University Heights Community Development Corp.

Mediation Program Available!

Resolve Your Disputes In UH

RESOLVE YOUR DISPUTES
(RYD Program)

The University Heights Community Development Corporation (UHCDC) is a 501 © 3 non-profit Corporation formed to improve the quality of life in the community of University Heights.

By the fall of 1998, it had come to our attention that there were a number of conflicts in the community threatening its quality of life. These disputes ranged from bus and bar noises and noise from construction to parking issues, code violations and disputes between neighbors. Although these disputes seemed minor in nature, they had the potential of creating so much disruption in the community that they needed formal attention to be resolved.

In response to this need the UHCDC created a program designed to seek voluntary resolution of community related disputes. This program is called RYD - Resolve Your Disputes - and envisions a three Pronged approach - INTERVENTION, MEDIATION, AND BUREAUCRATIC NAVIGATION.

Our program is realistic in the sense that we operate on the principle that conflict is simply a fact of life and our goal is not to eliminate conflict but to manage it. Our program also recognizes that just as conflict is a fact of life, the spirit of conflict resolution is also a fact of life. That spirit can be seen every where:

When the spirit of conflict resolution breathes through a democracy - it is a parliamentary procedure.
When it breathes through a community - it is facilitation.
When it breathes through two parties it is negotiation.
And when it breathes through a neutral third party - it is mediation.

INTERVENTION in our program is the active monitoring of the community’s vital signs to interrupt brewing conflicts (both in bars and coffeehouses).

MEDIATION is a process that uses a neutral third party to help disputants resolve their own problems.

BUREAUCRATIC NAVIGATION is assisting community residents to access government offices, people and programs.

Our program includes partnering with front line neighborhood groups such as citizen’s patrols, local code enforcement committees, planning committees, council offices, community associations, etc. These groups are often the first to become aware of simmering problems.

Our program was so successful that many have asked us to help organizations, businesses, students, and residents learn and use the universal tools necessary for disputants to communicate and explore solutions together.

Our program also includes training in conflict resolution specifically for community groups, residents, and the business community.

Any groups or individuals that are interested in attending any of our classes or seminars, please call the UHCDC office at (619) 297-3166.

Email us
uhcdc@netzero.net