MEDIATION ACADEMY HONORS YOUNG DIPLOMATS PROGRAM

By: Bruce A. Blitman, Chair

The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, Inc., the state's largest association for dispute resolvers, recently presented its first annual Community Involvement Awards at The Academy's Annual Education Conference in Ortando. The Young Diplomats. a successful and innovative collaborative program between the School Board of Broward County's Office of Diversity & Cultural Outreach and the Broward County Bar Association, was selected as one of six deserving programs to receive a 2004 Community Involvement Award. The core of the program. now in its fourth year, is the belief that: Respect is the key to a hate-free millennium.

The Community Involvement Award was presented to The Young Diplomats, and the five other recipients. " in recognition and appreciation of your outstanding efforts to promote mediation. tolerance and peaceful solutions in your community." As part of their recognition, the honorees each received a grant in the amount of $250.00 from The Academy. Academy President Charles N. Castagna and BCBA member Bruce A. Blitman, who chairs The Academy's Community Involvement Committee, presented the Award to Nancy Weintraub, Community Liaison for the office of Diversity & Cultural Outreach and point Person for The Young Diplomats.