The 21 trainees proudly holding their Certificates of Completion from ĢAV/LBSF and CLUSTER, marking the successful completion of their New York State Community Mediation training.
In January 2026, ĢAV’s mediation training program celebrated a major milestone in its long-standing commitment to conflict resolution and community: its 25th anniversary.
Over the past twenty-five years, Mercy has successfully trained more than 700 students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members have been trained as New York State community mediators, many of whom now serve courts, schools, workplaces and communities throughout the region.
“We are immensely proud of our newest cohort and of the growing army of peacemakers they now join—individuals prepared to listen deeply, navigate conflict with integrity, and help others move from tension toward understanding,” said Professor Dorothy Balancio, program director, Sociology.
Balancio is also executive director of the Louis Balancio Scholarship Fund, a not-for- profit organization whose mission is to develop programming for conflict resolution that is encouraging people to learn the art of dispute resolution.
The 2026 training was conducted in collaboration with CLUSTER and the Louis Balancio Scholarship Foundation (LBSF), strengthening partnerships that reflect Mercy’s mission in action and its continued investment in access, service and leadership development.
Faculty and community members who generously supported this year’s training, including Dr. Kerlisha Broomes, Dr. Dorothy Balancio, the Honorable Lisa Maria Nero, Professor Michiko Kuroda, Professor Emeritus Diana Juettner, Professor Emeritus Dr. Art Lerman and Pastor Christopher James.