Celebrating 30 Years of PeaceBuilding
NYSDRA's 2026 Annual Conference
The New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) proudly hosted its 2026 Annual Conference, bringing together dispute resolution professionals, mediators, arbitrators, community dispute resolution center (CDRC) staff, and advocates from across New York State and beyond. The conference celebrated the power of collaboration, the impact of community-based conflict resolution, and the continued advancement of accessible, equitable, and innovative dispute resolution practices.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in Peace: One Tree, Many Branches” reflected the shared commitment of New York’s dispute resolution community to cultivating peace, strengthening connections, and fostering growth across the field. Throughout the conference, attendees explored new approaches to conflict resolution, exchanged knowledge and experiences, and celebrated the people and partnerships that continue to advance the mission of ADR.
The Annual Conference took place over two days, October 8–9, 2026, with virtual programming through Zoom Events on both days and an in-person gathering at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York, on October 9. The two-day event featured keynote presentations, educational sessions, and opportunities for networking and professional development, bringing together practitioners and thought leaders to examine the challenges, opportunities, and evolving practices shaping the future of dispute resolution.
The conference also celebrated significant milestones in NYSDRA’s history and ongoing work. A highlight was the 30th anniversary of NYSDRA’s administration of the New York State Attorney General’s Lemon Law Arbitration Program, recognizing three decades of work supporting the program and facilitating access to dispute resolution for New York consumers. The conference also marked the public launch of the Lawrence H. Cooke Legacy Fund, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the future of community dispute resolution and expanding access to these vital services.
The in-person program on October 9 featured a breakfast, educational programming, and a celebration lunch honoring the 30th Anniversary of the Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to peacebuilding and dispute resolution. Together, these moments celebrated the enduring impact of NYSDRA’s work while looking toward the future of a field rooted in collaboration, community, and peacebuilding.
A Celebration of Milestones...
...and Honoring a Legacy
The Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award
Lou Gieszl
Accepted Award on Behalf of
The Maryland Judiciary's
Mediation & Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO)
2026 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award Recipient
The Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award was established in 1996 to honor individuals and organizations that have promoted the field of dispute resolution.
The award was designed in 1996 in honor of its recipient Tekaronianeken Jake Swamp, Sub-chief of the Wolf Clan for the Mohawk Nation, and Director of the Tree of Peace Society. Chief Swamp worked to promote peace both within his culture and across the country, and he was an important activist in peace building. He was at Wounded Knee, the Ganienkeh Land Reclamation, the Longest walk, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Takeover, the Akwesasne Bridge Blockade, the Fourth Russell Tribunal in the Netherlands and was a delegate to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Later in his career Chief Swamp traveled nationally and internationally planting trees for peace and enlightening people about the culture and contributions of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
The award was subsequently renamed in honor of the 1998 awardee, Andrew Thomas. Mr. Thomas was the first president of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association Board of Directors and a past Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Community Mediation. In addition to having served as the Executive Director of the Center for Dispute Settlement in Rochester, community organizer, mediator, a leader in social justice reform, Mr. Thomas has trained thousands of individuals to become mediators, facilitators and arbitrators for court ADR programs.
Cementing a Legacy...
Public Launch of The Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund
Theresa Hobbs
Announced the Public Launch of
The Lawrence H. Cooke
Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund
Funding Period (April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2029)
Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke believed that access to justice extends beyond the courtroom - that New Yorkers deserved the chance to resolve conflict in their own communities. Through his leadership, New York created one of the nation's first statewide networks of Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs).
To preserve and strengthen Chief Judge Cooke's legacy, the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) has established the Lawrence H. Cooke Dispute Resolution Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund, managed by Merrill Lynch, is a $1.5 million permanent endowment that will provide long-term support for community dispute resolution throughout New York State. By creating a stable source of funding for CDRCs beyond annual appropriations, the endowment will help ensure that Judge Cooke's vision continues to serve future generations.
New York's statewide network of Community Dispute Resolution Centers are the living expression of Chief Judge Cooke's vision. Established by legislation he championed in 1981, the CDRC network reaches all 62 counties of the state — bringing trained mediators into communities to help neighbors, families, businesses, and courts resolve conflict without the cost or adversarial nature of litigation.
Each year, CDRCs serve tens of thousands of New Yorkers who might otherwise have no access to a fair, impartial process for resolving their disputes. The Legacy Fund exists to protect and sustain that work.