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Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Inc. will not discriminate against any individual, on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, gender, gender orientation, religious preference, age, or marital status, in its programs, services, activities, or employment practices.

About N2N

Mission

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is dedicated to providing peaceful solutions to conflict through mediation, facilitation, education and training. Our aim is to provide Marion County families, neighborhoods, and crime victims the means to achieve peace and reconciliation.

Vision

We are committed to enhancing our local community by supporting individuals and groups to peacefully resolve conflicts, achieve reconciliation, and learn appropriate dispute resolution behavior.

Values

In the conduct of Neighbor-to-Neighbor's operations, we value:

• Conflict as an opportunity for learning and growth
• Appropriate dispute resolution approaches to conflict
• The right and innate ability of each person to find peaceful solutions to conflict
• The primacy of volunteers as mediators
• Professional development of staff, volunteers, and board
• Meaningful compensation for and recognition of staff
• Collaborative relationships with other community groups and organizations
• Open and respectful communications among staff, board, volunteers, community members, and mediation participants
• Sensitivity to and appreciation of community and cultural differences

How Mediation Works

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where people with disputes come together, sit down with a mediator or mediators, and talk about ways to solve their dispute. When someone has a conflict, he or she calls the N2N office and asks for help.

We take down a bit of information about the dispute, including as much contact information about the other party as is known. The case is then assigned to a case developer who calls or visits both parties to talk about what mediation can do for them. The case developer invites the parties to schedule a mediation session. If both parties are willing to meet, the case developer sets up a time and place (usually at the N2N offices, but mediations can be held elsewhere). The N2N office sends notices or calls everyone concerned to inform them of the time and place of the session.

The parties meet. The discussions are facilitated by the mediators. Most of the time, agreements are reached. However, even if the parties don't formalize their agreements, we generally find that they do come away from the process with new understandings, clarified information, and reduced stress in their relationships.

If you would like to know more about mediation, call the Neighbor-to-Neighbor office at 503-585-0651 and ask questions or request a brochure.

STEPS TOWARDS RESOLVING CONFLICTS

TALK DIRECTLY

Assuming that there is no threat of physical violence, talk directly to the person with whom you have the problem.  Direct conversation is much more effective than sending a letter, banging on the wall, throwing a rock, or complaining to everyone else.

 CHOOSE A GOOD TIME

Plan to talk to the other person at the right time, and allow yourself enough time for a thorough discussion.  Don’t start talking about the conflict just as the other person is leaving for work, after you have had a terrible day, or right before you have to make dinner.  Try to talk in a quiet place where you can both be comfortable and undisturbed for as long as the discussion takes.

 PLAN AHEAD

Think out what you want to say ahead of time.  State clearly what the problem is and how it affects you.

 DON’T BLAME OR NAME CALL

Antagonizing the other person only makes it harder for him or her to hear you.  Don’t blame the other person for everything or begin the conversation with your opinion of what should be done.

 GIVE INFORMATION

Don’t interpret the other person’s behavior:  “You are blocking my driveway on purpose just to make me mad!”  Instead, give information about your own feelings:  “When your car blocks my driveway, I feel angry because I can’t get to work on time.”

 LISTEN

Give the other person a chance to tell his or her side of the conflict completely.  Relax and listen.  Try to learn how the other person feels about what is going on.

 

SHOW THAT YOU ARE LISTENING

Although you may not agree with what is being said, tell the other person that you hear them and are glad that you are discussing the problem together.

 

TALK IT ALL THROUGH

Once you start, get all of the issues and feelings out into the open.  Don’t leave out the part that seems too “difficult” to discuss or too “insignificant” to be important.  Your solution will work best if all the issues are discussed thoroughly.

 

WORK ON A SOLUTION

When you have reached this point in the discussion, start working on a solution.  Two or more people cooperating are much more effective than one person telling another to change.  Be specific:  “I will turn my music off at midnight” is better than a vague “I won’t play loud music anymore.”

 

FOLLOW THROUGH

Agree to check with each other at specific times to make sure that the agreement is still working…then really do it.

The History of N2N

In the mid-1980's, a nationwide movement was underway to provide dispute resolution alternatives to the legal system and/or police intervention. In December of 1984, Community Boards, a highly successful San Francisco-based community mediation program, put on a workshop on community mediation programs. Three members of the Salem community attended the workshop: Bryan Johnston, Willamette University Law Professor, Dr. Roy Patton, Chair of the Salem Human Rights Commission, and Janet Hawkins, staff person in Salem's Community Development Department.

The three delegates returned enthusiastic about creating a community mediation program. They believed the basic program they learned about could be adapted for use in Salem. Jan Alsever, another Human Rights Commission member, joined to help initiate the adaptation. In January of 1985, some 30 leaders of community organizations that dealt daily with conflict situations were invited to a planning session. Groups represented included the Women's Crisis Center, Salem Police Department, Legal Aid, and Salem-Keizer Schools.

The group met to formulate a basic structure to fit the needs of Salem. The main goal was to offer all members of the Salem community a free, convenient, workable program of volunteer mediation. Also important was the desire to provide training that would empower each mediator with skills to resolve informal neighborhood disputes. Parties involved in those disputes could themselves learn dispute resolution skills and pass them on to yet others.

With the basic plan agreed upon, a Board of Directors was selected and liaison members were designated from city and county law enforcement agencies and City of Salem staff. September of 1985 marked the first Board training for the neighborhood mediation project. Brochures offering the concept and services were distributed by December 1985. The Board began working on its first priority -- educating the Salem community that Neighbor-to-Neighbor mediation services were available. This is still an on-going effort today. Salem Neighborhoods, Inc., and Legal Aid provided the seed money for the initial publicity campaign, and subsequently a grant was received from Gannett.

In 1987, legislation was introduced establishing a dispute resolution advisory council. This coincided with the development of the Dispute Resolution Center at Willamette University, headed up by Bryan Johnston and Susan Leeson. In 1989, the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission (ODRC) was created. One of its charges was to promote and assist community mediation programs throughout the State. Funding to enable this effort came from surcharges generated from county court fees. The Commission also set standards of mediator training for community-based programs.

In 1992, N2N applied for and received support from the State through the ODRC grant, and from the County in the form of in-kind office space at 216 High Street NE. N2N became a non-profit organization of the State of Oregon and is authorized by the IRS to receive tax-deductible contributions.

Angie Schwartz was hired as the first paid staff and the office was officially opened in April 1992. In November 1992, Angie left and Alice Wells was hired as Program Coordinator. The first newsletter, Let's Talk, was published in December 1992.

Since receiving the ODRC grant in 1992, N2N has expanded services to include the entire Marion County community. N2N continues to recruit and train volunteer mediators in basic mediation training classes conducted about once a year. In 1993, N2N attempted to open a satellite office in Woodburn and trained Woodburn volunteers to provide community mediation. The Salem headquarters eventually absorbed this satellite operation.

In September 1993, a group of volunteers received additional training to start a Juvenile Victim/Offender mediation program in partnership with the Marion County Juvenile Department. Pre-adjudication cases are referred to N2N through this program. In September 1994, another group of volunteer mediators received additional specialized training to begin the Adult Victim/Offender mediation program. These referrals are from the Marion County District Attorney's Office. N2N also provided training in 1994 for a group from Western Oregon University who subsequently set up their own mediation program on campus to assist students and staff.

In February 1996, Drinda Lombardi was hired as Administrative Director, increasing the staff to two part-time persons. A Conflict Me 3-hour training program was developed and is available for presentation to community groups. The training provides tools to individuals to deal with conflict in a positive way. N2N volunteers also conduct this training as requested.

In January 1997, N2N entered into a new partnership with the State of Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, and continues to receive funding from the department's Manufactured Dwelling Park Program to provide mediation services for people residing in manufactured dwelling parks on an as needed basis.

From April 1998 until late 2001, funds were available for additional Youth & Family mediation training and staffing. The mediation process included a co-mediation model for an adult and peer mediator to work together at the table. For a time the funding for this program was provided by the Marion County Children & Families Commission. It is currently not funded but continues to be a service available through the general program.

Mona West became the Executive Director in November 1998 when Drinda departed. In September 1999, Carolyn Berry succeeded Mona as Executive Director and conducted a program of Peer Mediation Training in the Stayton High School. Cory Mathews came on board as a Youth & Family Program Coordinator while funding continued.

David L. Leavenworth was hired in December 2000 as Executive Director. Alice Wells served as succeeding interim director from March 2002 until August 2002 when Sophia Douglas accepted the position at .75 FTE. N2N also employed Sheri King, a .4 FTE program assistant, and Tina Schweickert as a program coordinator.

The Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission was abolished during the 2003 state legislative session. The Community Dispute Resolution Center program was moved to the University of Oregon Law School. N2N continues to operate under a biennial grant from the Oregon Office of Community Dispute Resolution (OOCDR), with funds generated from county court filing fees. The grant program is now administered through the U of O Law School.

Sophia Douglas and Sheri King left N2N in August of 2004, and Sandy Kristiansen stepped in as a Program Director. In October of 2004, Dara Benton was hired as a Program Assistant. In July of 2005, Rhonda Horn was hired as Director of the program after Sandy moved out of the state. Dara Benton left N2N in September of 2005 to return to university full-time.

N2N currently maintains a list of approximately 65 trained volunteer mediators and case developers and handles, on average, approximately 18 cases per month. Many volunteers take on an even greater commitment of their personal time through serving on the Board of Directors, training new mediators, training community groups, speaking at outreach activities and serving on various committees. They come from all walks of life but share a common belief in the 'magic' of mediation.

The stated purpose in the original Bylaws is identical to the stated purpose in the Bylaws today. While office spaces, board members, volunteers, and staff members have come and gone, breathing constant life into the community dispute resolution vision, the basic purpose and concept remains unchanged. N2N Purpose:

• To support the voluntary and participatory resolution of conflict
• To foster acceptance of responsibility by the individual and community for conflict and its peaceful resolution
• To provide a forum for resolution of these disputes and training for volunteers to assist in this process
• To foster the philosophy that conflict has positive value and can be used for beneficial change
• To further develop a sense of community

N2N handles approximately 250 cases per year, receiving referrals from law enforcement, housing authority, private attorneys, Marion County Juvenile Department, neighborhood associations, community and code enforcement, dog control, manufactured dwelling parks, schools and other local government agencies. The time, effort, commitment and vision of individuals serving on the Board of Directors over the years, in the volunteer ranks, and as staff, is a testimony to the effectiveness, value and the constancy of alternative methods of dispute resolution.

People at N2N

Staff Members

  Neighbor-to-Neighbor

Training Opportunities and Events

Basic Training Application Form (click here)

Continuing Education Opportunities

May 22nd, 2010 - Parenting Plan Revisions Mediation
Sponsored by OACDR’S Mid-Valley Coast Regional Training Coalition
(Lincoln, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Yamhill county CDRCs)

Fee: $25 per participant / $20 each for 5 or more RSVPs arriving together
Location:     Grand Ronde Tribal Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 (click here for map)
Lunch:           Lunch including beverages are provided.
 
Workshop Presentor: TBA

This workshop is also offered in collaboration with other mediation centers. Your Community Mediators of Yamhill County is sponsoring this workshop and we will publish details at a later date. All of the collaborative workshops are to be conducted at the Grand Ronde Tribal Center in Grand Ronde. SAVE THE DATE!

September, 2010 - Consensus Building
Sponsored by OACDR’S Mid-Valley Coast Regional Training Coalition
(Lincoln, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, Yamhill county CDRCs)

Fee: $25 per participant / $20 each for 5 or more RSVPs arriving together
Location:     Grand Ronde Tribal Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 (click here for map)
Lunch:           Lunch including beverages are provided.
 
Workshop Presentor: TBA

This workshop is also offered in collaboration with other mediation centers. Lincoln Community Dispute Resolution Center of Lincoln County is sponsoring this workshop and we will publish details at a later date. All of the collaborative workshops are to be conducted at the Grand Ronde Tribal Center in Grand Ronde. SAVE THE DATE!

Links

• Marion County
• Marion County Children & Families Commission
• Marion County District Attorney's Office
• Marion County Juvenile Justice Department
• Marion County Parent Resource Directory

• Oregon Housing and Community Services Department
  
• Oregon Network for Compassionate Communication
  
• Oregon Mediation Association
  
• Oregon Office for Community Dispute Resolution

• Clackamas County Community Dispute Resolution Center
  
• Resolutions Northwest (Multnomah County)
  
• Six Rivers Community Mediation Services (Gilliam, Hood, Sherman, Wasco, & Wheeler Counties)
  
• Central Oregon Mediation (Crook, Deschutes, & Jefferson Counties)
  
• East Metro Mediation (Multnomah County)
• Community Mediation Services (Lane County)
• Linn-Benton Mediation Services (Linn & Benton Counties)
• VORP/Community Mediation Service of Polk County