Community Mediation Minnesota (CMM) was created in 2017 as the umbrella organization of the state-certified Community Dispute Resolution Programs (CDRP).┬á CMMÔÇÖs mission is to promote the use of mediation and restorative practices throughout Minnesota through increased access to community dispute resolution programs and services. CMM helps individuals, groups, and even whole communities discover better paths forward, together.┬á
As of September 18, 2023, CMM is excited to announce our new Co-Executive Directors, AJ Awed & Katie Arnold.
ÔÇ£The Board is thrilled to welcome AJ and Katie as Co-Executive Directors of Community Mediation Minnesota. The two of them bring a wealth of complimentary experience to the organization,ÔÇØ said Sharon Press, Co-President of Community Mediation Minnesota. ÔÇ£On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are very excited about the future of CMM under their leadership.ÔÇØ
About AJ Awed 
AJ Awed is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, specializing in Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR), and holds a BachelorÔÇÖs degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance. His academic achievements include earning a Certificate in Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice and a Certificate in Global Arbitration Law and Practice from the esteemed Dispute Resolution Institute. In recognition of his commitment to ADR, AJ was honored as a 2020-2021 American Arbitration Association (AAA) Higginbotham Fellow.
AJ is currently serving as the Co-Executive Director for Programs and Policy at the Cedar Riverside Community Council, an officially recognized neighborhood organization for the city of Minneapolis. AJ is also the Chair for the University District Alliance, a coalition of neighborhood organizations that make up the University of Minnesota campus. Driven by a strong dedication to culturally sensitive conflict resolution, AJ also leads his own ADR practice, specializing primarily in commercial mediation within BIPOC communities, with a particular focus on the East African community.
AJ is married and blessed with three beautiful boys aged 5, 3, and 9 months. Their  family also includes a feline member, their beloved cat named Barnacles.
“As I step into my new role as Co-Executive Director of Community Mediation Minnesota alongside Katie, I’m invigorated by the transformative power of alternative dispute resolutionsÔÇØ, said AJ Awed. ÔÇØIt’s more than just resolving disagreements; it’s about elevating understanding above judgment. Together, we’re poised to turn every conflict into a bridge, leading to growth, unity, and a brighter Minnesota.”
About Katie Arnold
Katie┬á has taught and worked with students at the primary and secondary levels, and she co-teaches a college course on negotiation and mediation at Metro State University every fall semester. Katie serves on the Minnesota Bar AssociationÔÇÖs ADR Council, and the Advisory Council for the State of MinnesotaÔÇÖs Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution. She has a private practice at Arnold Law and Mediation with her husband, Carl Arnold. Katie has her Masters in human behavioral psychology.┬á
Katie Arnold was the Director of Restorative and Mediation Practices (RAMP), one of the member organizations of CMM, for just shy of seven years, and she has worked for over 13 years as a professional family and civil mediator. 
“I am very excited for my new role as co-executive director, alongside AJ. I believe in CMM and its mission, and I believe that alternative dispute resolution is the pathway to sustainable solutions and a testament to the power of collaborationÔÇØ, said Katie Arnold. ÔÇ£ADR empowers individuals to find common ground and forge solutions that transcend the confines of conflict, promoting a more just society. I look forward to further promoting this throughout MN.”