Jennifer Magida
Chief Executive Officer
New York Peace Institute

Jennifer Magida joined New York Peace Institute as Chief Executive Officer in January of 2019; she is a strategic thinker, passionate about exploring alternative means to address conflict, and thrilled to be part of an organization so committed to its communities and New York City. In 2015, Jennifer founded Youth Advocacy Corps, an organization dedicated to empowering and mobilizing young people in NYC to combat poverty and become advocates and catalysts for change in their own communities. She led Youth Advocacy Corps until 2019 and continues to serve as a Director and advisor to their staff and corps of youth advocates. Prior to her work with Youth Advocacy Corps, Jennifer worked for almost ten years as a public interest attorney in New York City, first as a Staff Attorney in the Homelessness Outreach and Prevention Project at the Urban Justice Center, and subsequently as a litigator with the Special Litigation Unit at the New York Legal Assistance Group. Jennifer has also served on the Boards of Directors of multiple NYC-based non-profits and worked at a legal aid clinic in Cape Town, South Africa, at UNESCO in Paris, France, and at the AIRE Centre, a human rights organization in London, England. Jennifer received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A. from Yale University.

Michele Kirschbaum

Director of Programs
New York Peace Institute

Michele Kirschbaum is a member of the Leadership Team and is regarded as a leader in the field of conflict resolution. She is regarded as an expert in mediation, conflict coaching and restorative justice, and oversees all New York Peace Institute programs that are offered in the courts, schools, workplace, and community. Prior to New York Peace Institute, Michele was formerly the Director of the Safe Horizon Brooklyn Mediation Center.

Michele is a recipient of the Lawrence Cooke Peace Innovator Award, given by the New York State Dispute Resolution Association for providing innovative leadership in her work in Special Education Mediation. She was also given the Bertrum Beck Achievement Award by Safe Horizon and distinguished by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office with an Extraordinary Women’s Award.

Ayanna Behin
Director of Training &
Conflict Consulting
New
York Peace Institute

Ayanna Behin is the Director of Training & Conflict Consulting at New York Peace Institute. Ayanna is a certified mediator, a circle keeper, a certified conflict coach, and a lead trainer. In her role, Ayanna trains individuals, groups and organizations in key conflict resolution skills to de-escalate conflict, mediate disputes, as well as to facilitate and lead complicated conversations. Ayanna designs individualized programs for organizations and groups to address a broad range of issues that can impact day-to-day operations and morale. She also facilitates community discussions around core and sometimes controversial issues.

Ayanna received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1993 and her Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law in 1999.  Before joining New York Peace Institute, she worked as a consultant for a boutique law firm specializing in employment and copyright infringement cases, as part of the management team of a global law firm, and as a litigation associate at a midsize national firm. In addition, Ayanna is a Board Member of a Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, was President of the Community Education Council for District 13 in Brooklyn until June 2021, and has previously worked on several national campaigns at a global environmental nonprofit.

Kailani Capote
Manager of Youth Programs
New York Peace Institute

Kailani Capote is the Manager of Youth Programs at New York Peace Institute (NYPI). She is a certified mediator, circle keeper, conflict coach, conferencing facilitator, and a lead trainer for circles, restorative practices, and conflict resolution. Since joining NYPI in 2016, Kailani has been a Restorative Justice Coordinator, working with staff and youth in schools and community groups, training and supporting their implementation of restorative practices. Kailani is also the Manhattan coordinator for our Community Resolve Initiative (CRI), offering youth a restorative pathway during their adjustment period with the Department of Probation. Kailani earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology from Delaware State University and CUNY Hunter College, respectively, and a master’s degree in Restorative Practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP).

Chris Daly
Director of Mediator Education &
Quality Assurance
New York Peace Institute

Chris Daly is an attorney, state-certified trainer, mediator, conflict coach & circle keeper. She loves teaching the craft of mediation, and she oversees the growth and development of New York Peace Institute’s certified mediators from the start of their training throughout their time on NYPI’s roster of neutrals. Chris leads the Basic Mediation Training, Advanced Mediation Training, and manages NYPI’s competitive Apprenticeship Program, which is an education program for aspiring conflict resolution professionals. She is dedicated to identifying innovative approaches to bringing people together so they can manage disagreements creatively and constructively.