History
Our founder, Chip Sharpe, first heard of community-based dispute resolution from a friend in 1979. Intrigued, Chip traveled to San Francisco to observe a Community Board Program hearing of a dispute, visited the Dispute Settlement Center in Chapel Hill, NC, researched similar programs in other parts of the US, and surveyed 2 Arcata neighborhoods on their perception of the need and potential benefit of a neighborhood dispute resolution service. The results were published as his master's thesis at HSU. After earning his master's degree, Chip organized a weekend mediation workshop at College of the Redwoods, jointly sponsored by CR and the HRC. Of the 20+ local participants, 12 indicated interest in helping to establish a local mediation service. In January of 1983, after more than a year of monthly planning meetings, HMS held its first mediation hearing. After attending a CBP Training Institute for Trainers in San Francisco, Chip conducted the first HMS training on July 4, 1983.
Specialties
Established in 1983, Humboldt Mediation Services is a community based, non-governmental, non-profit organization of volunteers. We provide conflict resolution services for disputes of all kinds, including family and child custody disputes, divorces and separations, workplace conflicts, tenant-landlord conflicts, and many others. We offer a community board style of mediation which is an alternative to costly court cases and which encourages communication and collaborative resolution. We also offer annual Community Mediator training and certification and Communication and Conflict Management workshops to the community. Our goal is to work locally toward global peace, and providing community members with peacemaking tools is one way we work towards that goal. If you wish to explore mediation through Humboldt Mediation Services, you are cordially invited to call our office and discuss your situation with our Case Manager in confidence and without cost or obligation.