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  • Closing Circle for Domestic Workers Mediation Training
    Closing Circle for Domestic Workers Mediation Training
  • Conflict Skills Training for City Year Staff
    Conflict Skills Training for City Year Staff
  • Conflict Skills Workshop for Elders in Boston
    Conflict Skills Workshop for Elders in Boston
  • Gail_Packer & Boston Street Workers at CDSCs Annual Celebration
    Gail_Packer & Boston Street Workers at CDSCs Annual Celebration
  • Gail_Packer & Boston Street Workers at CDSCs Annual Celebration
    Gail_Packer & Boston Street Workers at CDSCs Annual Celebration
  • International Visitors from China
    International Visitors from China
  • MA College of Art & Design
    MA College of Art & Design
  • Positive Youth Engagement for Middle School Children in Cambridge
    Positive Youth Engagement for Middle School Children in Cambridge

Registration for our Fall 2024 Mediation training is open!

See our Events page for details and to register.

Sign up to join our CDSC Bash on Oct. 24, 2024!

See upcoming events in our new News and Events section for more information.

Join our weekly info session about CDSC and mediation

Informations sessions are every Monday from 12 to 12:30pm.

Mission Statement

Established in 1979, the Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC) is a private, not-for-profit mediation and training center dedicated to providing an alternative and affordable forum for resolving conflict. CDSC promotes better ways to understand and deal with conflict through skilled teams of pro bono mediators, training programs in mediation and conflict management, and broad community outreach. We are committed to making our services accessible to underserved populations and to addressing emerging community needs.

Our Services

Mediation Training

Mediation Training

Our next Basic Mediation Training will be in September in hybrid format.
The class will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, plus Saturdays during the day.
Registration is open. Please see the event page to register.

New weekly information session

             Want to learn more about mediation and CDSC? 
Join our new weekly information session for answers to your questions about CDSC and mediation.

Ask about mediation, why it matters, what is CDSC and what we offer, and get the answers from staff. 

Information sessions are held every Monday from 12 to 12:30pm 
at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84238635073.

Please come meet  the CDSC staff and ask questions! 

Takin' it to the Streets

 Takin' it to the Streets: How a community mediation center responded to emerging needs Read article here

final streetworkers

FREE Tenant & Landlord Mediation

CDSC is providing FREE mediation services to Tenants and Landlords involved in evictions.
This program is part of the Massachusetts statewide Eviction Diversion Initiative, run by the MA Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) and the MA Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD).

If you are a Tenant or Landlord, dealing with eviction or other housing-related conflicts OR if you have any questions about your eligibility for our mediation services,
Please Contact our Housing Case Manager at cdscintake@communitydispute.org

In this challenging economy, when demand for CDSC's mediation services and training is higher than ever and public funding for court-connected services has been cut to zero, we hope you will consider supporting the 2011 Gala with a generous gift.

The Gala will be held Thursday, October 20, 2011 at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge, MA. Learn more about this year's Gala.

See details on the various levels and benefits of sponsorship below. With gratitude for your past support, CDSC hopes that you will consider increasing your support this year. Never before has the need for affordable community-based conflict resolution -- and your support -- been greater.

Please reserve your sponsorship today.

Sponsorship Levels

Underwriter -- $10,000

  • Name or company logo on Gala event poster, program book, and website.
    (Confirmation with logo needed by 09/23/11)
  • Recognition in all press releases regarding the event
  • Company banner on display at the event
  • Includes seating of one table (10 reservations) in preferred seating area
  • Full-page greeting or marketing opportunity in the event program
  • Recognition from the podium during the speaking program

Collaborator -- $5,000

  • Name or company logo on event poster, program book, and website.
    (Confirmation with logo needed by 09/23/11)
  • Recognition in all press releases regarding the event
  • Company banner on display at the event
  • Includes seating for 8 attendees in preferred seating area
  • Half-page greeting or marketing opportunity in the event program

Facilitator -- $2,500

  • Name or company logo on event poster, program book, and website.
    (Confirmation with logo needed by 09/23/11)
  • Recognition in all press releases regarding the event
  • Company banner on display at the event
  • Includes seating for 6 attendees in preferred seating area
  • Half-page greeting or marketing opportunity in the event program.

Donor -- $1,000

  • Name or company logo on event poster, program book, and website.
    (Confirmation with logo needed by 09/23/11)
  • Recognition in all press releases regarding the event
  • Company banner on display at the event
  • Includes seating for 2 attendees in preferred seating area
  • Quarter-page greeting or marketing opportunity in the event program.

Supporter -- $500

  • Includes 2 tickets and Program Booklet acknowledgment
  • Eighth-page greeting or marketing opportunity in the event program.

Fan -- $250

  • Includes 1 ticket and Program Booklet acknowledgment

Please reserve your sponsorship today.

Printing Deadline for Program: Friday, September 23, 2011 at 12 Noon.

CDSC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.