Straus Alternative Dispute Resolution and Social Entrepreneurship Students Present Final Pitches Spring 2026
Students in the ADR and Social Entrepreneurship course led by professor Helen Winter at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution showcased their semester-long work by presenting final Social ADR project pitches to a panel of distinguished experts. The course invites participants to apply dispute resolution principles, negotiation, mediation, and system design toward social challenges, culminating in public presentations that mirror real-world stakeholder engagement and potential funding opportunities.
This year’s judging panel included William Nix (Creative Projects Group), Amy Wood (Pepperdine Most Fundable Companies List), Jonathan Pearce (SoCal IP Law Group LLP), Elissa Barrett (Western Justice Center), and David Brandon (JAMS Foundation), who offered students valuable feedback on their proposals through thoughtful questions and supportive commentary.
The student teams presented the following projects that demonstrated innovative approaches to conflict resolution and community impact:
- Rebuild Resolve Recover: A project designed to support fire survivors with conflict resolution training and professional mediation resources to better equip them for the challenging conversations that arise during recovery. - Belle Li, Hailey Castillo
- Mediation Education PH: A plan to upgrade dispute resolution processes in the Philippines by training the next generation of mediators through formal mediation trainings and seminars grounded in internationally regarded principles and values. - Lorenzo Miguel Escalona
- Moving TogetHER: A dual-purpose mentorship program for women in domestic violence shelters, offering resources and a support network to help participants break free from cycles of violence. - Elizabeth Crawford, Kayla Bruckert
- Dialogue & Dignity Lab: An initiative to foster dialogue that promotes conflict prevention, access to justice, and community empowerment of first generation students and workers through shared experiences and educational programming. - Tatiana Valente, Sergio Ortiz, and Marie Pierce
Each project reflected the core ethos of the class by connecting ADR methodologies with social entrepreneurship strategies to address pressing community needs and systemic challenges. The sessions provided students with expert guidance and constructive critique from professionals across legal, business, and nonprofit sectors, reinforcing the real-world relevance of their work.
As social conflicts and institutional challenges continue to evolve globally, the integration of Alternative Dispute Resolution with entrepreneurial problem-solving equips students with tools to design sustainable, impactful solutions. The Straus Institute looks forward to continuing this capstone experience next spring.
