Getting Started

You've been doing conflict resolution all of your life. Conflict resolution is the craft of human interaction. Children do it with peers in grade school, teenagers do it with parents and teachers, adults do it at work and in their personal lives; no one is immune from the endeavor of resolving conflicts. The type of conflict resolution work done by ACR-GNY members runs the gamut from interpersonal relational therapy and advice to the resolution of commercial contract disputes, and includes everything from intraorganizational dispute resolution and workplace communication to international peacebuilding and high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts. 

Conflict resolution is not only a set of processes to resolve disputes; it can be a guiding set of principles and values as one runs a business and navigates both work and personal relationships. Conflict resolution is not just a career path; it is also a means of making any other career path outside of conflict resolution more fulfilling, less frustrating, and more successful. Precisely because it is such a broad category of human interaction, it can be hard to know where to begin. But if you're asking these questions, you have come to the right place.

ACR-GNY is a "big tent" organization, welcoming conflict resolvers from all walks of life, academic fields, and industry experiences, including volunteers in community dispute resolution centers, teachers and thought leaders, human resource and organizational management professionals, along with lawyers, arbitrators, mediators, and judges. Conflict resolution is taught in the most prestigious universities and law schools in the world, but it is also taught in kindergarten classrooms. We all have something to learn, and we all have something to teach.

In order to get started in conflict resolution, one must be able to:

• Find a community
• Develop skills
• Explore enriching opportunities
• Gain experience
• Find clients and colleagues
  

One of the most important ways to get started in conflict resolution is to seek out and find mentors and thought leaders who can help one develop knowledge, skills, and experience in the field. ACR-GNY is an unparalleled resource and an unmatched community of practitioners, thought leaders, and academics in the conflict resolution space. ACR-GNY is a great place to find your bearings, meet a wonderful and warm community, and develop the skills and insight that you will need as you embark upon your own career in conflict resolution.

Conflict resolution is both a booming academic field and a fast-growing industry. There are many resources available to learn about conflict resolution, to hone your skills, and to set out on your own conflict resolution career path. 

ACR-GNY provides an unmatched community, a robust set of programs for skill development, enrichment opportunities to learn from scholars and thought leaders, and a place to make new connections; ACR-GNY is the hub for your conflict resolution journey. Our members possess diverse and varied experiences in the field and include individuals pursuing numerous career paths with affiliations with a wide array of organizations, some of which are listed below.