10/16/2025
CMC Welcomes New Associate Director Vanessa Castano
We are pleased to announce the hiring of Vanessa Castano as Community Mediation Center (CMC)’s new Associate Director (AD). Vanessa brings more than 25 years of experience in public service, with a career grounded in trauma-informed care, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement.
Vanessa’s work reflects a deep commitment to justice and equity. Her leadership style is rooted in servant leadership, emphasizing empowerment, active listening, and responsive support. She most recently served as Executive Director of the YWCA Bradford in Pennsylvania, where she led programs supporting survivors of domestic violence, individuals facing housing instability, and those managing mental health challenges. Prior to that, she worked with Legal Assistance of Western New York, where she provided legal advocacy to low-income individuals navigating family law issues, including custody and domestic violence cases.
Over the past couple of months, Vanessa has taken on a wide range of responsibilities at CMC, including coordination of our General Sessions Mediation Program. She will oversee volunteer scheduling and support, maintain strong relationships with local courts and community partners, and help train and mentor our diverse team of mediators. Vanessa will manage intakes and scheduling for civil and community cases, prepare grant reports, and assist with new initiatives.
We are grateful to welcome someone whose professional experience and personal values reflect the goals of our organization. You can contact Vanessa at 814-817-6733 and [email protected]. Please join us in welcoming her to the CMC team!
