Our mission

Our mission is to connect and support conflict resolution practitioners and scholars in Maine,  New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut and improve the practice and public understanding of their work.

History

Founded in the 1980s and officially recognized as a chapter of the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution in 1992, before SPIDR merged with two other organizations to become the Association for Conflict Resolution, the New England chapter is one of the national association’s largest and oldest, with an impressive history of leadership in the national and regional dispute resolution communities.

NE-ACR’s members, who include mediators, arbitrators, collaborative professionals, lawyers, educators, students, and researchers, make up a lively, supportive professional community of people who share a strong commitment to promoting constructive conflict resolution and helping others in the field. The chapter provides accessible education and networking for dispute resolvers throughout New England. All of our activities promote best practices and increased understanding of conflict resolution for the public, experienced practitioners, and those new to the field.