Introducing Conversity 2010 Awardees

by: Charles Chang, Executive Director

Jeff Kichaven: Excellence in Mediation Award

For the first time, APADRC is awarding the Excellence in Mediation Award.  It was created this year to distinguish those in mediation that exemplify the best of what mediation can do for people.  There are many people in different levels that practice mediation, but few have the vast knowledge and experience in mediation as well as embody its transformative power like Jeff Kichaven.  Jeff's reputation in the mediation field and in the community makes him the ideal person to receive the Excellence in Mediation award.

Jeff Kichaven is an internationally recognized speaker and writer on mediation. He is a leading voice on the ways lawyers and mediators can, and must, work together to serve clients better. He has addressed audiences of lawyers in the United States, Canada, and England for six Sections of the American Bar Association (Business Law, Dispute Resolution, Family Law, Law Practice Management, Litigation and Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice). He has also addressed the Practicing Law Institute, ALI-ABA, the State Bar of California, the Texas Association of Mediators, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Wisconsin Association of Mediators, the California Center for Judicial Education and Research ("Judges' College"), the USC Insurance Law Institute, California Continuing Education of the Bar, the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations, the national seminar series of the Negotiation Strategy Institute and many other organizations. Several of his recent articles, including the widely published "Mediation is Not for Sissies," are included in his website. 

Union Bank: Corporate Leadership in Diversity Award

The Corporate Leadership in Diversity award is being awarded to Union Bank for promoting diversity as the best practice in banking and the corporate world.  Diversity is promoted within the leadership of the bank as well as by creating policies that will allow people from all communities to access Union Bank.  Diversity Magazine named Tisa Jackson, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion at Union Bank, on its list ofThe 2010 Most Powerful and Influential Women in California.

More than 145 years ago, the bank's founders had a vision of offering comprehensive financial solutions to individuals and businesses. Today, Union Bank honors that history with a commitment to superior service for our customers, employees, shareholders and the communities we serve.  Union Bank is currently owned by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU).

California Teachers Association: Excellece in Education

In a dark period when funding for education is being cut at all levels, the California Teachers Association promotes the value teachers hold in the education of our children.  Without all the remarkable teachers who have shaped our leaders, innovators, healers, artists and community servants, our world would lack the infrastructure to evolve and become better than the previous generation.  The Excellence in Education award is given to the California Teachers Association for continuing to nurture the people who educate, and support those who will shape our world tomorrow.

The California Teachers Association (CTA) is California's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 325,000 public school teachers, counselors, psychologists, librarians, other non-supervisory certificated personnel, and Education Support Professionals. CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association.  More than 1,100 chapters or local teachers associations are chartered as CTA affiliates. Two unique CTA Chapters are "statewide" affiliates: The California Faculty Association, the bargaining agent for professors in the California State University system and the Community College Association, representing members in 42 chapters who work in 72 community college districts across the state.

To purchase event tickets, please visit www.apadrc.org/conversity. For information on sponsorship or program book ads, please contact EunJi Bang at eunji.bang@apadrc.org or 213. 250. 8190 x23.