.png "Graphic promoting “the ex/change,” a conversation with Damali Peterman and Maurice Q. Robinson at the 2026 Annual Conference. Event details: Thursday, June 11, 6–8pm, in person. The graphic includes headshots of both speakers.")
Hosted by:
Join us at the American Arbitration Association in Midtown Manhattan for an evening with this year's conference honorees, Damali Peterman and Maurice Q. Robinson.
In this fireside chat, Damali and Maurice will share how their paths through law, mediation, education, and advocacy have shaped their practice, and what they've learned about passing knowledge on to the next generation of conflict resolvers. Expect an honest, wide-ranging conversation about what it means to build a career in this field, stay relevant as the landscape shifts, and lift others up along the way.
We hope you'll join us for the conversation and stay for the reception afterward!
The Ex/change is presented as part of ACR-GNY's 2026 Annual Conference. Ex/change: Established Practice & Emerging Ideas.
DETAILS
DATE: Thursday, June 11, 2026
TIME: 6:00–8:00pm (Doors open at 5:45pm)
LOCATION: American Arbitration Association - International Centre for Dispute Resolution
ADDRESS: 150 East 42nd St, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10017
PRICE: Free for ACR-GNY Members; $10 for nonmembers
ACCESS: Guests must present a current (non-expired) government-issued photo ID to access the building
Light bites will be served when doors open at 6:00 PM. Following the program, we'll continue with a reception of drinks and light refreshments.
Please note—this event requires a separate registration from other conference sessions.
Haven't registered for the virtual conference yet? You can do so here!
DAMALI PETERMAN
Damali Peterman is a trailblazing conflict resolution expert, award-winning bestselling author, and CEO of BreakthroughADR, a global firm transforming how individuals and organizations navigate conflict and achieve workplace harmony. With over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, mediator, and educator, Damali is also a distinguished mediator, arbitrator, and ombudsman with JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the world. She handles a broad range of disputes — including business and commercial, employment and EEOC, intellectual property, entertainment, sports, and higher education and Title IX matters — and is known for her ability to forge resolution in even the most intractable conflicts.
Damali is the author of the award-winning and bestselling book Negotiating While Black: Be Who You Are to Get What You Want — recently reissued as Be Who You Are to Get What You Want — published by Penguin Random House in North America and Bonnier Books internationally, where it is available in over 72 countries. Named by Forbes as one of "10 Books That Will Make You A Better Negotiator," the book has been celebrated for its insights on overcoming bias, embracing authenticity, and excelling in negotiations, cementing its place as a transformative resource for professionals and leaders worldwide.
A passionate educator, Damali was an adjunct professor at Howard University School of Law and is a respected judge for global mediation competitions. She travels the globe leading accredited mediation trainings, workshops, online courses, and keynotes that empower individuals and organizations to turn conflict into collaboration. She has also trained hundreds of law enforcement officers in ADR-based de-escalation techniques, advancing her belief that alternative dispute resolution is critical to driving positive social change. Her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Fast Company, Publishers Weekly, Rolling Stone, NBC, CBS, Fox, and more.
A certified mediator and proud alumna of the Tory Burch Foundation Fellowship and Goldman Sachs 10KSB program, Damali was named Woman Legal Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2023 Women Owned Law Awards. From boardrooms to classrooms to communities, whether transforming conflict, building capacity in others, or championing access to justice, Damali is committed to building a world where empathy, fairness, and understanding thrive.
MAURICE Q. ROBINSON
Maurice Q. Robinson, Esq. is an employment attorney, EEO/DEI compliance leader, and dispute resolution professional with extensive experience at the intersection of workplace equity, civil rights compliance, and conflict resolution.
He currently serves as Assistant Director of Workforce Equity & EEO Compliance for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, where he helps lead the agency’s EEO compliance function across a complex bi-state public infrastructure system that includes airports, seaports, bus terminals, tunnels, bridges, and transit facilities. In this role, he oversees internal discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters; supports agency-wide EEO training; and advises on workplace equity and compliance issues.
Previously, Mr. Robinson served as EEO & Fair Housing Officer and Executive Agency Counsel for the New York City Housing Authority, where he worked on civil rights, fair housing, employment law, and compliance matters affecting one of the largest public housing authorities in the country.
Mr. Robinson has also been active in the dispute resolution field. He is a former Fellow of the American Arbitration Association’s A. Leon Higginbotham Program and a JAMS Diversity Fellow. His ADR experience includes mediation, workplace conflict resolution, internal investigations, and systems-level approaches to preventing and addressing workplace disputes.
In addition to his public-sector leadership, Mr. Robinson has taught for nearly two decades as an adjunct professor of law and dispute resolution, including with Seton Hall University School of Law, the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law’s Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution, and New Jersey City University’s International Dispute Resolution Program.
He holds multiple professional credentials in DEI, human resources, workplace investigations, and inclusive leadership, including certificates from Cornell ILR School, the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, the University of South Florida, HRCI, and SHRM.
A proud alumnus of Williams College and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Mr. Robinson continues to give back as Co-Chair of Cardozo’s Alumni Leadership Committee and as Alumni Representative on the Board of Overseers.
THIS CONFERENCE IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY:
PRESENTING SPONSOR
CONFERENCE SPONSOR
SPECIAL EVENT SPONSOR
FULL-DAY SPONSOR (FRIDAY, JUNE 12)
