APADRC's 20th Year Reception PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Grant Mao
April 3, 2009 (213) 250-8190 ext. 15
Grant.mao@apadrc.org

THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER HOSTS "CONVERSITY"
AWARDS RECEPTION
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center (APADRC) will host its Eighth Annual "Conversity" Awards Reception celebrating 20 years of bridging diverse communities and managing conflicts. At the event, we will honor community leaders and organizations that exemplify "conversity" through their work to support the community in achieving positive human relations.

The event will be held at Luminarias which is located at 3500 Ramona Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754 from 6:30pm-9:30pm. The program for the evening will include featured guest speakers and performers, a silent auction and raffle prizes.

This year's honorees include:

• Dr. A. Marco Turk, Professor and Director of the Cal State Dominguez Hills Negotiation Conflict Resolution and Peace building (NCRP) Program will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Los Angeles County, 2nd District will be receiving the Community Leaderships Award.
• California Teachers Association will be receiving the Educational Excellence Award.


Founded in 1989, the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center is a nonprofit organization that offers critical conflict resolution training and direct services to youth and adults The APADRC is a non-profit organization that has been offering mediation and conflict resolution services to the diverse communities of Los Angeles for the last 20 years. Its mission is to improve human and race relations by addressing complex, cross-cultural community conflicts and their root causes through transformative conflict resolution approaches that require sensitivity to clients who face language, cultural and income barriers. The APADRC brings awareness to the importance of conflict resolution and bridging cultural divides by engaging community members and organizations in dialogues and peace-building activities as well as collaborating with community partners through education, training and the development of new conflict resolution models and techniques.

The APADRC currently provides mediation, conciliation and facilitation services in six different languages including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog and Spanish. The APADRC also works with local middle and high schools to provide peer mediation programs, teaching and empowering youth to work together to resolve their conflicts.