ABOUT RECOURSE Mediation Services
- We are Sonoma County’s community mediation organization. RECOURSE was started by community members committed to the principles of peaceful, mutual resolution of conflict as a way to build safer and healthier communities.
- We began serving the community in 1992 and were granted tax exempt status as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in 1996. If you would like to invest in our work for social profit, learn how we use donations.
- RECOURSE is powered by well-trained volunteer mediators who represent the diversity of Sonoma County.
- We have a restorative justice partnership with Restorative Resources. RECOURSE is committed to supporting a voice for victims of juvenile crime and helping youthful offenders to make better choices.
- We are committed to the vision of empowering people to resolve their own disputes and we are the County leader in conflict resolution training.
- We are committed to the peaceful resolution of conflict.
Our Mission and Vision:
RECOURSE offers community members ways to work through disagreements together, in an atmosphere of respect, by providing mediation and conflict resolution education services, regardless of how little they can pay.
RECOURSE Mediation Services’ vision is to be the leading community resource center that works to ensure all people of Sonoma County have the support and skills to resolve their own conflicts. Together we can build a stronger, safer, healthier community.
RECOURSE Mediation Services has offices in downtown Santa Rosa, at 520 Mendocino Avenue Suite 240. Contact us at (707) 525-8545 or email at info@recoursemediation.com.
RECOURSE employs a small part-time staff and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors
Our History
RECOURSE was conceived in the spring of 1991, when mediators Mary Brake and Jay Stewart brought their ideas to Sonoma County Legal Services Foundation. Together with Toni Novak, Foundation Director, they began to build support for a community mediation center for Sonoma County. In 1992 the first volunteers were trained. In 1996 RECOURSE received 501c(3) non-profit status.
RECOURSE was founded on five values that continue to guide our work today. These values support cooperative work and understanding in the community. The values are:
- Acceptance of the positive side of conflict
- Peaceful expression of conflict in the neighborhood
- Individual and community acceptance of responsibility for conflict
- Participatory resolution of conflict
- Neighborhood diversity and understanding of differences
Recourse Today
Today, a volunteer Board of Directors leads RECOURSE. Board members include members of a variety of professions such as attorneys, accountants, mediators, and business people from Sonoma County, who share a commitment to our vision. RECOURSE has a paid professional staff of 4 part time people.
RECOURSE is currently funded through a combination of contracts, grants, fee-for-service and individual donations.
Who are RECOURSE community mediators?
RECOURSE mediators are volunteers from throughout Sonoma County, and reflect the diversity of our residents. They come from all walks of life, but share a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
Mediators receive at least 32 hours of formal mediation training and must observe three mediations before they are qualified to co-mediate. Many of our mediators have received additional training from both RECOURSE and outside sources.
Continuing education and training opportunities are available throughout the year.
Useful links about supporting community mediation: