Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
DUBUQUE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER
DUBUQUE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER. Established in Dubuque in 1996 as a part of the human rights department, the Center included thirty-two trained volunteers who handled cases from the beginning to the resolution.
The first volunteers were trained over two weeks in March 1996 by representatives of the Grinnell Peace Institute and the Iowa Mediation Service. The Center opened in June 1996.
The mission of the DDRC was to solve tenant and landlord, neighborhood, and race- related disputes through mediation before problems escalate and negatively impact a neighborhood. Most DDRC cases were related to everyday disputes between neighbors: arguments over dogs, parking, children, and property. The DDRC did not handle employment or private family matters. Disputes referred to the DDRC originated in the official city limits of Dubuque and/or one of the disputants had to have official residence within the city limits of Dubuque.
Mediation offered through the DDRC was different from mediation that was offered as part of a formal discrimination complaint filed with the Dubuque Human Rights Commission. If the issue in a particular case appeared to be covered by the City's anti-discrimination ordinance, then the case was referred to the formal complaint process.
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Source:
News Release. City of Dubuque. Online: http://www.cityofdubuque.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4537