Dispute Resolution Center

THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING COMMUNITIES BY PROMOTING THE CONSTRUCTIVE RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT THROUGH OPEN COMMUNICATION AND SHARED DECISION-MAKING.

MEDIATION TOTAL COURT MEDIATIONS 2022: 143 TOTAL COMMUNITY MEDIATIONS: 15 IN 2022 DRC'S MEDIATION PROGRAM TRANSITIONED UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP WITH THE HIRE OF A NEW MEDIATION COORDINATOR. MEDIATION NUMBERS REMAINED STEADY WITH BETTER RAPPORT AND COLLABORATION WITH RAMSEY COUNTY COURTS AND OTHER LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. DRC CONDUCTED 143 COURT MEDIATIONS WHICH LED TO FEWER HOUSING EVICTIONS AND CIVIL DISPUTES, AND 15 COMMUNITY MEDIATIONS TO SUPPORT CIVIL AND FAMILY DISPUTES. WE ALSO OFFERED TWO 30-HOUR MEDIATION TRAININGS TO RECRUIT MORE VOLUNTEERS TO RECEIVE THEIR MN RULE 114 CREDENTIALS. IN 2022 HAVE 25 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. ADULT (ETHOS) AND YOUTH (GRO INITIATIVE) DIVERSION IN 2022, DRC MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN ITS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE EFFORTS, CONDUCTING A TOTAL OF 126 RESTORATIVE CIRCLES BETWEEN ETHOS FOR YOUTH AGES 18-24 AND THE GRO (GIVING REAL OPPORTUNITIES) INITIATIVE. THESE CIRCLES PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM RATES FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO INFLICTED HARM IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WITH A REMARKABLE 97% SUCCESS RATE AS IT STILL STANDS, INDICATING THAT PARTICIPANTS REMAINED CRIME-FREE FOR ONE YEAR POST-RESTORATIVE INTERVENTION. THE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR CIRCLES REFLECTED A BROAD SPECTRUM OF BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES. AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS, 65 IDENTIFIED AS MALE, WHILE 55 IDENTIFIED AS FEMALE. IN TERMS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMPOSITION, 29 PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFIED AS AFRICAN AMERICAN, 17 AS WHITE, 9 AS ASIAN, AND 3 AS HISPANIC. ADDITIONALLY, 1 PARTICIPANT IDENTIFIED AS NATIVE AMERICAN, AND 21 PARTICIPANTS CHOSE NOT TO REPORT THEIR RACE. THESE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND EQUITY WITHIN THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS. EACH CIRCLE REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR POSITIVE CHANGE, FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING, HEALING, AND COMMUNITY COHESION. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, OUR FOCUS REMAINS ON EXPANDING OUR REACH, OFFERING SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS, AND CONTINUING TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUR CIRCLES OF SUPPORT GROUPS (FLO) FOR LADIES ONLY AND (DMX) DIVINE MASCULINE XCELLENCE WERE FORMED. FLO/DMX WEEKLY CIRCLES FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN AGES 14-17 AND 18-24 MET ONCE A WEEK FOR 12 WEEKS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AROUND CONNECTION, WELLNESS, EMOTIONS, FAMILY STRUGGLES, "ADULTING", AND ALL THINGS IN BETWEEN THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY DRC'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INTRODUCES THE IMPORTANCE OF CIRCLE PRACTICES TO PARTICIPANTS, AND KEY DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE, AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. LED BY SOME OF THE BEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON DRC'S TEAM, FACILITATION WAS BASED UPON LIVED EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE TO BRING SELF-AWARENESS, WISDOM, AND GUIDANCE IN SUPPORT OF YOUTH AND THE ISSUES THEY ENCOUNTERED. IN 2022, 15 OF 21 YOUTH ENROLLED ATTENDED MORE THAN 6 SESSIONS WITH SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION 2.DESCRIBE THE ACTIVITY'S OBJECTIVE, FOR BOTH THIS TIME PERIOD AND THE LONGER-TERM GOAL, IF THE OUTPUT IS INTANGIBLE, SUCH AS IN A RESEARCH ACTIVITY. O GIVE REASONABLE ESTIMATES FOR ANY STATISTICAL INFORMATION IF EXACT FIGURES AREN'T READILY AVAILABLE. INDICATE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS ESTIMATED. O BE CLEAR, CONCISE, AND COMPLETE IN THE DESCRIPTION. MEDIATION OUR MEDIATION DEPARTMENT HAS PROGRAMS FOR COMMUNITY AND COURT DISPUTES, INCLUDING HOUSING (MAINLY EVICTIONS), HARASSMENT, AND CONCILIATION (SMALL CLAIMS COURTS). OUR LARGEST PROGRAM IS HOUSING MEDIATION. IN 2022 WE CONTRACTED WITH THE MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY TO PROVIDE HOUSING STABILITY SERVICES THAT INCLUDE FREE-OF-CHARGE HOUSING MEDIATION BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS/MANAGERS AND RESIDENTS TO HELP THEM TALK ABOUT ISSUES, CONCERNS, AND CONFLICT AND CREATE A SAFE AND STRUCTURED CONVERSATION TO REACH A VOLUNTARY AND INFORMED DECISION, EITHER PRIOR AND AFTER EVICTION FILING. UNDER THIS GRANT, WE ALSO PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE CONFLICT CONSULTING AND COACHING TO EQUIP THE INDIVIDUAL WITH COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS, AS WELL AS COURT PROCEDURE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION, ADDRESSING FEAR, ANXIETY, AND WORRY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS. THROUGH THE HSS GRANT, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING A CONTRACTUAL MEDIATOR TO SUPPORT HOUSING EFFORTS BY PROVIDING MEDIATION SERVICES TO THOSE ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS. DRC WAS ALSO ABLE TO FINANCE AND PROVIDE OUR MEDIATION GUSTAVO VIERA WITH H1B VISA STATUS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN DRC'S HISTORY THAT AN IMMIGRANT WAS SPONSORED FOR AN H1B VISA. THIS GROUNDBREAKING MOVE NOT ONLY HIGHLIGHTED DRC'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY BUT ALSO MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL TALENT WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. OUR GOAL FOR 2023 IS TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY MEDIATION PROGRAM TO HELP FAMILIES OVERCOME COMMUNICATION BARRIERS, RESOLVE CONFLICT MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY, AND CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES WHERE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED THROUGH THEIR PARENTING JOURNEY. WE ALSO AIM TO UPSTREAM OUR HOUSING MEDIATION PROGRAM, PROVIDING PREVENTIVE AND EARLY CONFLICT RESOLUTION SERVICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS/MANAGERS AND RESIDENTS BEFORE EVICTION FILING, HELPING THEM CREATE A COMMUNICATION LINE AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, NOT ONLY TO RESOLVE PAST ISSUES AND CONCERNS BUT ALSO EQUIPPING THEM WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR FUTURE INTERACTIONS. THE MEDIATION DEPARTMENT AT DRC IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND BUSINESSES. OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION, PREVENT FURTHER TRAUMA, AND FOSTER OVERALL WELL-BEING BEYOND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. WE APPROACH OUR WORK WITH WHOLESOME VIRTUES SUCH AS LOVE, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, EMPATHY, COMPASSION, PATIENCE, JOY, HOPE, AND NON-JUDGMENT. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER ALL TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND ATTAIN A LEVEL OF SAFETY AND PLEASANTNESS BEYOND PEACE AND HARMONY. OUR AIM IN 2021 TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE INFORMED AND VOLUNTARY DECISIONS BASED UPON SERVICES THAT ARE CONNECTED, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE WAS A SUCCESS WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDE FOR MEDIATION SERVICES TO RAMSEY COUNTY COURTS (FOR HOUSING, HARASSMENT, CONCILIATION, CONTRACT, AND GENERAL CIVIL MATTERS), AND COMMUNITY MEDIATION FOR CIVIL MATTERS. IN 2023 WE WILL ADD A 40-HOUR FAMILY MEDIATION TRAINING TO OUR ROSTER THAT WILL BE OFFERED TO STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY MEDIATORS. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT DRC VALUES THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH VOICE, AND RECOGNIZES THE OBSTACLES THAT HINDER YOUTH FROM BEING THEIR BEST, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE TRAUMATIC TIMES. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 6-12 WEEKLY SESSIONS IN FLO/DMX, AN INVESTMENT OF UP TO 250 WAS GIVEN TO EACH PARTICIPANT FOR THEIR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. MOVING FORWARD, WE WANT TO PROVIDE WEEKLY HEALING CIRCLES OF SUPPORT TO OUR YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GRO AND ETHOS DIVERSION PROGRAMMING. THIS WILL GIVE THEM A SAFE SPACE TO HEAL AND TAP INTO CONNECTING WITH A TRUSTED STAFF MEMBER. DRC DESIRES TO BRING HEALING TO YOUTH WHO ARE STRUGGLING MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. OUR CIRCLES OF SUPPORT OFFER AN OUTLET FOR YOUTH TO LEARN HOW TO COPE WITH THE NEW CHALLENGES FACED DAILY. IN 2023, WE WILL ALSO PLAN TO OFFER WEEKLY CIRCLES OF SUPPORT GROUPS TO PARENTS OF OUR ETHOS AND GRO PARTICIPANTS. OUR PARTNERS AT RAMSEY COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SAFE SPACES FOR PARENTS TO CONVERSE, HEAL, AND LEARN RESTORATIVE TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE & DIVERSION OUR SERVICES HAVE BEEN IN HIGH DEMAND AND EXPANDED TO SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CORPORATE OFFICES, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2022 WE TRAINED 225 VOLUNTEERS IN RESTORATIVE PRACTICES THIS INCLUDED STUDENTS, INDIVIDUALS, AND EMPLOYEES WITH THE CITY OF ST. PAUL. IN THE FALL OF 2022, THE CITY OF ST. PAUL PARTNERED WITH DRC TO TRAIN ALL EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORS IN RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. ALTHOUGH THE TRAINING IS A CHOICE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, WE ARE HOPING THIS WILL BRING ABOUT CHANGE ACROSS SYSTEMS. THE CITY OF ST. PAUL IS COMMITTED TO MOVING AWAY FROM COMPLIANCE, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, TO A MORE RESTORATIVE APPROACH TO NAVIGATE CONFLICT AND WORK PERFORMANCE REVIEWS. IN 2023, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE EXPANDING OUR WORK TO DO MORE TRAINING AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS.