Mediation and Restorative Services

Our Mission

Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS) was founded in 1987 and creates impact through alternative dispute resolution programs, which seek mutually agreed upon solutions to conflict and harm, and housing mediation and navigation. Our mission is to provide accessible, affordable mediation and restorative practices to underserved populations, to help them resolve their own conflict, repair harm and engender safe, healing communities.

Your Donation

This Give to the Max Day we are raising funds specifically to support mediation, such as housing mediation, which prevents eviction. Mediation is a process in which a trained neutral individual assists parties to resolve a conflict. Participation is voluntary, and participants have the opportunity to listen and be heard, to grow empathy for one another, and to explore a variety of solutions that are agreeable to both parties. MARS trains and provides mediators free of charge to assist community members to resolve conflicts, such as conflicts between tenants and landlords, neighbors, and within families.

Our work is focused in the Twin Cities north metro and our volunteer mediators are from all over the world. Most mediators are volunteers, and MARS’ costs include coordination with participants and mediators, volunteer training costs, technology, and more. Mediation evens the playing field among parties compared to the court system, where those with more resources typically have an advantage. Please support our mediation program this year and help us continue to support community members with free mediation services.