Massachusetts Collaborative Law

The Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council (MCLC) joined forces and resources with the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation (MCFM) and the Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM) to hire Dr. David Campt of The Dialogue Company and Matthew Freeman, co-author with Tiffany Jana of “Overcoming Bias”, to assist our organizations with education on unconscious bias and how it impacts the diversity and equity in our dispute resolution community.  Dr. Camp and Mr. Freeman, working with our organizations' leaders designed a 4-part series aimed at improving our organizations' understanding of these issues and drafting an action plan for creating greater diversity, equity and inclusion both in our organizations and in the larger dispute resolution community.

To that end, and in the interest of having the largest possible impact of this work, we are sharing the video recordings of Parts 1 and 2 of that series below.  Please share with anyone who may be interested and can benefit from this information. If you are a member of MCLC, MCFM, or APFM please consider joining our respective Diversity & Equity Committees to assist in this important work.  

Diversity Workshop Series Part 1 -- Keynote Presentation: "Unconscious Bias: Creating an Understanding that Works for Everyone"
Recorded on Friday, November 20, 2020 
Speaker: Dr. David Campt, The Dialogue Company

During this keynote, Dr. Campt reviews the insidious nature of unconscious bias, explores the ways that our lack of recognition of it and of bullt-in racial hierarchies tend to undermine goals of an inclusive, caring and just society and collaborative professions.  It is geared towards professionals working in dispute resolution, but the themes can be globally applied.  

Diversity Workshop Series, Part 2 -- Key Findings/Literature Review 
Recorded on Friday, January 29, 2021
Presenters: Dr. David Campt and Matthew Freeman

APFM, MCFM, MCLC Pt. 2 from The Dialogue Company on Vimeo.

During this workshop, Dr. Campt and Mr. Freement will provide a synopsis of the state of research about the ways that bias, privilege, and structural racism affect the dispute resolution arts of family law, financial planning, mediation and coaching. In addition, the presentation will include guidance about how dispute resolution organizations should evaluate their own progress on inclusion and equity.

Parts 3 and 4 of the Workshop Series will will be open to MCFM Board Members and MCFM's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee members only. If you are interested in participating in the Part 3 and Part 4 active workshops please consider joining the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. For more information on the committee, reach out to chair Deb Smith at Lawdeb@aol.com.