Creating understanding among people and peacfully resolving conflicts continues to be the mission of the Somerville Mediation Program. To this end mediation staff and trained volunteers act as neutral third parties and assist others in reaching mutually satisfactory agreements. The program works in collaboration with the Somerville School Department, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, and the Medford and Malden School Departments and community agencies. We are designated by Trial Court of the Commonwealth to be the approved mediation progam for the Somerville District Court.

Our funding is as diverse as the population we serve. Our funders include the Massachusetts Trial Court, the Somerville School Department, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, Medford and Malden School Departments, the Boston Bar Foundation,the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, Local Law Enforcement Block Grant and the Community Development Block Grant. We are grateful for the support of our Legislators, Sen. Pat Jehlen State Rep. Denise Provost, Carl Sciortino and Tim Toomey

In addition to Somerville High School we receive referrals and mediate cases for all of the elementary schools and the alternative schools in Somerville. Our principal focus for the last 14 years has been on violence prevention, and working with young people to teach them conflict resolutions skills, respect and tolerance. To this end we also conduct workshops fro the elementary schools.

Each year we recruit and train 60 new student mediators in a 24-hour training program. These students join the other mediators who daily bring peace and prevent violence in our schools and community, our program maintains its mission of helping others live together with tolerance and respect through the work of professional, dedicated staff and volunteers.