Hello Mediation Mentors and thanks for signing up to be part of this incredible event!

Here is what you can expect on the day of the event:

8-9 AM - Enjoy an optional breakfast and hear from our Executive Director, Elissa Barrett, and other WJC staff who will introduce the day and set the tone. Please be sure to email Alexis if you want breakfast and a box lunch.

9-10 AM - Hear from our Keynote Speaker, Mario Fedelin, ED of Changeist. He’ll be sharing what he learned about the power and collective wisdom of young people that inspired him to a lifetime of action, dialog and community-building.

10-11:30 AM - Participate in Mock Mediation

11:30-12 PM - Enjoy a box lunch and closing reflections with other mediation mentors

We can’t wait to see you!

Crystal Williams, a Disability Informed Mediator and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) consultant, leads White & Williams ADR Services LLC, specializing in Special Education Dispute Resolution. Her expertise encompasses IEP facilitation, conflict management coaching, professional development, parent engagement, and trauma-informed practices. With a Masters of Dispute Resolution from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, Crystal expanded her mediation training through Waymakers Dispute Resolution Services and Mosten Guthrie Academy.

Active in various organizations, Crystal holds positions as a Board Member for the Southern California Mediation Association, Program Advisory co-chair for the Western Justice Center, advisor to the Board for Kids Managing Conflict, and coordinator of the Youth Police Dialogue series through the San Pedro Rotary Club.

Educationally, Crystal holds a Master of Arts in Teacher Education with dual special education credentials from Claremont Graduate University. With 15 years of K-12 teaching experience across different school levels, she now serves as a Social Justice Educator at Claremont Graduate University and the University of Redlands in their graduate teacher education preparation programs. Additionally, she earned a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University, focusing on treatment, and obtained a BA in Social Science with emphases in Psychology, along with minors in Psychology and Law and Children and Families in Urban America from The University of Southern California.

Her commitment extends to a 5-year tenure as an Adjunct Instructor at the Learning Rights Law Center’s T.I.G.E.R program, guiding parents through the IEP process and empowering families to navigate the special education system effectively.

Moreover, she is a seasoned public speaker, presenting at numerous local and national conferences.

Amber Ali is a dedicated professional in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) with over a decade of experience. Currently serving in a Business Development role as a Senior Case Manager at Judicate West, Amber has cultivated a warm and collaborative presence in the ADR industry.

Amber's journey in conflict resolution began during her formative years, where she served as a peer mediator at Carnegie Middle School. This early exposure ignited her passion for helping others navigate disputes, setting the foundation for her future career.

Armed with a graduate degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Amber has seamlessly blended her educational background with practical experience. Her commitment to the field is evident through a diverse career that spans both the non-profit and private sector. In various roles, she has excelled in training and developing mediation programs, mediating cases, and contributing as a former board member for Kids Managing Conflict (KMC), a sister organization of the Southern California Mediation Association. The mission of KMC is to support and promote programs in the K-12 schools that teach students conflict management skills and enrich their lives into adulthood.

Amber's proudest achievements lie in her advocacy for accessible conflict resolution programs, particularly for children and families in low-income and minority areas. Throughout her career, she has tirelessly worked to create resources that empower communities to manage conflicts constructively. Her dedication extends beyond the boardroom, as she remains deeply passionate about giving back to communities in need.

With a rich history of service and a commitment to making a positive impact, Amber Ali continues to be a driving force in the world of Alternative Dispute Resolution, demonstrating that mediation is not just a profession for her but a calling to create a more harmonious and just society.

Jason Harper is the founder of Harper Conflict Resolution, LLC. He specializes in Education and Employment mediation utilizing a collaborative approach. In addition, Jason is a nationally recognized alternative dispute resolution (ADR) consultant, conflict management coach, adjunct professor, and trainer.

Most notably, Jason is an ADR Consultant providing mediation and conflict resolution services to over 200 school districts and charter schools, including the Los Angeles County Office of Education. He is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law teaching on Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution as well as an Adjunct Professor of Mediation at Pacific Coast University, School of Law and Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. Jason has also provided mediation and conflict resolution training for organizations such as the Western Justice Center and the International Visitors Council, training adults from over twenty different countries. Jason has been recognized by the California State Senate and the United States Congress for his mediation training.

Jason served as the President of SCMA, one of the largest associations of mediators in the U.S. He is also one of the founding directors of Kids Managing Conflict, a non-profit dedicated to promoting conflict resolution programs for K-12thgrade students. Further, Jason served as the Vice President of MC3, a mediator certification organization that is professionalizing the field of mediation. Jason received his Master’s Degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding from California State University, Dominguez Hills and his mediation training from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California.

Will Hoadley-Brill has been working in peer mediation in school settings for more than a decade. Initially they began as a peer mediator at the middle school level before moving on to found the peer mediation program at their high school. After earning their BA in Peace Studies and Spanish Language, Literatures, and Cultures and a Masters of Education in Secondary Education from George Washington University in Washington, DC, Will now teaches Spanish at South Pasadena High School where they also serve as a co-advisor to the Peer Mediators. Will has also earned a Lifetime Achievement Award in Peer Mediation and Peace from Kids Managing Conflict.

Michael Powell is the Vice President for the Construction Division of the American Arbitration Association® (AAA) and manages the Los Angeles Regional Office. He is a 30-year veteran with AAA, responsible for expanding the use of AAA construction and commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services in the Pacific West region. In this role, he frequently interacts with clients who file cases and the panelists who serve as arbitrators and mediators. He also has national responsibility for developing the AAA’s construction caseload and works closely with construction industry associations through the AAA’s National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee (NCDRC). In this capacity, he assists the corporate, legal and public sector communities by educating them on proven dispute avoidance and resolution techniques and in designing dispute resolution systems to meet their specific needs.

Mr. Powell is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino. He is an author and frequent presenter on the subject of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He gives back to the ADR community with service as an active Board Member and past President of the California Dispute Resolution Council (CDRC), and is an advisor to several local ADR member organizations.