Being a volunteer mediator is meaningful, thoughtful, and challenging work. You can make a difference in the lives of people in conflict. There are many opportunities for volunteering at CRC.

• Mediate in a wide variety of cases such as neighborhood and business disputes, family and elder issues, non-divorce relationship and couple separation issues.
• Mediate in Court
• Mediate youth to youth conflicts in schools
• Facilitate Circles with youth in schools to develop the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual habits of peacemaking
• Facilitate Restorative Justice Conferences with youth
• Facilitate Conflict Resolution Education sessions helping youth recognize and effectively resolve conflicts at school, at home and in the community.

We have a roster of committed volunteers who provide all our mediation services. Mediators are neutrals. They do not side with a person, an issue, a proposed solution or declare an outcome as right or wrong, better or worse. As neutrals, mediators ask questions and guide people through the steps in the mediation process and help them write up their decisions and agreements.

Each mediator has received 30 hours of general mediation skills training and meets the requirements under Minnesota Supreme Court Rule 114 for qualified neutrals. Our mediators are also required to take 6 hours of continuing education per year to remain active as a mediator with CRC. Go to Training Calendar for more info.

In addition to being trained as mediators, many of our volunteers complete program trainings to prepare them to work with youth and adults as facilitators of Circles and Conflict Resolution Education sessions. CRC provides program trainings for volunteers in a variety of subjects, including circle facilitation and working with youth who have experience trauma.

CRC volunteers come from a variety of social, educational, economic, cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. We believe our mediators should reflect the community we serve.

We offer internship to college students pursuing areas of study related to mediation and dispute resolution. Other areas of study may be appropriate, depending on the focus of the projects involved. Internship opportunities may include learning about and providing mediation case management, assisting with volunteer coordination and recognition, promoting mediation through community outreach, and assisting the development and implementation of training for MMP volunteers.

Interns who have taken a CRC approved mediation skills training are eligible to mediate cases with staff supervision. Other learning opportunities are possible based on a student’s areas of interest. Students generally take internships for course credit and commit to a semester of involvement.

If you are interested in volunteering with CRC, please contact us at 612-822-9883.