The JAMS Foundation will, on occasion, initiate and fund major projects in selected areas of dispute resolution education, training or services, based on its own assessment of current needs and available opportunities.
Major Dispute Resolution Initiatives
Current Initiatives
Police-Community Relations
In response to recurring incidents of violence and social unrest involving police and community members nationwide, the Foundation is proud to support specialized mediation and de-escalation training for law enforcement personnel and to facilitate vital communication between police and community stakeholders addressing the sources of conflict and fostering mutual understanding and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (Columbus, OH)
Divided Community Project - A $1.2 million multi-year grant supporting a wide-ranging initiative to provide public officials and community leaders across the country with resources and technical support to foster resiliency, address divisive issues before they lead to civil unrest, and respond constructively to violent social conflict that does occur. The multi-faceted Project includes the active participation of experienced interveners, public officials, current and former chiefs of police, bar association representatives, community leaders, scholars and researchers nationwide.
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/dividedcommunityproject
Community Boards (San Francisco, CA)
Oakland Police Review Agency Mediation Program – a multi-year, $240,000 grant to develop an effective and sustainable mediation program for a range of citizen complaints against Oakland Police Department officers, including specialized training for participating mediators and a proactive effort to promote the mediation of citizen complaints, and facilitate parties’ participation in the process.
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law – Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Malibu, CA)
Beyond the Dialogue Initiative - A two-year, $450,000 grant supporting a series of coordinated conflict resolution trainings, interventions and collaborations between Los Angeles Police Department officers, community leaders and interested stakeholders throughout Los Angeles County. The initiative seeks to honor the distinct experiences of law enforcement and community members while fostering a shared basis for mutual understanding and collaborative action.
https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/beyondthedialogue/
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (Detroit, MI)
Community Policing Innovations Fund - $40,000 to support a variety of programs and activities for community members and law enforcement in several communities in Southeast Michigan. The initiative seeks to encourage a range of approaches to restoring trust and improving relations between the police and the communities they serve, including data collection, public storytelling, disability awareness training, and Police-Community Summits focused on restorative practices and collaborative problem solving.
https://cfsem.org/initiative/innovative-policing/
Center for Conflict Resolution (Chicago, IL)
Pilot Mediation Program for Citizen Complaints of CPD - $50,000 to support a pilot mediation program for select police misconduct complaints involving Chicago Police Department officers, including issues of perceived bias, harassment, discourteous treatment and failure to provide appropriate service, providing opportunities for transformational dialogue between officers and community members to address harms caused and rebuild public trust.
New York Peace Institute (New York, NY)
Police Training and Mediation Referral Initiative - A three-year, $380,000 grant to provide specialized mediation and de-escalation training for police officers throughout New York City, creating cadres of Neighborhood Coordination Officers specially trained to de-escalate and resolve conflict, and to foster more positive relations with local communities. The project also creates a robust referral program to community mediation centers and resources for creating similar programs for law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Public Issue Facilitation
With our society increasingly divided over issues of public interest and concern, the need for effective processes to help parties reach consensus on political, civic or governmental issues has seldom been greater. The JAMS Foundation supports efforts to address contentious public policy issues through constructive dialogue and collaborative stakeholder engagement.
Convergence Center for Policy Resolution (Washington, DC) – In partnership with the National Association of Counties, and building on its long experience convening disparate stakeholders to develop breakthrough solutions to previously intractable conflicts, this $75,000 grant supports the development and implementation of a Learning Lab, providing government officials and community leaders with critical skills for engaging stakeholders and resolving matters of public concern, extending Convergence’s model to organizations and communities nationwide.
Previously Funded Initiatives
Conflict Resolution Education in Teacher Education (CRETE)
Temple University/Educators for Social Responsibility/Creative Response to Conflict/Western Justice Center Foundation
A four-year, $600,000 grant to substantially increase the number of public school teachers provided conflict resolution education and training. In partnership with graduate level departments of education, school districts, and non-profit providers nationwide, this initiative provided conflict resolution training to pre-service and in-service teachers and administrators, as well as support services to build capacity, sustainability and a culture of conflict prevention and resolution in schools throughout the U.S.