ADR Inclusion Network Original Steering Committee
2017-2021

In 2017, Sheila Sproule convened a group of forty ADR private and public program leaders, practitioners, leaders and members of bar association diversity committees, and scholars to discuss challenges and share best practices to increase the diversity of the ADR field. Together, this group co-founded a new entity they named the “ADR Inclusion Network” and became members. From its inception until 2021, the Network was guided by a five-member Steering Committee, although the membership acted by consensus, developing a mission statement, an ADR diversity and inclusion pledge and four subcommittees of two co-chairs to accomplish its goals: 1) Education Subcommittee, which focused on ways to educate providers and users on diversity, inclusion and implicit bias; 2) Increasing Access Subcommittee, which addressed ways to create opportunities for newer, less-experienced practitioners neutrals; 3) Selection Opportunities Subcommittee, which addressed ways to enhance and increase the selection of experienced diverse practitioners; and 4) Resources Subcommittee, which gathered existing resources related to diversity, inclusion and implicit bias, as it relates to the dispute resolution and other fields.  Network members volunteered their talents and resources to undertake a variety of activities without a budget, staff or dedicated resources and, among its many achievements, developed a listserv to communicate and a website to provide information about the Network (the latter through the enormous efforts of Dr. Maria Volpe and Niki Borofsky, respectively). The Network decided to formalize its structure and become incorporated in 2019, to accomplish its goals more effectively.  The Network is grateful to the dedication and tireless efforts of the steering committee, which guided the Network to where it is today.