Professor Helen Winter Presents "Catalysts for Change: Exploring the Mediator’s Role in Social Activism" -- SCMA Annual Conference

Professor Helen Winter presented "Catalysts for Change: Exploring the Mediator’s Role in Social Activism" at the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) Annual Conference. The conference was hosted at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law on Saturday, October 25.

Dr. Winter's session explored how mediators can serve as catalysts for meaningful social transformation by bridging divides and empowering communities. Drawing on Winter’s experience as founder of R3SOLUTE, a nonprofit that trains refugees and locals as peer mediators, and as designer of Pepperdine’s pioneering ADR & Social Entrepreneurship course and Community Conflict Resolution Lab, participants examined how mediation tools can be adapted to address systemic inequities, build resilience, and foster dialogue in polarized contexts.

Grounded in trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches, the workshop offered practical strategies for integrating social activism with dispute resolution practice. Attendees left inspired with innovative frameworks for transforming conflict into opportunities for justice, collaboration, and sustainable coexistence.