As we close out 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on a very special year for the Mediation Center of Los Angeles, a year defined by creation of community partnerships, educational expansion, program growth, and continued momentum toward our Mission of making mediation the preferred path to conflict resolution for disputants across Los Angeles and throughout California.

Although MCLA has served the community for more than a decade, it is during these last two years that we have seen our Mission most fully realized. With the recognition of our historic service and with a substantial trust placed in us by the Los Angeles Superior Court, MCLA was selected as an official court-referral mediation service. This milestone transformed our ability to serve thousands of litigants who desire to resolve their disputes without extended court involvement.

In a system where our court may have approaching 100,000 new matters filed annually, mediation is not simply an alternative, it is an essential resource that saves time, resources, and emotional strain for thousands of families, and tax dollars for 10,000,000 county residents.

This year, we deepened our partnership with LASC and our community. In additional to handling almost 3000 Civil Unlimited matters, our new Probate Mediation Program with the Superior Court has extended our service to support families navigating delicate issues of inter-generational transition. And soon our new Family Dispute Mediation Program will serve Angelos for some of their most sensitive and urgent disputes.

Beyond our work in Los Angeles, MCLA embarked in 2025 on providing innovative dispute resolution service statewide. Our Arbitration Program with the California Association of Realtors launched our service offering throughout California and is demonstrating the strength, efficiency, and reliability of our administrative model. The successes of current partnerships will serve as the foundation for future service partnerships with other counties, courts, institutions, and law firms seeking to integrate dependable dispute resolution services into their services.

Our commitment to community outreach and education also grew this year. Based on the success of our trial model, our MCLE programs for dispute resolution will expand in 2026, and special advanced training for advocates and our mentorship program for new neutrals at USC will grow as well. Our academic initiatives remain a vital part of our mission, ensuring attorneys, mediators, and community members have access to meaningful, practical, cutting-edge continuing education.

And finally, we celebrated our community through multiple events, including honoring leaders like Myer Sankary and Enrique Koenig for their lifelong contributions to access to justice, and engaging with members of the judiciary and legal community through our educational and outreach efforts. Our upcoming Annual Dinner in February 2026 will continue that tradition, recognizing exemplary leadership across the field.

On behalf of our entire team, thank you for an impactful year. We look forward to entering 2026 with continued purpose, renewed energy, and a shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality mediation.

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, restorative, and joyful holiday season.

Bennett Root

Executive Director, Mediation Center of Los Angeles