Mediation is always voluntary and confidential, and two neutral mediators help the participants in a dispute to decide themselves what is best for them. The mediators help each participant to state their point of view, and help to ensure that each one is heard. Key issues that need resolution are identified, and each issue is discussed in turn. The participants state their needs and wishes, and suggest possible solutions for mutual satisfaction. The mediators do not suggest solutions, do not decide who is right, nor offer legal advice. They remain neutral and impartial throughout the entire process.
Anyone who thinks they have a problem with another individual may want to try our voluntary mediation process rather than through courts, police intervention, or violence. The outcome is not decided by a court and they do not give up any legal rights. The mediation sessions last about two hours and are held in the neighborhood where the dispute occurs.
The result is frequently more
conflicts being resolved
peacefully through
community-based mediation rather
than through courts, police
intervention, or violence. The
long-term success of mediation
has been documented by lasting
agreements rates as well as
decreased calls for service to
the police in 15 other counties
where mediation has been in
practice for years.
If you are interested in free
training to become a community
mediator, call the Center at
240-727-0408.
A 16-year-old young man who was
working on his G.E.D. and
training to be an auto mechanic
spoke up in a recent training in
another center;
“I think that mediation is like
when someone brings in their car
because it is making strange
noises or rattling and they
don’t know what is going on.
So, we ask them to describe what
is happening and then say back
what we heard them say and then
we start to break it down into
parts. I can’t fix a car or
even figure out what is wrong
with the whole thing at once.
So I check the fluids, the
brakes, different parts of the
engine. In the same way it
seems like when people come in
for mediation there is all of
this noise or something is not
working and we say back what we
hear and break it down into an
issues list so that they can
figure out what they want to do
to fix each piece.”
Not all intakes result in
mediations. Nonetheless, even
some of those end with the
dispute being resolved due to
intervention during intake.
Similar unknown examples may
result from education and
outreach in the media and public
presentations in which we never
fail to briefly explain how it
works - by getting people
together who must coexist such
as neighbors, for example –
mediation helps them address the
underlying issues of a conflict
face-to-face. And, that in
mediation the participants often
feel their ideas and solutions
were truly their own, making it
more likely to end up with an
agreement reached.
Become a highly skilled,
Neutral, Volunteer Mediator
What’s a Mediator?
Mediators are highly trained
volunteers who represent the
diversity of the community they
serve. Mediators give people a
chance to speak, to be heard,
and to hear each other.
Mediators provide an opportunity for people to understand each other and transform their relationship.
Mediators ensure that participants make their own decisions about the outcomes of their conflict.
Mediators assist people to develop long-term solutions that meet the needs of everyone involved.
Who Should Participate?
You, as well as coworkers,
friends spouses, and teen-aged
students who are interested in
becoming volunteer mediators.
There are no age or educational
requirements.
What’s Included?
Free basic mediation training
workbook and handouts.
Individual & group activities.
Opportunities to interact with
like-minded community activists.
Light refreshments & drinks.