Mediation - An Important Life Skill, An Interview with Elaine Roberts

Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world!

On today's episode, Jeff welcomes guest Elaine Roberts, Attorney and Executive Director of the Dispute Resolution Center in Montgomery County, Texas. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center and has extensive experience as a civil rights attorney and mediator in both the public and private sectors. Before joining the DRC of Montgomery County, she served as Director of the Houston Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, Legal Director of a statewide disability rights organization, and was a volunteer mediator, trainer, and board member for the DRC of Harris County.

To begin, Elaine shares that she was the recipient of the prestigious 2020 Justice Frank Evans Award. Each year, the state board recognizes an individual who has contributed to the field of alternative dispute resolution. Since she was a young girl, Elaine knew that she wanted to pursue a career that would allow her to make a positive impact in the world. She studied history and sociology during undergrad, subjects which both apply to law. When discovered the field of disability law, she fell in love with the subject and saw it as an opportunity to make a difference in the world. She began to learn about the discrimination faced by people with disabilities. From there, she focused on her mediation practice, which sought to give people alternative methods to litigation law.

The Dispute Resolution Center, Elaine explains, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded in 1988 by the Commissioners Court and Board Association. From the beginning, the DRC allowed counties to establish alternative dispute resolution centers for their citizens. There are now 17 of these centers across the state. Their core mission is to provide high-quality service and training for people to become mediators. The program actively works with students in their community to instill alternative conflict resolution skills in young people. Over 11,000 children have been through the program at the DRC. They also host an annual bookmark art contest to promote the center and its teachings. Before wrapping up, Elaine gives listeners a look into the DRC's plans for 2024. They will be expanding their juvenile justice programs. They will also be doing a 40-hour general mediation training course in June, during which volunteers will act as experienced mediator mentors. Reflecting on the course of her career, Elaine ends the episode by identifying her own personal and professional game changers.

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