National Cultural Competency Forum for Legal Profession to Air on October 19, 2023

LOS ANGELES, October 4, 2023 (Newswire.com) - On Oct. 19, 2023, in a program free to the public in honor of National Conflict Resolution Day, the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators will publicly air a full replay of the 2022 National Cultural Competency Forum (NCCF). The online event is entitled EAST MEETS WEST: CULTURAL COMPETENCY/SENSITIVITY FORUM FOR MEDIATORS, JUDGES, LAWYERS AND OTHER LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. 

The program was originally co-created and co-hosted in 2022 by the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM), Cultural Competency in Family Practice in California (CCFP), the New York City Bar's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Florida Center for Cultural Competence, and the Iranian American Lawyers Association. Co-moderators of the 2022 NCCF were Abbas Hadjian (California); Lawrence R. Jones, Joni Jones, Margarita Echevarria (New Jersey); James A. Lewis V (New York); and Gail Price-Wise (Florida). The program was sponsored by Our Family Wizard and featured 26 speakers from throughout the country on issues addressing disputes between persons of different backgrounds and cultures.

Honorary co-sponsors of the 2022 NCCF included the University of New Mexico, Rutgers University Law School, University of West Los Angeles Law School, Monmouth University (President's Council on Diversity and Inclusion), Montclair University, Kean University (Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship), Autism Speaks, the National Disability Rights Network, the Academy of Professional Mediators, and others. In 2022, the program was nationally released through the hosting organizations as an educational public service.

Lawrence R. Jones, Chair of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators' Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Competency, stated: "NJAPM was extremely excited to be jointly collaborating with all of these energetic and socially conscious organizations from sister states to create this first-time national program on such a significant subject. The NCCF continues to be open to all, and the material that each diverse panel covers is comprehensive and valuable for both new and experienced professionals alike.

Margarita Echevarria, Vice-President of NJAPM, commented: "The need to grow in cultural competence in all legal forums, but especially ADR environments, is related to increasing belief and trust in our judicial system. This program offers a number of lenses for participants through which this goal may be understood and realized."

James Lewis, former Executive Director for the NYC Bar Office of Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging, and Chief DEI Officer for the law firm of Cole Schotz, stated, "With a cross-section of judges, legal professionals, and practitioners, this program offers the unique opportunity for participants to learn from a highly successful diverse group of individuals who are deeply wedded to advancing cultural competence within the profession. This is a unique opportunity to learn best practices and receive thoughtful and inspiring insights from recognized thought leaders throughout the country."

Matthew Havrevold of Our Family Wizard (OFW) summed up the spirit and intent of the program. "Our Family Wizard is honored to be a sponsor of this historic National Cultural Competency Forum. OFW's mission is to help families living separately thrive, and this includes all families from every type of background and way of life. Cultural competency is a core tenet of OFW's value to champion inclusion, for both our employees and our customers, and we could not be prouder to support this program and the amazing group of expert panelists behind it."

For more information, contact:
NJAPM: https://njapm.org (email: Victoria Slatton, Executive Director: Victoria.slatton@njapm.org)

Source: NJAPM