Mediation

Mediation involves two parties agreeing to sit down with a trained, neutral third party to discuss their differences and potential solutions. An informal approach to dispute resolution, this process takes place in a confidential and safe environment. The mediator's role is to listen closely to all sides of the dispute and guide the participants to a mutually acceptable agreement (verbal or written).

East Bay Community Mediation uses a panel of 2-3 mediators working together as a team for each mediation session. These mediators are trained volunteers with diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life in the community. Our mediators do not provide expert advice nor do they offer specific solutions. They facilitate communication between the disputing parties and help the parties develop options and draft their own resolutions. The agreements reached either verbal or written at mediation are not legally binding. However, if the parties wish to make them legally binding, we encourage them to take their agreements to legal professionals for review and drafting in appropriate, contractually binding language.

The EBCM mediation process honors ongoing relationships and creates opportunities for parties to rebuild their trust and communication as well as resolving the specific disputes at hand.

EBCM asks each party to pay a nominal fee of $50.00 (sliding scale) per mediation for most community disputes, OR $100.00 (sliding scale) per mediation for commercial disputes, if and when a mediation session is scheduled. No one is turned away for inability to pay.