Our mission at the Center for Understanding in Conflict for over 40 years has been to train professionals and community members in the understanding-based approach to conflict resolution and mediation with the skills and self-awareness needed to bring understanding to conflict-driven conversations. Our vision is that people in conflict will engage in authentic conversations that build understanding between them.

In the United States, we have trained more than 4,000 lawyers, law teachers, judges, and other professionals in this method. And since 1990, the Center has trained conflict professionals in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Italy, France, and Russia. Center trainers have also used the model in training at Harvard’s Program of Instruction for Lawyers, the Harvard Negotiation Insight Initiative, the American Bar Association, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Center offers ongoing support groups, peer groups, and advanced training programs, both live and virtual.

We offer a diverse range of programming throughout the year, from our flagship 40-hour Working Creatively with Conflict conflict resolution and mediation to advanced specialized training events, a bi-annual teacher training cohort, monthly webinars, and more.

Our Inside Out: Self-Reflection for Conflict Professionals is for those who want to learn how to use self-reflection to help their clients by building an understanding of emotions, experiences, and biases that open them to empathy. Our Real Talk program, developed after years of difficult conversations about race, creates safe and effective spaces to dialogue about race and build relationships. Whether you’re looking for specialized topics to build on your mediation skills, want support from fellow practitioners, or seeking to start or expand your mediation practice, our advanced programs will help you grow your skills.

Our monthly webinar series provides practical insights and advice for conflict resolution professionals looking to continue developing their skills in bringing parties in conflict together. Our yearly membership program is for people who want ongoing support in the Understanding-Based Model and their conflict resolution work. Membership includes monthly webinars, discounts, and more.