United Front: Mediation and Restorative Justice Center
Creating Opportunities for peace, safety and well-being

By Melanie Marshall

One of the High Country United Way partner agencies is promoting peace between the citizens of the High Country.

The Mediation and Restorative Justice Center (MRJC) works to provide amiable resolution to a variety of disputes. The range includes individual and family matters, and criminal matters as an alternative to prison.

“Conflicts are a part of everyone’s life, but often people need help to resolve conflicts in a productive manner,” said executive director Melissa Johnson. “Mediation helps keep conflicts from escalating into violence, litigation or other negative outcomes.”

The center works with trespass, harassment, assault, neighborhood issues, landlord/tenant disputes, consumer/merchant disputes, and conflicts between co-workers, roommates and parents who are separating or divorcing.

MRJC also offers youth services referred by juvenile court, families and schools, including truancy and delinquent behavior.

Through a sentencing services program, MRJC works with criminal defendants to provide treatment and rehabilitation options. Referrals for sentencing services come from the court system, attorneys and social services. Most the clients have mental health or substance abuse issues.

“The center helps these offenders turn their lives around and become productive members of society,” Johnson said.

MRJC is a non-profit organization and has been funded through the United Way since 1994.

“United Way is critical to our operation. We benefit not only from the funding, but from inter-agency meetings and other collaborative efforts supported by the United Way,” Johnson said. “We consider United Way and all of the agencies it funds as partners in providing services to the citizens in need in the High Country.”

The MRJC is one of 24 partner agencies supported by the High Country United Way. The United Way finished their annual capital campaign in early April, raising $525,006. That amount falls short of the $625,000 goal, however board members are optimistic about the funds raised.

“We know our shortfall will unfortunately “We know our shortfall will unfortunately impact our ability to fund the quality programs of our partnering agencies,” said United Way executive director Linda Slade. “But we will do the very best we can to try to fund programs that will make a lasting impact.

“The programs we fund at the Mediation and Restorative Justice Center promote peace by providing mediation services to Avery and Watauga residents to resolve disputes and provide alternatives to jail sentences,” Slade said. “We feel our support of these programs fits within our focus area of strengthening families and individuals and is money well invested in our community.”

MRJC offices are located in the Watauga County annex building located at 133 Water Street in Boone. Most of the services are provided free of charge. All session with the center are kept confidential. For more information about the center, the mediation or prison alternatives program, or for help with a dispute, call (828) 264-3040.

The capital campaign may have come to end, however donations are still needed by the High Country United Way. For more information or to make a contribution call (828) 265-2111 or email at info@highcountryunitedway.org. All donations are tax deductible.