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Pro Bono Safety Project New Volunteer Attorney Training April 28th, 2023 8:00am - 12:00pm Dewitt Law Firm 901 Marquette Ave, 2100 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Please register by April 25th by sending your contact info to safetyproject@tubman.org We invite you to be part of this unique effort FREE - CLE credit applied for (3.75 standard)

Greetings to all members of the Minnesota Chapter of AFCC! In our continuing commitment to improve the lives of all children and families through the resolution of family conflict, our chapter has again retained the services of Rosedahl Public Affairs (RPA) to help us engage with the state legislature and other agencies, such as the Governor’s office, on important issues. As part of our work together, RPA prepares monthly summaries of legislative developments during the current session, which are relevant to AFCC-MN. Today we are sharing the first monthly summary from RPA. Our goal is to not only pass along the information, but also to highlight some of the steps our Legislative and Public Policy committee is taking on behalf of AFCC-MN, and to inform our members about opportunities for all of us to be heard. Please contact one of the committee co-chairs, Carlo Faccini or Deb Link, with questions or for information about joining the committee. Link to report.

Children Who Are Transgender and the Law: Their Rights, Challenges, and Experiences Children and the Law Section Annual State of the Child Summit Children Who Are Transgender and the Law: Their Rights, Challenges, and Experiences September 16, 2022 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM Minnesota State Bar Association 600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 380 Minneapolis, MN 55402 REGISTER Deadline to register: September 14, 2022 CLE Credits 3 Standard and 1 EOB CLE credits applied for Event Code: 470651 Cost Children and the Law Section Member: $20 Public/Non-Profit Lawyer: $20 (use promo code PUBLIC at check out) MSBA/HCBA/RCBA Member: $30 Non-Member: $45 Law Student/New Admittee: FREE GAL Participants: FREE (use promo code GAL at check out) Remote participation Remote participation is available via Zoom. Instructions will be emailed to you the day prior to the event.The Bar Associations are adhering to CDC guidelines. Currently in Hennepin County the transmission rate is low. Masks are welcomed but not required for this indoor event.Please join us on Friday, September 16, 2022 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for the Twelfth Annual Children and the Law Summit. Registration and a continental breakfast will be available beginning at 8:00 am. 8:30 am | Understanding Transgender Children and the Challenges They Face Speaker: Ellie Krug, Human Inspiration Works, LLC 1.0 Elimination of Bias Credit Young humans who identify as transgender or nonbinary have become far more visible, which is reflective of greater parental and societal acceptance. Still, of the letters in the “LGBTQ+ alphabet” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer), it’s the “Ts” (transgender and nonbinary humans), especially those who are younger, who more often face unique challenges relative to personal relationships, public interactions, and many other things that non-transgender persons (the technical phrase is “cisgender”) take for granted. What does it mean to be a younger “trans” or nonbinary human? What can others— particularly legal professionals—do to make these young humans feel welcomed and accepted? What actions or words should one avoid? How does the daily buzz of marginalization ranging from bullies at school to states enacting anti-trans laws play into their daily lives? Join national speaker, diversity consultant and author Ellen “Ellie” Krug as she shares what it means to be transgender and offers tips and advice on how to be inclusive toward younger people who identify as trans or nonbinary. Come with questions! Keynote Speaker Brief Biography: Ellie Krug was a civil trial attorney with 100+ trials who transitioned from male to female in 2009 and later became one of the few attorneys nationally to try jury cases in separate genders. The author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), Ellie speaks, trains and consults on diversity and inclusion to court systems, corporations, law firms, government entities, social service organizations, and colleges/universities. A hopeless idealist, Ellie has presented her D&I program, “Gray Area Thinking,”® across the country. In 2016, Advocate Magazine named Ellie one of “25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights.” She is also a monthly columnist for Lavender Magazine and Minnesota Women’s Press; her monthly newsletter, The Ripple, which reaches 9000+ recipients, can be found at www.elliekrug.com. Ellie views herself as an “Inclusionist.” In January 2018, Ellie launched her weekly AM950 radio show, “Ellie 2.0 Radio,” which, now with 200+ episodes, is about idealism and idealists seeking to create positive change in the world. 9:30 am | OutFront Minnesota’s LGBTQIA2S+ 101 & Supporting Youth Speakers: KQ Quinn, Educational Equity Youth Coordinator, and James Darville, Director of Policy & Organizing 1.0 Standard CLE Credit Our LGBTQIA+ 101 Training covers general terms relating to gender and sexuality, respecting pronouns and how to be an ally to gender non-conforming students. We will dive into thinking about our own experiences with gender and learn about the differences between gender identity, biological sex, gender expression and sexual orientation. 10:30 am | Transgender Children: Identity, Rights, and Challenges Speakers: Judge Tara Kalar and Dr. Ellen Kennedy, World Without Genocide at Mitchell Hamline School of Law 1.0 Standard CLE Credit During the 2022 legislative session, more than 130 bills addressing rights of transgender youth, their parents, and their communities were brought forward at state legislatures across the country. With few exceptions, these efforts were intended to limit young people’s access to medical care; to ban their participation on gender-congruent sports teams and in gender-congruent public spaces; to limit their cultural acceptance within their educational communities; and more. International documents affirm human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We consider current U.S. law, executive decision-making, state and federal legislation, and civil society action within this contested domain and the impact on transgender youth. 11:30 am | Panel: Young Leaders on their Experiences as Transgender or Non-Binary and with Lawyers and the Legal System Panelists: Baylor Kardell, Shane Read, and Jarrett Vanderpoel 1.0 Standard CLE Credit A panel of young people will speak on their experiences as transgender or non-binary. These young people have also experienced the foster care system.Event Contact: Tram Nguyen, 612-278-6316, tnguyen@mnbars.org Minnesota State Bar Association 600 Nicollet Mall Suite 380, Minneapolis, MN 55402 | 612-333-1183 | info@mnbars.org Hennepin County Bar Association 600 Nicollet Mall Suite 390, Minneapolis, MN 55402 | 612-752-6600 | info@mnbars.org Ramsey County Bar Association 332 Minnesota Street Suite 2550, St Paul, 55101 | 651-222-0846 | info@mnbars.org

AFCC members on the move: A group of AFCC members from the Education Committee went to watch The Marriage Story, which is a movie about divorce. It doesn’t give a flattering picture of the process, and documents how it can go poorly. There are some awkward moments to watch when the parties meet with their prospective lawyers or a scene where one of the parties goes through a parent-child observation as part of the custody evaluation. Click here for a review about the movie. After the movie, a discussion was held over wine and hors d’ oeuvres. This outing was a trial for something many members have been discussing and thinking about organizing – attending (with AFCC colleagues) some play, movie or artistic event relevant to issues about or which impact our cases and court; and gathering somewhere afterwards to process it. We had fun and a great discussion afterwards! This movie is now available on Netflix. If you think of ideas for possible outings, feel free to suggest them. Attending and in the order as pictured are AFCC MN Chapter members: Jim Street, Nancy Darcy, Marie Jose Brizard, Laurel Ferris and Rachel Sibley. AFCC members are everywhere. Here is Mindy Mitnick in front of a cool looking Snow Cat with her red AFCC stocking cap. James Street Referee of District Court Second Judicial District

This fall, the Board passed a resolution to implement a two year pilot program to explore the potential for using this technology to broaden the Chapter’s reach around the state. Traci Capistrant, who is an attorney member of the AFCC-MN Chapter’s Education Committee, has been the mover and shaker behind bringing this to the Chapter after meeting with Carl Arnold from the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota (and AFCC-MN member). Board member Jai Kissoon has been helpful offering his technical support and other assistance. Do you live outstate and are unable to make it to the “Lunch and Learn” presentations provided by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts?  Do you live on the other side of that huge Mississippi River and can’t make it to Hennepin or Ramsey County if you work on the opposite side?  Or are you just too tight on time to make the journey over to the presentation?  Well starting in February 2020, AFCC has you covered! AFCC Minnesota will be piloting live webinars for the AFCC “Lunch and Learns” with the hope of drawing more people in to hear the excellent and timely topics presented. The cost to attend will be the same as if you were physically present. You can make the selection to attend virtually when you register for the presentation. Initially, virtual attenders will only be able to listen to the presentation, not make comments or ask questions. We are looking to you for input and comments to see if that is enough or if it is important to provide some means of communicating with the speaker or panel during the presentation. We’re also looking for your input on sound quality and connectivity. So please consider joining us in February 2020 for the “Lunch and Learn” and check out the remote access option!

2020 2nd Annual Film Viewing/Discussion Event of Angst Co-sponsored by AFCC-MN and St. Thomas Family Law Society and Wellness in Practice Group. Join us for a special screening of the highly acclaimed documentary Angst. Virtual Reception, Networking and Facilitated discussion of the film is included. Angst – This IndieFlix Original documentary is designed to raise awareness around anxiety and includes interview with kids, teens, educators, experts and a special appearance with Michael Phelps. The film’s goal is to help people identify and understand the symptoms of anxiety and encourage them to reach out for help. Angst has had over 2000 screenings in 23 countries. Click here for the trailer: http://angstmovie.com/trailer/. “We often discuss how we must limit damage to children in family court cases. Anxiety in children appears to be on the rise according to National Institutes of Health. This documentary will help you understand what a child perceives when the child is experiencing anxiety. Too often parents and professionals do not appreciate the challenges the child experiences, and can “aid and abet” the unhealthy way the child attempts to address the anxiety, such as through avoidance. This documentary will help family law mental health providers, alternative dispute resolution providers, lawyers and judicial officers better understand the needs of children who experience anxiety.” James Street, President of AFCC-MN; Referee of District Court. In this event we will have a special virtual reception to allow for some virtual networking. Our President-Elect and Mixologist extraordinaire, Jennifer Joseph will create a recipe for a cocktail and a mocktail which will be sent out with the invite to everyone who signs up. We will have a virtual toast to recognize all the heroes and heroines who have gone through extraordinary measures to help us through these difficult times. The goal is to have some fun as we gather together. Please join us! Event Moderator: Samantha Colai, MA, LMFT from Ascend Family Institute and Hope Rising will introduce the topic and facilitate a discussion afterwards. 5:00-5:05 Check in and announcements 5:05 – 5:10 Toast 5:10-5:25 Introduction – Samantha Colai 5:25-6:25 Film Screening of Angst 6:25-6:55 Facilitated Discussion – Samantha Colai 6:55-7:00 Wrap Up Register early – we anticipate a full house and interesting discussion. When: June 2, 2020 5:00-7:00 p.m. Where: Virtually Register Now! AFCC-MN Members – $20 Non-Members – $35 Students – Free!

As many of you know, Karen Irvin, one of the true legends in our community, is moving to Arizona at the end of the month. Karen pioneered the use of mediation in family law cases, and helped create and evolve the role of Parenting Consultants in Minnesota. She has trained hundreds of us, and served as a mentor to many more. It is safe to say our community would not be as collaborative, collegial, or as fun as it is today without Karen’s involvement and influence. Karen has been involved with AFCC for virtually its entire existence, and was instrumental in helping bring the Minnesota Chapter into being. To honor this doyen of our community, AFCC-MN is hosting a virtual reception. Please join us for a zoom-based virtual party, at 6 pm on Friday, May 8, 2020. We are planning a few things to make the event special, including an “open mic.” If you have a shout-out for Karen, please contact Jim Street or Jen Joseph. Click here to register for the Zoom Event

AFCC-MN is making an effort to let our members know about events that reflect and support diversity in our professional community. Past-President Referee Street shared this information about the annual Gala for the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. We encourage members to attend in order to learn more about MABL, and to support their work. Each member of the Board of Directors has pledged to attend at least one event from an “affinity organization” in the coming year, and we encourage our members to join us. If you are aware of events such as this, which support the work of an organization that serves a BIPOC or other marginalized community, please let us know about it! The MABL Foundation Scholarship Gala will held virtually on Thursday, December 17, 2020, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. In addition to the scholarship and awards portion of the event, MABL will host a panel made up of distinguished speakers to address the inequities in our legal profession and discuss strategies for addressing racial justice. More information here Register Here

This topic this year, is The Intersection of Culture with Custody and Parenting Time Decisions in Family Court. The conference planning committee has been working on this for over two years. There are many parts of the conference which are intentionally different than past conferences you may have attended to create additional learning opportunities. The conference is going to be on the West Side of St. Paul at the Wellstone Center Neighborhood House.  Neighborhood House is one of the most important institutions in the history of St. Paul’s West Side. Neighborhood House has been a welcoming presence for thousands of refugees and immigrants since its founding in 1897 by the women of Mount Zion Temple, who worked to help Eastern European Jewish families settle in the St. Paul area. For more than a century, Neighborhood House has supported families in times of transition or need from more than 50 cultural and ethnic populations, drawing people from diverse communities in St. Paul and beyond. The demographic makeup of Neighborhood House’s service population has changed with each successive wave of newcomers — Mexican immigrants after World War II, Hmong refugees in the 1970s and 80s, and Somali and Karen most recently. What has not changed is our unbending commitment to help families move from “survive” to “thrive.” The Neighborhood House provides programs for the whole community including housing stability, Parent and Early Childhood Education, adult literacy, Food Support, and emergency assistance to families in crisis. Check out their website: http://neighb.org/. St. Paul’s Westside is where there is a significant Latinx community with many Latinx businesses in the neighborhood.  The planning committee hopes you will be able to explore the area. This conference is going to be unique in many different ways beyond the fact that it will be a hybrid experience – in person for those who feel comfortable, and virtual for those who cannot make it in person.  If you have not yet signed up, please do so by registering at https://afccmn.org/event/annual-conference-2021/.  If you know someone who might be interested in attending, please make sure you share this information with that person. The virtual option means that people who do not want to drive across state to attend can still attend.  If you know a colleague who may be interested who lives outstate, pass the information on! -The Annual Conference Planning Committee

The Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) presents its annual conference The Intersection of Culture with Custody and Parenting Time Decisions in Family Court. The first two learning objectives of the conference are to define what culture means in the context of working with families and to examine one’s own beliefs about culture and self-identity considering one’s own culture. Joe Reid, LMFT and Michelle Chen Libi, MA, LMFT will facilitate the morning sessions to meet these objectives. Ms. Libi is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years of experience. Ms. Libi is currently in private practice where she provides individual, couples and family therapy, consultation and supervision. Ms. Libi has served as a faculty member in several of the Graduate programs for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor through the Mindfulness Training Institute and has an extensive background in the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Ms Libi has a phenomenal reputation as a therapist, professor, facilitator and trainer and will provide an enriching experience. Ms. Libi and Dr. Reid have frequently facilitated and trained together on many topics, including diversity awareness for professionals. Dr. Reid was born in North Carolina, Joseph Reid, LMFT received his bachelor’s in Psychology and Masters Degree from East Carolina University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Reid went on to pursue and complete a Doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science. Dr. Reid began Relationships LLC as his private practice in 1999 where he provides training for Mental Health Practitioner interns and graduate students pursuing their LMFT in Minnesota. Relationships, LLC works with clients who are focused on parenting, couples therapy, family issues, and an array of individual goals The Conference will be held on July 29, 2021 at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul.  This will be a hybrid event with both live and virtual attendance options.  We have applied for Elimination of Bias credits.  Members of an affinity bar or non-profit/government may register at the AFCC member rate.  https://afccmn.org/event/annual-conference-2021/. Keynote speaker: Cynthia Mabry-King The keynote speaker is Cynthia Mabry-King, a court mediator with the Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals where she has facilitated settlement discussions in hundreds of complex disputes.  In 2019, Ms. Mabry-King was selected as the Top Mediator of the Year in 2019 by the International Association of Top Professionals.  Ms. Mabry-King has authored two published articles on the topic of evaluating culture and custody in child custody disputes. Mabry-King was a volunteer mediator for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia’s Multi-Door Dispute Resolution, Family Division for thirteen years.  She is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States Bar, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Society of Family Law.

The Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) presents its annual conference The Intersection of Culture with Custody and Parenting Time Decisions in Family Court. A week or so ago, we shared what the morning sessions of the conference would provide. The last two learning objectives of the conference are: Explain how consideration of culture is required in Minnesota custody law and to practice applying culture as a best interest factor in custody cases. Justice Anne McKeig and former Judge Jessica Ryan will discuss how they approach their roles as Judges through the lens of their Native culture. Cynthia Mabry-King, our Keynote speaker, and Zak Chesson will facilitate the consideration of some hypotheticals designed to bring out the issues of addressing culture in custody cases as lawyers, ADR providers, mental health providers, custody evaluators, and Guardians ad litem. Justice Anne McKeig The Honorable Anne McKeig was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court on June 28, 2016. A descendant of the White Earth Nation, she is the first American Indian to sit on any state’s highest court in all of the United States. Prior to her appointment, she was a District Court Judge in 2008 and served as Presiding Judge in Family Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a former Assistant Hennepin County attorney, where she worked for over 16 years handling child protection cases and adoption matters with a specialty in cases that fall under the provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Jessica Ryan Ms. Ryan is an enrolled member of the Brothertown Indian Nation, where she also serves as an elected Tribal Council member. Ms. Ryan has clerked for State and Tribal Court Judges and currently represents Indian Bands and Tribes in both state and tribal court proceedings. Ms. Ryan recently started her own law firm, where she is committed to working with Indian Tribes and families, to help restore balance and harmony. Ms. Ryan is admitted to practice law in Minnesota and several Tribal Courts and has served as a Tribal Court Judge. She is active in legislative policy analysis affecting Indian families and collaborates with various tribes, counties and states to develop policy and practice that better serves American Indian families. Ms. Ryan was actively involved in collaborating to revise the Tribal/State Agreement; participated in developing the Judge Judge’s Juvenile Protective Benchbook – ICWA Chapter; and has served on numerous Supreme Court Committees, including the Race Bias Task Force, the Minnesota Tribal Court/State Court Judges; and the Juvenile Protection Rules Committee. Ms. Ryan helped establish the Hennepin County ICWA Guardian ad Litem panel and subsequently served as a Guardian ad litem for ICWA cases for several years. She has served on the Board of Directors for a number of American Indian non-profit organizations. Zak Chesson Zak Chesson has been an evaluator/mediator with Hennepin County Family Court Services since November 2017. Prior to Family Court Services, Mr. Chesson was Coordinator for the Ramsey County Guardian ad Litem program. From 2006 to 2017, Mr. Chesson was an ICWA certified Guardian ad Litem in Hennepin County working with both Juvenile and Family Court. Zak has been on the Board of the Minnesota Chapter of AFCC since 2014, and he is also a member of the Legislative Committee. He offers consultation services to local organizations on a variety of topics regarding the intersection of race/culture and the courts. Cynthia Mabry-King The keynote speaker is Cynthia Mabry-King, a court mediator with the Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals where she has facilitated settlement discussions in hundreds of complex disputes. In 2019, Ms. Mabry-King was selected as the Top Mediator of the Year in 2019 by the International Association of Top Professionals. Ms. Mabry-King has authored two published articles on the topic of evaluating culture and custody in child custody disputes. Mabry-King was a volunteer mediator for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia’s Multi-Door Dispute Resolution, Family Division for thirteen years. She is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States Bar, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Society of Family Law. The Conference will be held on July 29, 2021 at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul. This will be a hybrid event with both live and virtual attendance options. We have applied for Elimination of Bias credits. Members of an affinity bar or non-profit/government may register at the AFCC member rate. https://afccmn.org/event/annual-conference-2021/. A Message Regarding Covid-19 Creating an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and engagement is tantamount to this conference experience. This is achieved not only through the great content, but by keeping everyone’s health at the forefront. With that in mind, regardless of your vaccination status, as guests of The Wellstone Center, all conference-goers are expected to follow the facility’s COVID-19 protocols as they appear at the day of the conference, including wearing a face mask in all common areas where children may be present (i.e. hallways, atrium, lobby, restroom). Once participants reach the conference room(s), vaccinated participants are not required to wear their masks. Per local guidelines, all unvaccinated participants should continue to wear their face mask throughout the conference. If you forget your mask at home, a disposable mask will be provided. Soap and water, as well as hand sanitizer, will also be available. Remember, let’s spread kindness and not Covid as we gather together once again with old friends and as we meet new ones. Please stay home if you feel unwell and enjoy the conference from the comfort of your home. Please contact afccmn@gmail.com if you require a change in your attendance status. For additional tips on how to stay safe as an unvaccinated participant in attendance, please refer to the Center for Disease Control for the most up to date information:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/large-gatherings.html

RESCHEDULED – Date October 26 Register Now for Virtual Training in October The Custody Evaluation Training, offered by Karen Irvin and Jennifer Joseph, is being rescheduled to October 26, 27, 28, 29, and November 3,4, and 5, 2022. Registration is still open, so sign up now and plan ahead for the fall! The collaboration between AFCC-MN and the Mediation Center continues! Registration is now open for the Custody Evaluation Training, starting October 26, 2022. This is a comprehensive 43-hour course, which addresses everything from developing an evaluative protocol to addressing the complexities of the evaluation process. Karen Irvin and Jennifer Joseph lead this hands-on training, using lecture, interactive discussion, and application of concepts through various simulations. It’s one of the Mediation Center’s more popular courses, and we’re honored to make it more widely available. Please note the training is LIVE (via zoom). More information available here Registration available here