About Common Ground
Since 1987, Common Ground has been under contract with the NYS Unified Court System to provide mediation and alternative dispute resolution services to Greene and Columbia Counties.
Our Mission
“Our Mission is to help you find a path from conflict to mutual understanding. By working to remove barriers to communication, you are given voice and empowered to reach a common ground.”
Our Organization
Beginning as a program under Columbia Opportunities in Hudson, NY, in the 1980s, Common Ground Dispute Resolution, Inc., incorporated as its own 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Operating under contract with New York State Unified Court System, Common Ground works to provide dispute resolution services to the communities of Greene and Columbia Counties.
Common Ground is part of a statewide network of mediation centers, established under Article 21(A) of the New York State Judiciary Law. Among other provisions, Article 21(A) ensures that the entire mediation process remains confidential.
The organization provides trained mediators who work to resolve the differences between two or more participants on issues including family, housing, business, workplace, school, and neighbor disputes. Any areements reached are mutually satisfactory and may be made legally binding and court enforceable.
The mediation process is informal, private, confidential, and completely voluntary.
Our Goals
1) to serve the community as a resource in resolving disputes;
2) to train, develop and maintain a panel of certified volunteer mediators;
3) to assist in the resolution of civil, appropriate criminal, family and restitution issues;
4) to provide opportunities for individuals to learn effective problem-solving skills.
Our Team
Dawn Wallant | Executive Director
Phone: 518-943-0523, ext. 1 Dwallant@commongroundinc.orgI have served as the Executive Director of Common Ground since 2001, and prior to that time, I was the program director for another dispute resolution organization located in Troy, NY. I have served in the ADR field for the last 30 years. I have served on several dispute resolution professional organizations, most recently, as Vice President of the Board of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (ret 2022).
I specialize in a variety of dispute resolution processes, including basic mediation, divorce mediation, family court, and family mediation, neighborhood conflict, small claims and housing disputes, surrogate court mediation, NYS Lemon Law arbitration, and a variety of restorative justice practices.
Other programs started under my direction have been school and peer mediation programs and older adult decision-making, elder abuse, and awareness education.
I have provided community workshops dealing with conflict resolution, communication, cultural diversity/implicit bias, and cultural competencies.
I have a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University, and worked, prior to coming to NYS, as a paralegal in various legal settings.
Penny Calyer | Mediation and Youth Coordinator
Phone: 518-943-0523, ext. 2 PennyCalyer@commongroundinc.orgI have worked in the non-profit field for almost 25 years. For Common Ground I have been the Mediation and Youth Program Manager since 2014. Prior to that I worked in the Rape Crisis/Child Advocacy Field for 15 years.
I coordinate mediations that come to Common Ground from various referral sources. I also facilitate workshops in our local schools on topics such as Conflict Resolution, moving up from elementary to middle school, moving up from middle school to high school, Peer Mediation and Restorative Practices. Currently I am working with 4th-7th grades.
I grew up and currently live in Columbia County with my husband and our dogs and enjoy spending time with my grandsons.
Our Services
Common Ground provides a range of Dispute Resolution services, including mediation, conflict coaching, lemon law arbitration and trainings and consultations.
To learn more about each service we offer, visit the pages below:
Conflict coaching is described as developing a set of skills and strategies to manage conflict.
Common Ground offers customized conflict resolution training services for professionals, schools and organizations.
The New York State Lemon Law statute provides a legal remedy for buyers or lessees of new and used cars that turn out to be lemons.
Contact Us
For questions and bookings, please contact us through the below form. You can also call, text or email us.
