Reignite, Repair, Restore

We all remember where we were when the world shut down last year. Whether we heard the news at work, at home, at school, or on social media, we remember the moment we packed our things, the fear we felt for the health of our loved ones, and the uncertainty of heading into uncharted waters.

This year has felt different. Vaccinations have paved the way for cautious optimism and reopening, and finally, our students returned to school and our campus felt alive. Meeting these bright minds from around the world, so full of passion for dispute resolution, reminded me of what matters most—our connection to one another, as friends, colleagues, and a community committed to peacemaking.

Thus, we decided to invest in relationships this year—reigniting them, repairing them, and restoring our ties with one another. We reignited our community with a two-week orientation, welcoming our students, faculty, and staff back to campus and fostering friendship and collaboration within our newest cohort. In just two months, our students have formed meaningful bonds, challenging one another in the classroom, collaborating on shared interests, and supporting their peers.

Through a generous grant by the JAMS Foundation, we aim to repair relationships across Los Angeles between law enforcement officials and community members. Stemming from last summer’s nationwide movement for racial justice, we are excited to see how dispute resolution principles can transform and heal this complex relationship.

We were delighted to host the 14th annual AALS ADR Works-inProgress Conference this October, restoring this important and collegial event for our community of dispute resolution scholars and researchers. By offering the event in a hybrid format, we welcomed friends both on campus and online to share their ideas and feedback, spurring inquiry and scholarship in the ADR field.

I am confident that our investment in one another will be the key to getting through these next few months and years as this pandemic wanes. I would like to thank my fantastic team of faculty colleagues and professionals who help advance our institute’s diverse priorities. Best wishes to you for good health.

Sukhsimranjit Singh

Judge Danny Weinstein Managing Director Associate Professor of Law and Practice Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution