The Center for Dispute Settlement (CDS) will host its 13th Annual Awards Luncheon on September 26 "Visions of Peace" at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Daniel Bowling, executive director of the Association for Conflict Resolution (recent merger of SPIDR, The Academy of Family Mediators, and the Conflict Resolution Education Network) will be the keynote speaker. This event recognizes individuals from Rochester and surrounding counties who have proven their commitment to peace through community service and actions. It brings approximately 100 regional students together with law enforcement, education, judicial and business professionals.

Special recognition this year will be certificates of award presented to selected students from schools participating in Developing 21st Century Problem Solvers, a CDS youth initiative. This project brings mediation and conflict resolution skills to 6 area schools, establishing, in some cases, mediation programs where none had existed, and a new generation of peer mediators.

Four established awards are presented:

Peer Mediator Award, honoring a high school student and a college student who exemplify peaceful problem solving using dispute resolution principles in their school or college/university.

Community Service for Peace Award, honors a local citizen or citizens who, by extraordinary activities and personal example, has promoted the causes of nonviolence and peace, civility and conciliation either in our community or globally.

Distinguished Jurist Award, honoring a judge or justice who, by recommendations from the bench, has published essays and/or other initiatives, and has advanced the practice and understanding of mediation and other forms of dispute resolution as a valuable, humane and cost effective mechanism for resolving conflicts outside the court system.

Janus Award, honoring a CDS volunteer mediator or associate for outstanding efforts to promote the principles of the practice of non-violent conflict resolution in the eight-county area that CDS serves.