By: Jessica Shorten
CONROE, TX – Elaine Roberts, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Dispute Resolution Center, was recognized with the 2020 Justice Frank Evans award by the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the State Bar of Texas.
Elaine Roberts has led the Dispute Resolution Center as the Executive Director, where she has worked to facilitate numerous events to promote dispute resolution techniques in all ages.
In 2019, Roberts coordinated the Conflict Resolution Day Bookmark Art Contest, which involved over 2,000 students from 70 different schools in Montgomery County. On top of retooling and switching mediation courses and trainings to online formats during the pandemic, Roberts also helped establish the 2020 Peacebuilding Community Awards with the Houston chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution.
All of these efforts and more led to the nomination committee selecting Roberts as their latest recipient. Gene Roberts, Chair of the ADR at the State Bar, stated, “Elaine’s advocacy for the benefits of peaceful resolution of conflicts by focusing on the roots of conflict, engaging the community, and maintaining the highest degree of professionalism are qualities that Justice Evans demonstrated when he was shepherding ADR in its early days in Texas. The ADR Section is thrilled that Elaine is our 2020 recipient of this award.”
The Judge Evans Award is named after Justice Frank Evans, who founded the Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution movement, and is used to recognize “persons who have performed exceptional and outstanding efforts in promoting or furthering the use … of alternative dispute resolution methods in Texas.” The award is not given out each year.
According to Elaine Roberts, it was a presentation by Judge Evans which encouraged her to become a mediator in the first place. Giving credit to the volunteer mediators and staff for making DRC-MC a success, Roberts was grateful for the award.
The volunteer mediators felt just as proud of Roberts. Misti Hill Carter, JD, PhD, serves as a volunteer mediator, and cited the atmosphere Roberts creates at DRC-MC.
“She is always up on the law and ready to discuss best practices,” said Carter. “She willingly shares her knowledge and wisdom with mediators.”
Founded in 1988, the Dispute Resolution Center-Montgomery County has served as a non-profit organization which provides dispute resolution services and training. Located at 301 N Thompson St. in Conroe, their services have helped thousands with having difficult conversations and working through issues to strengthen and build better relationships.
___
EDITOR’S NOTE: Gene Roberts and Elaine Roberts are of no relation.
Comments / 0