About Us

Founder & Principal Mediator, Lucille Damone, MPA (she/her/hers)

Lucille is a native of the Hudson Valley and has lived in Ulster County for the past twenty years. She was born to an Italian father from Brooklyn and Puerto Rican mother from Isla Verde, is a survivor of non-hodgkin's lymphoma, an artist, an empath, and divorcée. She is committed to being an active participant in building, fostering, and creating a more just world; a world in which all individuals are honored, feel safe, and heard in the full expressions and forms of their being.

She began her path early on as a peer mediator in elementary school and later on with the Mediation Center of Dutchess County. Prior to her work with MCDC, she worked as a paralegal in both private and corporate sectors for 10 years. A transformative mediator by training, she facilitates Civil (small and large claim), Family (custody/parenting time/support), Separation & Divorce, Surrogates disputes and Workplace/Organizational mediations. She also facilitates and holds space for dialogue using the restorative responsive circle framework. Lucille is committed to social justice.

She holds a Master of Public Administration from Marist College, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from SUNY New Paltz, a Paralegal Certification from Marist College and is a Notary Public. In addition to working with her Held clients, Lucille serves on the NYS Court ADR Roster, where she mediates Commercial & General Civil matters in the 9th Judicial District and Small Claims matters in New York City’s Small Claims Court. Beginning January 2022, Lucille will serve on the Matrimonial Supreme Court panel of the 3rd Judicial District. Lucille also sits on the strategic planning committee at ASK (Arts Society of Kingston).

Lucille envisions Held to be a modality for individual growth and change and believes that mediation fosters empowerment and yields the opportunity for repair - both with the other and with the self. Her innate empathy for others has provided the ability to serve as a natural bridge between people and she is honored to hold space for her clients.

EDUCATION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING

2020- Master of Public Administration, Marist College

2007- Paralegal Certification, Marist College

2004- Bachelor of Arts, State University at New Paltz

9-hour Grounded Program Design, Incorporating Anti-Oppression Approaches to Social Justice Work, October 2021

24-hour Part 146 Divorce Mediation Training, February 2021

16-hour Part 146 Surrogate’s Court Mediation Training, August 2020

16-hour Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively, June 2019

16-hour Part 146 Advanced Matrimonial Mediation Training, November 2019

16-hour Domestic Violence & Mediation Training, November 2018

40-hour Part 146 Transformative Basic Mediation Training, August 2018

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, & MEMBERSHIPS