Dispute Resolution Center

Mediation Dispute Resolution Center (drc) collaborated with community Dispute Resolution programs (cdrps) across Minnesota to (1) provide mediation services under the housing stability services (hss) grant from the Minnesota housing finance agency, (2) deliver renthelpmn financial assistance to communities at risk of eviction and homelessness in combination with our restorative mediation sessions, (3) advocate for a housing mediation bill at the Minnesota state capitol to support those experiencing housing instability, and (4) host events and trainings to strengthen our volunteer mediator community. 1.through the hss grant, our team offered mediation services in housing court and community settings, assisting families and individuals to work collaboratively with landlords on voluntary agreements like payment plans and eviction expungements to prevent eviction. 2.our renthelpmn partnership facilitated rental assistance applications for tenants covering past-due rent, utilities, and up to three months of future rent, alleviating housing instability. Restorative mediation sessions supported these efforts by improving communication and relationships between property owners and tenants, with our team listening to tenant concerns, connecting them with resources, facilitating the renthelpmn application, and conducting mediation to address underlying issues. Amber was central to these initiatives, managing case intake and providing mediation sessions, while interns assisted with intake, case management, outreach, and administrative tasks. Their efforts streamlined operations, expanded community reach, and strengthened service capacity. 3.we advocated for a housing mediation bill at the Minnesota state capitol to expand mediation access for tenants and landlords as a constructive solution to housing conflicts, including but not limited to elders and the population with language and cultural barriers. Through legislative engagement, testimonies, and collaborative effort, we highlighted mediation's role in preventing eviction and fostering long-term housing security. 4.monthly check-ins (12 sessions) with volunteer mediators focused on skill-building, addressing power imbalances, and recognizing racial and accessibility disparities. These meetings also promoted relationship- building, shared learning, and strengthened mediation practices for a larger community impact. Throughout the year, we offered 30-hour civil and 40-hour family mediation training, equipping participants with essential conflict Resolution skills. Upon completing the training, participants are eligible to join our volunteer roster, allowing them to provide mediation services in court and community settings and furthering our mission to bring effective conflict Resolution to those in need. In 2023, drc mediated 184 cases remotely, and 24 cases in person. Cases included our work in ramsey county's harassment, conciliation and housing courts, as well as community mediation specializing in civil and family disputes. Drc was awarded funds from housing stability services (hss) that will end in january 2025. We hired an independent contractor pt to support housing efforts until 2025. Our mediation coordinator position changed its title to mediation manager to reflect supervision overseeing drc's interns and housing support specialist positions. Youth development in 2023 drc launched youth weekly circles of support on february 16th. Due to a grant historically pausing funding for a month, our youth development coordinator resigned due to the unknowns of funding and financial stability. Although we received our reward, we decided to reframe our programming with our program manager filling in temporarily supporting youth development programming. With assistance from two volunteers, circles of support was in high demand with an average of 55 youth participants for 3 months dwindling down to 25-35 consistent participation weekly for 46 weeks. These healing circles provide a safe, transformative space for youth ages 14-18 to learn social-emotional skills and access resources like educational and employment opportunities. The program covers topics such as body mapping, vulnerability, trust, emotional expression, gratitude, emotional intelligence, self-care planning, and identity charts. In addition to circles of support, drc conducted ethos roundups twice a month throughout 2023, totaling 22 sessions. These roundups were facilitated by our program manager and attended by our volunteer members, all of whom are circle keepers and community members trained by the Dispute Resolution Center to work on diversion cases for the st. paul city attorney's office. The roundups served as a platform for ongoing education and discussion on crucial topics relevant to our work. Volunteers explored a diverse range of subjects, including cultural humility, power dynamics, trauma, circle brainstorming techniques, and ensuring safety in circles. They also addressed important practical considerations such as mandated reporting and mental health issues. Additionally, volunteers focused on identifying and sharing resources for participants, such as men's and women's support groups in st. paul. These roundups played a vital role in enhancing our volunteers' skills and knowledge, ultimately improving the quality of our diversion work in the community. Drc also successfully handled 5 gun diversion cases, with experienced circle keeper and former drc board chair taking the lead. He created a safe space for dialogue and understanding. Beyond the formal circle process, he also engaged in multiple one-on-one conversations with each participant, offering personalized support and guidance, helping them address underlying issues and find positive pathways forward. This comprehensive approach, combining structured circles contributed to meaningful intervention in gun-related cases. Our proposed activities are based on evidence-based practices, promising approaches, and our organization's experience. We've seen positive results through our programs like gro and ethos, which reduced recidivism and promoted youth development. For example, one participant and his brother used our space and resources to launch their apparel line, illustrating how we provide a safe environment for youth to explore talents and gain valuable skills. Our program evaluation is evolving, and we developed tools to gather feedback from participants, volunteers, and community members. These evaluations, given after each circle session and every quarter, assess knowledge, behavior, emotional well-being, and satisfaction. We use a 5- point scoring system, ranging from "excellent" to "poor," to analyze data and identify areas for improvement. After collecting and averaging the scores, we analyze the results to identify strengths and weaknesses based on percentages. Higher average scores highlight areas of success, while lower scores indicate areas needing improvement. Action plans are developed based on these findings, allowing us to continuously enhance our areas of programming, and making data-informed decisions. For 2023, 100% of gro diversion participants reported program clarity and involvement, 80% reflected on their actions, and 66% repaired harm. In our weekly circles of support, 82% of participants built stronger connections, 84% gained emotional wellness understanding, and 100% felt safe and supported. These outcomes guide our ongoing program improvements and data- informed decision-making to enhance our services. Drc's giving real opportunities (gro) diversion program closed 14 youth cases in 2023 ages 10-17, facilitating 28 circles. Our partnership with ramsey county attorney's office and restorative justice community action (rjca) continues to send cases for youth career readiness and success. Our ethos diversion programming closed 83 cases, facilitating 83 circles. Restorative practices the drc's executive director trained 258 community members, including city of st. paul employees and supervisors, students from bethel, st. thomas, and metro state universities, as well as individuals involved in diversion programs. Participants received four hours of training in restorative practices and earned certification as circle keepers. Demographics based on our annual statistical report, in 2023, drc made contact with 5,519 individuals with education, training, mediation, restorative, adr outreach, and navigation services. However, we are reporting 431 individuals we served based on specific services in mediation and restorative efforts. Roughly 98% of our clients we served live in ramsey county. Partnerships drc partnered with sdk communications to help the city of st. paul develop a job description and training module for six safety support specialist positions to work assist with conflict and crime prevention for the cities thirteen libraries. Training in restorative practices for the positions will take place in the fall of 2024. Drc also coll