Our Mission

The Dispute Resolution Center empowers people to resolve their disputes by providing conflict resolution services and training community members in those skills.

Our Vision

We envision a South Sound community that has and uses healthy and respectful conflict resolution skills.

Our Values

We value personal empowerment, integrity, respect, collaboration, civility, and trust.

Download a copy of our "30 Years of Building Community" Booklet

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Our Commitment to Equity

We are committed to centering diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice organizationally, and in our provision of services and programs for the community.
Learn more:  Read the DRC Board of Directors' Statement on Race, Equity & Diversity

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Our Staff

Elizabeth Drake

Executive Director
Elizabeth provides stewardship for the DRC's mission fulfillment and long-term health, and nurtures collaborative partnerships in our community.

Leah Rietema

Training Manager
Leah leads skill-building training - from foundational to advanced levels - and provides continuing education opportunities for mediators.

Jennifer Miller

Business Manager
Jennifer manages financial, business, and compliance matters, and provides operations support to DRC programs.

Joe Sanders

Community Engagement Manager
Joe coordinates fundraising, marketing, events, and community outreach in support of DRC services.

Ken Stuto

Mediation Manager
Ken coordinates mediation services by collaborating with volunteer mediators, intake staff, clients, and the community.

Olivia Huebner

Volunteer Manager
Olivia builds and maintains a vibrant community of practice and service delivery among mediators, phone conciliators, and volunteers.

Alice Sharrett

Conciliation Manager
Alice coordinates mediation services by collaborating with volunteer mediators, intake staff, clients, and the community.

Yul Gamboa

Multilingual  Services Coordinator
Yul coordinates outreach efforts to underserved communities to increase awareness of our mediation and training resources.

Jill Busby

Trainer
Jill contributes to maintaining a thriving training program in conflict prevention and facilitation.

​Angela Dominguez

Administrative & Advancement Specialist
Angela provides support to administrative, fundraising, communication and program activities.

We're supported by a talented and dedicated Board of Directors.

Curt Gavigan (President)
Staff Director
​WA State Investment Board

​Julie Watson (Vice President)
Policy Lead
WA State Department of Fish & Wildlife

Waeni Mutisya Bacon (Secretary)
Family Law Attorney
Ascher & Denton Family Law

Michael Furze (Treasurer)
Assistant Director
WA State Department of Commerce

​Jade Austin
Student
Avanti High School

Carla Carter
Chief Deputy
Thurston County Sheriff’s Office 

​Elizabeth Morris
Organizational Development Consultant

​​Kevin Partlow
Real Estate Broker &
Retired Boeing Senior Manager
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​​John Skinder
Judge
Thurston County Superior Court

Eileen Yoshina
Equity in Education Director
Puget Sound Educational Service District

Our History

There are two main threads that weave together to make community mediation what it is today – the neighborhood justice/community mediation thread born in the 1960’s and the alternative dispute resolution thread of the 1970’s."

Starting with the first thread, section 10 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, embedded mediation in a community-led, process for dispute resolution. Neighborhood justice centers were created to focus on equal rights and an accessible, fair process. The federal commitment remains significant to the peace-building infrastructure in the United States today.

Though no longer housed within the Department of Justice, the neighborhood justice centers of that era are today's community mediation centers, including the Dispute Resolution Center serving Thurston and Mason Counties, and an estimated 700 centers across the United States.

As for a second thread - the Harvard Negotiation Project began in the late 60's and resulted in the widely popular and enduring book: “Getting to Yes” by Roger Fisher and William Ury, which gained popularity in the 70’s.  At this time, there was a continuing sentiment that the judicial system was broken and that an alternative was needed, specifically alternatives to litigation and court-based systems of justice. ​

This is often referred to as ADR – alternative dispute resolution and there are actually many alternatives: arbitration; mediation; negotiation; conciliation; mediation-arbitration; early neutral evaluation; fact finding; facilitation; & collaborative law. 

Interest-based bargaining became the generally accepted theory of effective negotiation, which is the underpinning of our model of interest-based mediation, in a facilitative style. Interest-based mediation as we approach it today became more formalized during the Carter Administration."  

​In Washington State, the Court Reorganization Act of 1984 (RCW 7.75) made it possible for communities to form community dispute resolution centers (DRCs).

Our story in Thurston County began in 1990 with the simple notion that residents can settle their own disputes and learn effective communications with a little bit of help from other residents who’ve learned some practical, teachable and highly effective skills as neutral facilitators. We opened for services in 1991 as a not-for-profit DRC authorized by the County Commissioners under the state statute.​

 ​The DRC organizing effort fell on very fertile soil. More and more people volunteered to get trained and provide conflict resolution services to their fellow community members. Within a few short years many community entities were involved, such as schools, courts, law enforcement, social services, churches, and civic organization. 

​Volunteers came from a wide cross-section of the community.  Those who took our training, whether they continued to volunteer with us or not, took their skills back to their everyday lives at home, at work, and beyond.

The growth of our DRC has been held up by a strong set of values.  These values shape how the board, staff and volunteers work with each other and how the DRC provides mediation and training services to our clients, the residents of Thurston County.  We promote respect, empowerment, civility and kindness in all human interactions, starting with ourselves and extending outwards from there.

​The DRC of Thurston County is one of 21 DRCs covering more than 94% of the state’s population. DRCs work collaboratively through an umbrella organization, Resolution Washington, to provide a relevant and cohesive array of services.

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Our Affiliations

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