Mission

Community mediation is a proven conflict resolution and prevention mechanism that increases access to justice for low-income and marginalized populations and builds community capacity, relationships and social capital.
The goals of the CMC Grant Program are:
1. to broaden access to dispute resolution for all Massachusetts residents by promoting community mediation as an affordable public service;
2. to provide a consistent, stable funding source for centers with performance based public accountability to avoid uncertainty and instability of center operations;
3. to promote diversified funding sources for longer term center sustainability.

What We Do

MOPC builds capacity for conflict resolution, collaboration and consensus-building within public entities and across sectors state-wide and serves as a neutral forum and state-level resource in these fields. MOPC works with government agencies, courts, businesses, nonprofits, and citizen groups to address complex issues related to economic development, environmental resource management, land use, agriculture, transportation, housing, health care, and other important community objectives.

MOPC's work results in cost savings for the state and its citizens through reduced litigation and settlement expenses and enhanced capacity for effective problem-solving and civic engagement on major public initiatives in the commonwealth.

As a free-standing institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston, MOPC is committed to improving the quality of its collaborative governance, dispute resolution and deliberative democracy processes by expanding and deepening scholarship in these fields.