Director's Report, July 2017

Greetings friends,

My deepest gratitude to all of you who were able to join us on June 15th for our 25th anniversary luncheon. Northwood Hall was abuzz with court personnel, attorneys, mediators, founders, volunteers, and other community supporters as we sought to honor our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the future with an engaging keynote by Magistrate Judge Paula McCandlis. More than $10,000 was raised in support of the WDRC! Those precious dollars will serve the community well as we continue to grow – adding new programs, expanding our reach, and serving more people. I am so pleased that after 25 years, we now:  

  • Operate the County’s Supervised Visitation Program, 
  • Regularly work with 15 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 7 districts
  • Have a formal and funded parent-teen mediation program
  • Serve city and county departments
  • Are a trusted resource for small and large businesses
  • Provide more than 10 specialized types of mediation services 
  • Conduct close to 80 adult trainings annually 
  • Through our engagement with Resolution Washington, the statewide association of DRCs, have received national attention for our state partnerships and programs
  • And, perhaps above all else, receive thousands of calls each year from individuals in need, and are equipped to serve them well!

The demand for our services continues to grow, and we continue to receive new and creative inquiries about the ways in which we can support peaceful dispute resolution. As we begin to look forward to our next milestone, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to share that we’ll be putting our creativity to work as we search for a new home in the coming months. I welcome each of you to join with us with ideas, resources, and energy as we establish a new location for our Center. 

As a new chapter in our journey moves forward, please know that I am truly honored by the community’s support for our mission. I am thrilled that we are thriving 25 years after this idea was first formed. And most of all, I am proud to join with each of you in support of a healthier, more resilient, more peaceful, more civil, and more productive community. 

Warm regards,

Moonwater
Executive Director

Image: WDRC supporters enjoy the 25th Anniversary Luncheon on June 15th. Photo by Bellingham Photographer Phil Rose.

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