COME JOIN US
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer mediators at the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) are at the core of our mission and are at the forefront of practice in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) field. At CCR, volunteers have a unique opportunity to mediate a wide range of high conflict, high emotion disputes with diverse parties.
Ways to Volunteer with the Center for Conflict Resolution:
Mediator Mentorship Program
To be a volunteer mediator with CCR, individuals must participate in a training program called the Mediator Mentorship Program (MMP).
The MMP prepares people to certify as mediators within CCR’s facilitative model of mediation through the guidance of an experienced mentor, mediation simulations, topical trainings, and skills exercises. The program currently involves weekly training over a 12-week period, culminating in a "Certification Simulation," where the candidate must demonstrate a mastery-level of required skills.
A prerequisite of application to the MMP is completion of a 40-hour Mediation Skills Training within the last 3 years (more details and approved trainings below).
If you are interested in applying to the program, please watch the informational video and then fill out a submission of interest form.
MMP programmatic details are constantly evolving.
CLICK HERE to request your email be added to the update list so you receive relevant information as it becomes available.
MMP Application & Program Details
Please follow the 2 steps below to apply for the program. You may complete these steps at any time and your submission of interest will stay on file for up to three years.
Current and qualified applicants will be invited to a "Matching Event" several weeks before the start of each MMP cycle. These events will be on Zoom and take between 60 - 90 minutes involving interview questions and activities designed to identify the most highly compatible candidates for a given cycle. Please note:
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We will likely be holding the next Matching Events in November or December of 2025 for admission into the January 2026 Cycle of the MMP.
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Please make sure you are signed up for the email list above so you will receive programmatic news and announcements as information becomes available
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All you need to do to be considered for these Matching Events is fill out the Submission of Interest Form below, and you will be contacted when a new set of Matching Events is scheduled.
It is common for there to be more applicants than CCR has resources to train, so people often apply to multiple cycles before a match is achieved. Not getting matched on the first attempt does not mean someone is unsuited to the program, but rather that they might not be the best fit for the programmatic needs of a given cycle.
CCR typically holds 1-2 MMP cycles per year, usually beginning in January or April. For 2025, there will be one cycle that includes the following fixed training dates (required for all selected participants):
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Monday, April 21, 2025 from 1:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Orientation in-person at CCR's office)
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Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Foundations Training via Zoom)
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Caucus & Agreement Writing via Zoom)
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Tuesday, June 17, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. .to 3:00 p.m. (Adapted Model Training via Zoom)
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Thursday, July 24, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Case Types & Scheduling in person at CCR's office)
Step 1 :
Informational Video (required viewing)
Step 2 :
Fill out a Submission of interest form
Prerequisite Training Requirement:
Applicants to the MMP must have completed a 40-hour Mediation Skills Training (MST) program no more than 3 years prior to applying. This can be achieved at any organization on the Circuit Court of Cook County’s approved list (that list appears below).
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If you have completed an approved MST within the last 3 years, you are qualified to apply to the MMP
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If it has been longer than 3 years since your training, you may be required to retake an approved MST prior to applying for the MMP
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If you have taken an approved MST more than 3 years ago, please contact Israel Putnam, Volunteer Director, to discuss your individual circumstances.
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If you need to take an approved MST, please see our website for training dates and registration opportunities with CCR. You will need to apply to the MMP after this training is completed
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT Israel Putnam, Volunteer Director:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 312-922-6464 Ext. 214
APPROVED 40 HR. TRAININGS
Center for Conflict Resolution
Title: 40-hour Mediation Skills Training
Aga Khan Conciliation and Arbitration Board (CAB USA)
The Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center
De Paul University
College of Law Center For Dispute Resolution
Title: “Mediation Certificate Training Course”
Dispute Resolutions, Inc.
Broward County Bar Association Conference Center
Title: “Circuit Civil Mediation Certification Training”
Dominican University
Title: Mediation Skills Training
Harvard Law School
Harvard Negotiation Institute
Title: “Mediation Workshop”
ICLEF (Indiana Continuing Legal Education Foundation)
Title: “Civil Mediation Training”
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Title: "40 Hour Mediation/Arbitration Training"
Mediation, Inc.
Title: “Civil Superior Court Mediation”
Miller, Andy B Mediation Skills, Inc.
Title: A 40-hour Performance Based Mediation Skills Training
National Judicial College
Title: “Civil Mediation”
Northwestern University
Title: “Mediation Skills Training”
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution Pepperdine University School of Law
Title: “Mediating the Litigated Case”
The Components of the MMP
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Orientation to meet mentors and cohort
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Fixed training dates with the entire cohort to cover topics like, Agreement Writing, Co-Mediation, Adapted Model Mediation for Court, and Using Technology in Mediation
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Flexible, self-scheduled weekly training appointments with personal mentor for simulated mediations and skills-based exercises
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Practical exam in a simulated mediation to achieve certification in the CCR model
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18-month commitment to mediate at least twice per month once certified
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For more specifics, download the Program Details resource HERE
Certification as a CCR Volunteer Mediator:
CCR Volunteer Mediators are trained, mentored and certified using a performance-based evaluation standard. In order to become certified as a CCR mediator, prospective volunteers must be able to demonstrate a master skill level in the CCR Mediation Model. CCR sets a high standard for training and certification – we work to provide the very highest level of service to our clients.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT Israel Putnam, Volunteer Director:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 312-922-6464 Ext. 214
Volunteer Interpreters
According to the 2015 U.S. Census, about 400,000 people in Chicago (not including the wider Chicago area) do not speak English as their primary language. As part of CCR’s commitment to serving Chicago’s community, CCR strives to provide interpretation services for mediation parties who request it. This initiative is a crucial component of CCR's broader mission to ensure that all mediation parties can communicate clearly and effectively.
By providing qualified live interpreters fluent in English as well as American Sign Language (ASL), Spanish, Polish, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin, and Japanese, CCR is actively working to break down language barriers and foster inclusive, equitable mediation processes. This commitment underscores our dedication to serving diverse communities and enhancing access to our services for all individuals.
CCR is seeking certified or licensed interpreters who are fluent in English as well as
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American Sign Language (ASL)
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Arabic
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Japanese
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Mandarin
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Polish
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Russian
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Spanish
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Swahili
who can translate and interpret between mediation parties and CCR’s certified mediators (via Zoom or in-person).
Volunteer interpreters would NOT act as mediators – CCR has highly trained and certified mediators who facilitate the mediations.
Mediations take place between 9:00am – 9:00pm U.S. Central Time (Chicago, Illinois, USA), Monday through Saturday, typically lasting between 1-4 hours, depending on the case. Qualified volunteer interpreters would be alerted to mediations requesting interpretation as they arise – at least 2 weeks prior to the mediation date. This volunteer opportunity is on an as-needed basis, and does not have set hours.
Volunteer interpreters who are interested in also being certified as mediators with CCR may be able to do so through CCR’s Barter Program. In this program, individuals can exchange goods and/or services to discount up to $1,395 of the initial program cost. All participants must pay the $300 training deposit. If interested in also becoming a mediator, please note that in the email with your application information.
Responsibilities
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The volunteer interpreter treats all parties with respect and courtesy.
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The volunteer interpreter DOES NOT act as a mediator, and refrains from advising or projecting personal biases or beliefs.
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The volunteer interpreter upholds CCR’s commitment to keeping all information learned during the mediation confidential.
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The volunteer interpreter ensures that messages are translated accurately and completely, maintaining both the meaning and tone of the original content. They also consider the cultural context to ensure the message is clear and accurate based on the context.
Qualifications/Requirements
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Must be a certified or licensed Interpreter
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A certified or licensed interpreter is someone who has passed an examination administered by a recognized agency, such as the American Translators Association, the U.S. court system, the U.S. Department of State, an accredited university program, or a comparable international agency.
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Must provide copies of the relevant certification and/or licenses
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Must be fluent in English and any of the following languages:
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American Sign Language (ASL), Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swahili
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Must have reliable and private access to the internet and/or be able to come into our office, located at 11 East Adams Street (Suite 500), Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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Must be able to volunteer at times that range from 9:00am – 9:00pm U.S. Central Time (Chicago, Illinois, USA).
To apply, please submit your resume/CV and interpreter license(s) and/or certification(s) to
Yehemy Zavala Orozco at [email protected]