Pasadena (March 3, 2005) -

The Western Justice Center Foundation, (WJCF) the Pasadena-based nonprofit leader in peaceful conflict resolution strategies welcomed Najeeba Syeed-Miller as its new Executive Director at the 2005 Open House. WJCF Board Chair and founder, Hon. Dorothy W. Nelson stated, "We are delighted to welcome an Executive Director who has a strong foundation in conflict resolution and significant skills to contribute to the local, national and international impact of the Western Justice Center Foundation." Over 100 local, state and national leaders were in attendance. WJCF Board President, R. Chandler Myers said, "As a nationally recognized leader in conflict resolution, Ms. Syeed-Miller brings knowledge, energy and creativity to the Foundation's important work. We are fortunate that she joined us. " The Open House participants included the following judges who are also esteemed members of the WJCF Board of Directors: Hon. Raymond C. Fisher, United States Circuit Judge; Hon. Terry J. Hatter, Jr., United States District Court Judge; Hon. Carlos R. Moreno, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California; Hon. Dorothy L. Shubin ; Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge. The WJCF hosted the Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogaard ; Chief of Police, Bernard Melekian , City of Pasadena Council Member Joyce Streator and representatives of nine other state, county and federal offices. The WJCF also highlighted recent program accomplishments and initiatives through an interactive tour of the WJCF Headquarters building. WJCF is home to eight local and national organizations that are housed at its historical four bungalow campus adjacent to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals building. Recent program accomplishments and initiatives include:

. Creative Classroom Management for Elementary Educators (currently implementing at Cleveland Elementary School and funded by the Pasadena Child Health Foundation and the Avery Dennison Foundation.)

. Environmental Mediation Center Initiative that WJCF is incubating as a new project in collaboration with the UCLA Institute on the Environment.

. Community /Civic Dialogue Initiative on issues related to community/police relations and crisis response network

. Family Conflict Resolution Cooperative for Children Ages 0-5 funded by First 5 LA . Handbook on Alternative Dispute Resolution for the Ninth Judicial Circuit funded by the JAMS Foundation

. San Gabriel Valley Pilot (conflict management training for 200 students in six schools and website for educators, see Teacher's Toolkit for Conflict Resolution, www.westernjustice.org. funded by the Rose Hills Foundation)