Beginning in 2003, the Center has served as a City-wide government conflict resource center. The main objectives of the Center are: successful mediations and group facilitations of workplace disputes, conflict management training for City agencies and employees, service as a conflict resolution research and resource center for City government and partnering institutions. Our mission is to assist City government to think through and proactively respond to conflict in the workplace.

The Center currently mediates workplace disputes referred by EEO officers, Disciplinary Advocates, Labor Management, attorneys, and OATH Administrative Law Judges. Moving forward, the Center is exploring and making available the use of other appropriate dispute resolution processes for City managers, Union representatives, Personnel officers, City managers, EEO officers and other City government personnel responsible, and sometimes required, to manage and efficiently resolve conflicts in the workplace. City government personnel can directly refer cases to the Center, prior to or as a complementary process with litigation or other interventions, or they may want to consult with the Center’s staff to determine the appropriate intervention. The Center’s aim is to be of assistance to an array of City government personnel by providing different resources, mediators and a safe, neutral environment to work through and explore the creative potential of conflict, and to ultimately reach durable resolutions to those conflicts. Most of the work is conducted through collaborative, private and informal processes.