One of Connecticut's oldest and most distinguished ADR organizations is Community Mediation Inc. (CMI). Frequently operating without fanfare and appropriate recognition, CMI toils tirelessly to resolve those disputes which tear at the fabric of everyday life, such as domestic disputes, landlord/tenant conflicts, parent/teen misunderstanding, property line disputes and even barking dogs, just to mention a few.

CMI addresses divisiveness in a wide variety of settings. While these disputes are not the ones which make front-page national headlines, they are of monumental importance to those involved as well as to the community at large. In the course of addressing these disputes, CMI creates a climate of open discussion by teaching peer mediation to middle and high school students, facilitating community dialogues, educating the public about dispute resolution options and mentoring newly trained mediators.

One of the times when CMI stands front and center in the public eye is when it confers the annual Robert C. Zampano Award for Excellence in Mediation. This award recognizes and celebrates leadership, initiative and creativity in mediation while remembering the untold contributions of the late Judge Robert C. Zampano, who was a giant in the growth of ADR awareness and use in Connecticut.