Conflict is part of growing up. How young people learn to handle it shapes their trajectory—in school, at home, in their communities. Our school-based programs don’t just address behavior problems after the fact. We teach students practical skills: how to de-escalate, how to communicate, how to resolve disputes without violence.

We embed staff inside schools as partners, not visitors. And we bring the same expertise CMS has built over 40+ years in courts and communities directly into classrooms and gymnasiums.

Peer Mediation We train students to serve as mediators for their peers, resolving conflicts before they escalate to suspensions or fights. Students learn to listen, facilitate, and problem-solve. Schools build internal capacity for handling disputes.

The Mediation League A 20-week basketball program in Far Rockaway that combines athletics with mandatory conflict resolution workshops. 100+ youth ages 10–15 participate each year.

• 92% improved their ability to resolve disputes without aggression
• 85% retention across the full program
• 90% reported stronger teamwork and peer relationships

Far Rockaway Schools We serve 300 middle school students across PS 105, Academy for Medical Technology, and MS 53 with conflict resolution, violence prevention, and leadership programming.

Brooklyn Schools CMS operates in two Brooklyn schools, serving approximately 200 students.

Pathways to Graduation For students who are over-aged and under-credited, Pathways provides targeted support to help them get back on track toward graduation.