Keep it Moving!

HAPPY 2010!!!  As we embark on another program year we’ve hit the ground running.  I want to again thank our many volunteers, supporters and community partners for trusting us to provide conflict resolution services in the most responsible and caring manner. I’d like to also introduce you to the newest staff person, Crystal Collin, Small Claims program assistant.  Crystal started as an intern and now works part time with   

us.  Crystal is a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University working on a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. She is interested in universal social justice and solidarity and aspires to have a productive lifelong career in the nonprofit sector. She also is a wonderful addition to the staff. I again want to thank the board of directors for their unwavering confidence in the DRC staff and volunteers. Their oversight and governance empowers us to be creative in stretching our limited resources, challenges us to think outside the box to “get it done” and encourages us to keep it moving even in these difficult economic times. We enthusiastically embrace another year of helping others experience peaceful resolution of conflict.

Peaceful resolutions,

 Belinda Dulin

Family Mediation Services 

2010 made its grand appearance with a blitz of family cases – domestic relations and probate- in spite of the termination of our Domestic Relations Motion Day Program during the last quarter of 2009 due to funding issues. Sadly, this influx of cases can be largely attributed to a depressed economy as families struggle financially and emotionally to survive.  Consequently, when conflict remains unresolved and escalates, litigation becomes a costly proposition. Fortunately, the DRC continues to provide affordable mediation services to struggling families in spite of the Center’s own funding issues.

In addition to the families who just hear about us by word of mouth, the family courts in both Washtenaw and Livingston Counties continue to refer cases to the DRC. What has been a blessing is that as our family cases have increased, our pool of trained domestic relations mediators has dramatically increased to support the volume of cases.  Consequently the first quarter 2010 has been quite exciting as new mediators have come on board, bringing to the family mediation table not only a welcomed breath of energy and enthusiasm, but diversity – a goal which the DRC strives to maintain within the organization and throughout all its programs.

So, we continue to be optimistic and encouraged as we face new challenges with respect to our family mediation programs. All who have an interest in mediating family cases should contact me at the Center. We need you, and if family mediation is your cup of tea and you have the necessary training, the DRC can truly grow to service the population that is most vulnerable - families.

-Carmelita Mullins

 The DRC Welcomes New Board Members

The DRC is pleased to welcome four new Board Members in 2009-10: Joe Basta, Hannalori Bates, Huda Karaman Rosen and The Honorable Betty Widgeon.

Joe is an attorney with Dykema, practicing commercial and environmental litigation and mediation. He was recently awarded The John Cummiskey Pro Bono Award from the State Bar of Michigan for his extensive volunteer service in death penalty litigation and community mediation and was named one of The Best Lawyers in America 2010.

Hannalori is a recent graduate of St. Louis University with a combined Masters in Public Health and J.D. from the School of Law.  She continues her advocacy work for Diabetes Partners in Action Coalition and has written extensively on Law and Public Health Policy.

Huda, born in Haifa, Palestine has retired as Supervisor and Instructor in Respiratory Care at U of M Hospital. She speaks five languages, although she has forgotten some Swahili, is a member of Zeitouna, and was a founder of Bustan el Funoun, a foundation to promote and support Arab-American culture.

Betty is an arbitrator, mediator and retired Michigan District Court Judge. She handles cases for The American Arbitration Association, The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services and several national labor related organizations, in addition to acting as visiting Judge throughout Michigan.

All of our new Board Members are trained mediators who volunteer with intelligence and passion for the DRC and continue their contributions in many social agencies throughout the community.

-Joan Binkow

Mediation Services in Quick View

Mediation Services have been in full speed this year. From January through December 2009 the numbers…

No. of Cases Accepted: 665
No. of Mediation: 506
Cases Resolved/Settlement Rate: 67%
No. of People Served: 1,668
Ave. Length of Mediation: Approx. 2.0 hours
No. of Volunteer Hours: 1,113+ hours
Value of Volunteer Contribution: $167,044

We can’t do it without you. Thanks!!

We begin the new year with 75 case