Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center
Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center is a non-profit dispute resolution center serving the Mid-Columbia region. We receive funding from local, state, and federal organizations in order to provide low-cost conflict resolution and education services. Our mediators and facilitators are highly trained community volunteers dedicated to helping people solve problems and resolve conflict. We strive to create positive conversations and a safe environment for settling disputes, as well as education and training opportunities.
What We Believe In
At Six Rivers DRC, we honor the mediation principles of Self-Determination and Impartiality in all of our work. This means that we customize our services – from mediation to community workshops – for each client. Staff and volunteers respond to client needs and requests without judgment or bias. We prioritize supporting clients to build their own skills to resolve conflicts so that the Gorge community grows more resilient every day.
Who We Are
Our team is made up of dedicated board members, staff, and volunteers who work together to provide affordable conflict resolution services. The past year brought unique challenges, changes, and opportunities – and Six Rivers DRC rose to the occasion. We are so proud of our volunteers who met every challenge with creativity and resilient hope, knowing our community needed us more than ever.
Six Rivers DRC was founded by Marti Dane, who retired in 2020. The conflict resolution programs and practitioners throughout the Gorge – and across the country – owe Marti a debt of gratitude. Her creativity, passion for peace, and dedication to mentoring mediators have changed countless lives.
Six Rivers is proud to be a part of hundreds of Dispute Resolution centers throughout the nation working to provide effective and comprehensive conflict resolution services to community members and organizations. We bridge the Columbia River Gorge, providing services in both Oregon and Washington State. We are an active member of the network of Dispute Resolution Centers (DRC) in the Pacific Northwest and work together with other DRCs to ensure Best Practices in mediation, conflict coaching, facilitation, and training in communities large and small.
Resolution Washington (ResWA) is the member association for the 21 Dispute Resolution Centers (DRC’s) in Washington state. In 2020, ResWA DRCs served over 59,000 adults, including 2,900 youth, statewide, 863 volunteers delivered over $850,000 of service and mediated over 1,500 cases, settling 60%, and 75% of clients reported that mediation improved their situation. We are proud that a member of our staff, Andrea Pacheco, served as Vice President and Co-President for ResWA, 2019-2021.
The Oregon Office for Community Dispute Resolution (OOCDR) administers grants to support 20 centers serving 25 counties throughout Oregon. Centers are characterized by a dual purpose of promoting civic engagement and resolving community disputes at the earliest point of engagement. OOCDR works to support Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) through grantmaking, training, consultation, networking, and research.