O C T O B E R 8 - 9 , 2 0 2 6 · A L B A N Y , N E W Y O R K
Rooted in Peace:
One Tree, Many Branches
NYSDRA's 2026 Annual Conference
๐ Oct 8 — Virtual | Oct 9 — The Desmond Hotel, Albany ๐All 62 New York Counties Represented ๐ฅ ADR Practitioners, Court Partners & Community Leaders
Be Part of Something Historic!
THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT
For 30 years, the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award has recognized the builders — the people who planted trees in hard ground, trained others to do the same, and understood that dispute resolution is not just a profession. It is an act of faith in human community.
This October, NYSDRA's 2026 Annual Conference brings that legacy into its next chapter through keynote conversations, workshops, and structured dialogue — leaving participants with new connections, sharper tools, and a deeper sense of what this work means.
Rooted in Peace: One Tree, Many Branches is both our theme and our invitation. The roots hold the values that have anchored this work for decades: dignity, equity, voice, and repair. The branches are ours to grow — into every community, every conflict, every place where peace has not yet taken hold. And this year, we grow them together.
The conference is NYSDRA's signature statewide gathering — the place where the full breadth of New York's ADR community comes together: CDRC leaders, staff, and volunteers; independent practitioners; court professionals from the NYS Unified Court System; educators; advocates; and emerging voices entering the field for the first time. Through keynote conversations, interactive workshops, and structured dialogue, participants will leave with new connections, sharper tools, and a deeper sense of what this work means and where it is going.
This year carries something extra. Andrew Thomas himself will return to present the 30th anniversary PeaceBuilder Award in person — a milestone celebration of the individuals and organizations whose commitment to community-based peace has shaped New York State. And the conference will serve as the public launch of the Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund, NYSDRA's inaugural endowment campaign to sustain community dispute resolution for generations to come.
Thirty years of peace. One gathering. Come be part of it.
Peace is built — deliberately,
collectively, against resistance.
Conference Highlights
What to Expect
Conference Schedule
Program Overview
The 2026 conference spans two days — a full virtual program on Thursday, October 8, followed by an in-person and hybrid gathering in Albany on Friday, October 9.
Full session descriptions and presenters will be posted as they are confirmed.
Submit a proposal! We welcome practitioners, educators, court professionals and community leaders at all career stages.
Our MEMBER Network
Community Dispute Resolution
in Every County
New York's Community Dispute Resolution Centers — established in 1981 under Article 21-A of the Judiciary Law — provide free and low-cost mediation, arbitration, restorative practices, and community dialogue services in all 62 counties. Supported by the NYS Unified Court System and coordinated by NYSDRA, these 18 centers served nearly 50,000 individuals last year alone.
They work in family courts and housing courts, in neighborhood disputes and workplace conflicts, in schools and correctional settings — wherever conflict arises and wherever people need support navigating difficult conversations, resolving disputes, and building stronger communities.
Get Involved
Join Us — In Every Way
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Celebrating 30 Years of the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award!
Established in 1996, the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose leadership, service, and innovation have advanced the field of dispute resolution and strengthened communities through dialogue, collaboration, and peacemaking.
The award is named in honor of Andrew Thomas, a founding member and first President of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA), founding member and former President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM), and one of the most influential leaders in the community mediation movement. Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, Andrew has served as a mediator, trainer, community organizer, executive director, and advocate for social justice, helping to establish and strengthen dispute resolution programs across New York State and beyond. He has trained thousands of mediators, facilitators, and arbitrators and continues to be recognized nationally for his contributions to the field.
NYSDRA is honored to welcome Andrew Thomas to the 2026 Annual Conference, where he will join us in person to present the 2026 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award during the conference luncheon on October 9.
To learn more about the Andrew Thomas Peacebuilder award, click here.
Andrew Thomas
Founding President, NYSDRA
Founding Member and Former President, NAFCM
To learn more about Andrew Thomas, click here.
๐Sponsorship Opportunities๐
Join us in celebrating and advancing access to justice by sponsoring the 2026 NYSDRA Annual Conference.
For more than 40 years, NYSDRA has supported the statewide network of Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) and the dedicated professionals and volunteers who help New Yorkers resolve conflict, strengthen relationships, and build healthier communities.
Your sponsorship helps make high-quality education, professional development, networking, and collaboration opportunities possible for ADR practitioners, court partners, community leaders, and volunteers from across New York State. Together, we are investing in a stronger future for conflict resolution, community engagement, and access to justice.
Support Peacebuilding by Becoming a Sponsor today!
Click on any sponsorship level below to learn more about the benefits, visibility opportunities, and recognition associated with each sponsorship package.
๐$10,000 – Legacy Partner
โญ$7,500 – Visionary Partner
๐$5,000 – Leadership Partner
๐ค$2,500 – Advocate Partner
๐$1,000 – Sustaining Sponsor
๐ฑ$500 – Community Supporter
๐$250 – Friend of NYSDRA
๐Your Support Makes It All Happen!๐
Ready to become a sponsor?
Contact us at conference@nysdra.org or (518) 687-2240, or select a sponsorship level above to secure your sponsorship today.
Thank you for helping NYSDRA advance access to justice, strengthen communities, and promote the peaceful resolution of conflict throughout New York State.