This guide shares insights and resources to help community mediation centers improve the diversity of their volunteer mediators. It draws from the Center for Conflict Resolution’s experience conducting an equity audit of their mentorship program and implementing changes.
The MRU is an innovative alternative response program that dispatches trained community mediators to handle lower-level emergency 911 and police calls across the City of Dayton. Since 2022, the AAA-ICDR Foundation has supported the creation and expansion of the MRU, funded a professional program evaluation, and helped develop an implementation guide for communities interested in launching similar initiatives.
The Foundation is pleased to announce two new grants approved in February 2026
This evaluation highlights the Dayton Mediation Response Unit development, implementation, and early impacts. Findings show that mediation-based response offers an effective, humane alternative to traditional enforcement models, with early evidence of increased community trust and more equitable access to services. The evaluation identifies the MRU as a viable, scalable model for other communities to consider.