Western Justice Center Invitational

“I learned how to work out problems with other people.” –Elementary Student

“I enjoyed learning about how to establish a peer mediation program at our school. We need one, so it was beneficial to learn about how to do so.” – School Supervisor

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What is the Western Justice Center Invitational?

The Western Justice Center Invitational, formerly known as Peer Mediation Invitational (PMI), is an annual event hosted by Western Justice Center (WJC) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Invitational is designed for peer mediators throughout Los Angeles County in elementary, middle and high schools.

With the support of our conflict resolution education partner organizations - Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Center for Civic Mediation, and Centinela Youth Services - nearly 200 students from 36 schools participate as well as 70 teachers and volunteer mediation coaches. The Invitational features a special tour of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, presentations from high-ranking judges, and mock mediations (role-plays) with coaching from some of the best experts in the field, including attorneys and professional mediators.

In the role-plays, students take turns as mediators and disputing parties. Students have the opportunity to:

  • Learn skills and demonstrate their strengths as peer mediators;
  • Receive feedback and encouragement from coaches;
  • Receive recognition for their skills and contributions to their campuses.

Watch the Western Justice Center Invitational slideshow


Sponsors and Donors 

The Western Justice Center Invitational is provided at no cost to participants. The financial support of donors allows 200 students to participate every year. WJC needs your help to raise enough funds to produce other Invitationals throughout the region, allowing additional students to experience the benefits.


Volunteers Needed 

Each year, WJC recruits volunteers to serve as coaches for students’ mediation sessions. These volunteer coaches provide feedback and encouragement to student mediators during their role-plays.   Please help by volunteering.

 

Western Justice Center Blog


  • Introducing Encompass's Creating Bias-Free Classrooms Preview
    Posted by Sarah Belknap on January 04, 2012 

    Western Justice Center and Encompass have formed a collaboration that allows us to expand our services to schools. WJC would like to introduce you to our partner’s educator training program, Creating Bias-Free Classrooms.  This interactive teacher-training program uses live, improvisational theater to equip educators to build safe and inclusive classroom environments.  During each training session, teachers learn the laws and relevant teaching standards for creating a safe classroom.  They assess their own comfort and competence in handling these issues, learn to identify various forms of bias, and get hands-on experience in the most effective techniques to use in a classroom. By watching realistic classroom scenes performed by teenage actors, the teachers get to see how bias affects every student in the classroom. Teachers can safely experiment with different strategies of addressing bias related to gender, race or sexual orientation by practicing on teenage actors who are trained in improvisational theater.

    The program was created by Encompass and is a project of a service-learning class at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.   Join us on January 19, 2012  from 5-7:30 p.m. for an overview and demonstration of the program. Please RSVP with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

  • Judge Nelson in Pasadena Magazine
    Posted by Sarah Belknap on December 10, 2011 
    Judge Dorothy Nelson who founded WJC is profiled in this month's Pasadena magazine.  Judge_Nelson_Pasadena_Magazine_December_2011.pdf
  • Non-violence and Occupy LA
    Posted by Bethany Leal on December 02, 2011 

    As a long-time activist, I have understood the theory of non-violent action for many years.  I have studied the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins and the teachings of Cesar Chavez.  Only recently, however, have I come to understand and fully embrace the practice of non-violent action and conflict resolution.

    Read more »
  • August Training Wrap-Up
    Posted by Emily Linnemeier on September 13, 2011 

    August was a training whirlwind for WJC program staff and the stakeholders we work with across the education spectrum: teachers, students, and security officers.  This approach of training stakeholders disperses conflict resolution knowledge throughout an educational institution so that all members of the school community can support one another in using conflict resolution skills.

    Read more »
  • It Takes Strength to Compromise
    Posted by Sarah Belknap on August 01, 2011 
    Strong supporter Tanya Acker talks the debt ceiling, compromise, and what Congress can learn from elementary school students in her new blog piece on the Huffington Post. Click here to check it out and tell us what you think via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , facebook, or twitter.
View more »
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