In a time when division and uncertainty are all around us, how do we build bridges instead of walls? How do we create spaces where every voice feels heard, valued, and respected?

Join David A. Hoffman, mediator, arbitrator, and lecturer at Harvard Law School, and Leyla Balakhane, a respected family law mediator and educator who leads a comprehensive 40-hour training for professionals, for a timely and practical conversation about:

   •   Cultivating respectful communication in polarized spaces

   •   Understanding how our identities shape our interactions

   •   Meeting discomfort and disagreement with curiosity and care

   •   Creating inclusive environments that foster trust and connection

Wednesday, August 13 at 6:00 PM

This isn’t just about conflict resolution — it’s about leadership, empathy, and how we choose to show up for one another in challenging times.

COST

SCMA Members - No Cost

Non-Members- $45.00

LEYLA BALAKHANE is a family law mediator known for her compassionate and effective approach to conflict resolution. She co-founded Mediation 40 Hour Training Mastery with Jennifer Terando to guide and inspire the next generation of mediators. A recipient of the 2023 President’s Award from the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), Leyla serves on its Board of Directors and chairs the Membership Committee. She also leads SCMA’s monthly Professional Development Group for Family Law Mediators and is on the Board of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators, where she contributes to national and international mediation efforts. Leyla’s practice centers on helping families create safe, supportive environments for children. She mediates in areas including divorce, adoption, family businesses, eldercare, premarital and post-marital agreements, and blended family dynamics. At Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court, she serves as an advisor to mediators handling complex family cases. With warmth, expertise, and a global perspective, Leyla continues to elevate the field of mediation and support families in shaping their own futures

DAVID A. HOFFMAN is the John H. Watson, Jr. Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches three courses: Mediation; Diversity and Dispute Resolution; and Legal Profession: Collaborative Law.  David is also an attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and founding member of Boston Law Collaborative, LLC, where he handles cases involving family, business, employment, and other disputes.  Prior to founding Boston Law Collaborative in 2003, David was a litigation partner at the Boston firm Hill & Barlow, where he practiced for 17 years. He is past-chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and has published three books (including “Bringing Peace into the Room,” with co-editor Daniel Bowling).David is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review.  David lives in a cohousing community in Acton, Massachusetts with his wife, Leslie Warner.  They have five adult children, an adolescent cat, and a rescued golden retriever.