Conflicts based upon race, religion, immigration status, gender identity, political polarization or other societal differences and events have been polarizing communities throughout the United States. This Roundtable will showcase the important work being done by The Divided Community Project at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, a national initiative which provides neutral conflict resolution services and systems-design expertise to state and local as well as university leaders to help them prepare for and respond to conflicts.
Using a “fishbowl simulation,” the audience will examine how an evolving community conflict challenges a team of local leaders trying to respond to stakeholders with diverging identities and interests. What constructive ADR ideas, principles and tools can mediators/conciliators offer in addressing such challenging complex conflicts?
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Carl Smallwood
Carl Smallwood is the Executive Director of the Divided Community Project (DCP). Launched in 2015, DCP is housed in the nation’s #1 ranked Program on Dispute Resolution at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. DCP is an action-oriented, national initiative that provides neutral conflict resolution services and systems-design expertise to state, local and university leaders to help them prepare for and respond to conflicts based upon race, religion, immigration status, gender identity, political polarization or other societal differences and events that polarize their communities. The goal is to strengthen local capacity to transform division into collaboration. DCP’s direct intervention and consultation services are provided upon request and free of charge to the localities.
Carl chairs the American Bar Association’s Advisory Commission to the Task Force on American Democracy. He is a past president of the Columbus Bar Association and of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. In January, he was recognized with the 2025 NCBP/LexisNexis Rule of Law award.
He has moderated and facilitated programs for large audiences engaged in transformational solution-oriented discussions exploring processes to convene groups across division in troubled times, challenges to democracy and the rule of law, and diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, among other topics.
Carl is a retired partner from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, was selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America, and teaches Resolving Community Civil Rights Disputes as a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
Questions? Email mvolpe@jjay.cuny.edu
Views expressed in connection with any Roundtable event publicity or at sessions are those of the speakers and participants and not of the CUNY DRC or ACR-GNY.
