founded his own mediation company and started a statewide association for other innovators, and a teacher who returned to the school where he was a peer mediator to empower the next generation of student leaders.

  • Crystal Williams, a Disability Informed Mediator and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) consultant, leads White & Williams ADR Services LLC, specializing in Special Education Dispute Resolution. Her expertise encompasses IEP facilitation, conflict management coaching, professional development, parent engagement, and trauma-informed practices. With a Masters of Dispute Resolution from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, Crystal expanded her mediation training through Waymakers Dispute Resolution Services and Mosten Guthrie Academy.

    Active in various organizations, Crystal holds positions as a Board Member for the Southern California Mediation Association, Program Advisory co-chair for the Western Justice Center, advisor to the Board for Kids Managing Conflict, and coordinator of the Youth Police Dialogue series through the San Pedro Rotary Club.

    Educationally, Crystal holds a Master of Arts in Teacher Education with dual special education credentials from Claremont Graduate University. With 15 years of K-12 teaching experience across different school levels, she now serves as a Social Justice Educator at Claremont Graduate University and the University of Redlands in their graduate teacher education preparation programs. Additionally, she earned a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University, focusing on treatment, and obtained a BA in Social Science with emphases in Psychology, along with minors in Psychology and Law and Children and Families in Urban America from The University of Southern California.

    Her commitment extends to a 5-year tenure as an Adjunct Instructor at the Learning Rights Law Center’s T.I.G.E.R program, guiding parents through the IEP process and empowering families to navigate the special education system effectively.

    Moreover, she is a seasoned public speaker, presenting at numerous local and national conferences.

  • Amber Ali is a dedicated professional in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) with over a decade of experience. Currently serving in a Business Development role as a Senior Case Manager at Judicate West, Amber has cultivated a warm and collaborative presence in the ADR industry.

    Amber's journey in conflict resolution began during her formative years, where she served as a peer mediator at Carnegie Middle School. This early exposure ignited her passion for helping others navigate disputes, setting the foundation for her future career.

    Armed with a graduate degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Amber has seamlessly blended her educational background with practical experience. Her commitment to the field is evident through a diverse career that spans both the non-profit and private sector. In various roles, she has excelled in training and developing mediation programs, mediating cases, and contributing as a former board member for Kids Managing Conflict (KMC), a sister organization of the Southern California Mediation Association. The mission of KMC is to support and promote programs in the K-12 schools that teach students conflict management skills and enrich their lives into adulthood.

    Amber's proudest achievements lie in her advocacy for accessible conflict resolution programs, particularly for children and families in low-income and minority areas. Throughout her career, she has tirelessly worked to create resources that empower communities to manage conflicts constructively. Her dedication extends beyond the boardroom, as she remains deeply passionate about giving back to communities in need.

    With a rich history of service and a commitment to making a positive impact, Amber Ali continues to be a driving force in the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution, demonstrating that mediation is not just a profession for her but a calling to create a more harmonious and just society.

  • Jason Harper is the founder of Harper Conflict Resolution, LLC. He specializes in Education and Employment mediation utilizing a collaborative approach. In addition, Jason is a nationally recognized alternative dispute resolution (ADR) consultant, conflict management coach, adjunct professor, and trainer.

    Most notably, Jason is an ADR Consultant providing mediation and conflict resolution services to over 200 school districts and charter schools, including the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law teaching on Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution as well as an Adjunct Professor of Mediation at Pacific Coast University, School of Law and Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Jason has also provided mediation and conflict resolution training for organizations such as the Western Justice Center and the International Visitors Council, training adults from over twenty different countries. Jason has been recognized by the California State Senate and the United States Congress for his mediation training.

    Jason served as the President of SCMA, one of the largest associations of mediators in the U.S. He is also one of the founding directors of Kids Managing Conflict, a non-profit dedicated to promoting conflict resolution programs for K-12thgrade students. Further, Jason served as the Vice President of MC3, a mediator certification organization that is professionalizing the field of mediation. Jason received his Master’s Degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills and his mediation training from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California.

  • Will Hoadley-Brill has been working in peer mediation in school settings for more than a decade. Initially they began as a peer mediator at the middle school level before moving on to found the peer mediation program at their high school. After earning their BA in Peace Studies and Spanish Language, Literatures, and Cultures and a Masters of Education in Secondary Education from George Washington University in Washington, DC, Will now teaches Spanish at South Pasadena High School where they also serve as a co-advisor to the Peer Mediators. Will has also earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in Peer Mediation and Peace from Kids Managing Conflict.

  • Michael Powell is the Vice President for the Construction Division of the American Arbitration Association® (AAA) and manages the Los Angeles Regional Office. He is a 30-year veteran with AAA, responsible for expanding the use of AAA construction and commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services in the Pacific West region. In this role, he frequently interacts with clients who file cases and the panelists who serve as arbitrators and mediators. He also has national responsibility for developing the AAA’s construction caseload and works closely with construction industry associations through the AAA’s National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee (NCDRC). In this capacity, he assists the corporate, legal and public sector communities by educating them on proven dispute avoidance and resolution techniques and in designing dispute resolution systems to meet their specific needs.

    Mr. Powell is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino. He is an author and frequent presenter on the subject of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He gives back to the ADR community with service as an active Board Member and past President of the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC), and is an advisor to several local ADR member organizations.