Diane Kyser

Diane Kyser is the Executive Director of the Community Mediation Center (CMC) in Independence, Missouri. Begun in 1999, CMC serves the citizens of the Kansas City metropolitan area and the surrounding Counties through conflict resolution training, facilitation, consultation and mediation services. This is the second grassroots, community-based restorative justice/dispute resolution service that Diane has started.

After establishing the mediation center in Davenport, Iowa and serving as its Executive Director for nine years, her husband’s job brought them to Independence, Missouri. Diane guides an eight person staff and 20 volunteer mediators, mediates an average of 100 cases a year, provides training for businesses, organizations, schools, and churches, and teaches Peace Studies classes at Park University and at Graceland University. She has managed mediation programs for small claims court, municipal court, circuit court and family court. Her most recent projects have involved instituting Circle processes in prisons and as a re-entry service and instituting comprehensive restorative justice programs in schools.

Diane has a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Indiana University, and a Master’s Degree in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, where Howard Zehr, “grandfather of restorative justice” was her advisor.

Diane’s husband, Bob, has served in full time ministry for the Community of Christ for 34 years. They have two married sons and two delightful grandsons, all living in the Kansas City area. Active in the Community of Christ all of her life, Diane is currently part of a team pastoring the Ridgewood Congregation in Independence, Missouri.

Interests and special projects: My new motto – borrowed from somewhere? – is: “achieving world peace – one conflict at a time”. The practical steps toward peace are achieved in helping people address the conflicts of their daily lives in respectful, cooperative ways such that relationships can be whole. Recently, in a family group conference with two brothers, 14 and 16, whose mother was killed in an automobile accident and whose father was arrested for involvement in internet pornography, the younger brother was able to tell his grandparents, aunts and uncles, struggling with each other over their custody, that family mattered more to him now than fighting over who loved them the most. Those moments tell me there is hope.

Professional, personal, fun: I really enjoy playing tennis and traveling, but, honestly, right now, spending time with grandsons ages 3 and 5 are at the top of my list.

12-28-2011