The JAMS Foundation and National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) are launching the 2026-2028 Community Mediation Mini-Grant Program, awarding up to five organizations $15,000 per year to develop preventive approaches using community mediation skills to de-escalate family conflict during critical transitions like substance abuse treatment, assisted living moves, or mental health services navigation. Grant recipients will participate in a structured Learning Community facilitated by NAFCM using the Listening for Action Leadership Process, meeting twice monthly for the first six months and monthly thereafter to share challenges, test approaches, and develop replicable resources while creating at least one policy or procedure change over the two years for lasting systemic impact. This collaborative model emphasizes deep listening, collaborative problem-solving, community co-creation, and attention to power dynamics—principles aligned with NCDD values—with all materials shared across the broader field to strengthen community mediation practice nationally and internationally, creating pathways for families to work through disagreements collaboratively before they escalate into formal legal proceedings or institutional interventions.

The Sustained Dialogue Institute (SDI) offers a proven five-stage dialogue process created by former U.S. diplomat Hal Saunders, defining dialogue as "listening deeply enough to be changed by what you learn" and shifting the practice from conversation to genuine transformation. SDI's effectiveness has been demonstrated in high-stakes contexts including the decades-long Dartmouth Conference between the United States and Russia and Tajikistan's civil war peace agreements, with the approach now adapted to engage approximately 125 campuses worldwide through monthly virtual skills sessions on listening, curiosity, self-awareness, and empathetic perspective-taking. The organization also provides workplace trainings and supports community dialogue in the United States and Latin America, offering dialogue and deliberation practitioners methods grounded in both theory and real-world impact that align with NCDD's commitment to strengthening democracy through inclusive engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

Holiday gatherings often expose long-standing family tensions, but Essential Partners—an organization rooted in family therapy and public dialogue—offers strategies to foster more meaningful conversations across deep differences. Their Reflective Structured Dialogue approach encourages people to clarify their goals, seek personal stories behind political views, speak from their own experience, allow silence to slow reactive patterns, and trust their instincts about when to engage or step away. While these practices won’t resolve conflicts overnight, they can gradually transform divisive moments into opportunities for curiosity, dignity, and connection.

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is proud to feature the Reflective Practice & SRI® International Certificate Program, a seven-session virtual professional development opportunity running from January 28 through July 22, 2026. Designed for mediators, Ombuds, peacebuilders, and dialogue professionals, the program provides a structured, collaborative space for deep reflection on practice. Guided by Dr. Tzofnat Peleg-Baker and Dr. Bryan Hanson, EdD, participants explore the Structured Reflection Intervention (SRI®) framework to strengthen self-awareness, refine interventions, and deepen professional mastery. Limited to 15 participants, the program fosters connection within the Community of Reflective Practitioners (CoRP)—a global network supporting continued growth and cross-cultural learning. Early registration by November 30, 2025, offers a 20% discount, with additional savings for colleagues who enroll together. This program embodies NCDD’s mission to advance dialogue, learning, and excellence among those bridging divides in complex social and organizational conflicts.

In a moment of crisis following a nearby campus shooting, University of Utah professor Natasha Seegert turned to resources from Essential Partners, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that equips educators and facilitators to lead meaningful conversations on difficult issues. Using their structured dialogue questions, Seegert transformed her class into a space for reflection and connection, helping students process emotions and engage across differences. This story illustrates Essential Partners’ broader mission to strengthen communities and democratic practice by providing accessible, ready-to-use tools for dialogue on divisive topics such as race, violence, and partisanship—demonstrating that dialogue skills are not luxuries but essential capacities for navigating times of tension and change.

​A six-month internship (October 2025–March 2026) with peace practitioner Fleur Ravensbergen offers students and recent graduates rare hands-on experience in conflict resolution, combining training design, research, online education, and communications work. Ravensbergen brings over 15 years of global field experience—from armed conflict negotiations to corporate mediation—providing interns with exposure to both international peace processes and community-level dialogue. The role includes creating real-case role-play simulations, supporting negotiation and career-entry courses, conducting conflict research, and contributing to outreach through podcasts and digital platforms. With remote flexibility, occasional meetings in the Netherlands, and a modest stipend, this internship bridges academic learning and professional practice, offering comprehensive preparation for careers in peacebuilding and dialogue facilitation.

​NCDD board member Dr. Larry Schooler shares powerful insights on transforming workplace conflict into opportunities for organizational growth and stronger community. Drawing from his extensive experience as a mediator, academic, and former journalist, Dr. Schooler reframes conflict not as something to avoid but as a vital signal for necessary change and deeper engagement. He highlights the importance of authentic leadership rooted in empathy and accountability, which builds trust and enables productive dialogue. Looking to the future, Dr. Schooler sees technology, including AI, as a helpful tool to support—but not replace—the human connection essential to effective conflict resolution. His approach aligns closely with NCDD’s mission to foster understanding and democratic participation by turning tension into collaborative growth. Read more in the blog post below.

Middlebury's Conflict Transformation Initiative enters a new chapter with Professor Netta Avineri as executive director. Building on a foundation laid by Professor Sarah Stroup, Dr. Avineri brings expertise in linguistic anthropology and intercultural competence to guide the initiative’s next phase. The program emphasizes viewing conflict as an opportunity for growth, integrating experiential learning, cultural analysis, and global partnerships. With a strong infrastructure already in place, the initiative aims to deepen its impact across Middlebury and beyond. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Friend, Dr. Timothy Shaffer’s recent presentation at Chaminade University offers a timely and transformative rethinking of civil discourse. Rather than reducing civility to mere politeness, Shaffer introduces a nuanced framework distinguishing between weak, strong, and pseudo civility—encouraging dialogue practitioners to embrace passionate, democratic engagement, even when it includes protest or confrontation. Addressing the deeper emotional divides of affective polarization, he outlines practical strategies like intellectual humility, principled advocacy, and the use of informal “third spaces” to bridge ideological gaps. Shaffer’s message is clear: each of us holds agency to foster stronger civic culture amid division. Read more in the blog post below.