I know there is always something to complain about, the price of gas, the cost of a cup of coffee, or some kind of government regulation. But if you have lived here all your life, then you may not realize that things are not as great in other places. Cheap gas means you have fewer electric cars. A higher price for coffee means you have workers making a decent wage. Government regulation means cleaner air, water, and parks. These are some of the advantages we newcomers are thankful for every day. However, not covered in this list are the efforts made by our fellow citizens every day to make the lives of individuals in our community safer.
October is Community Conflict Resolution Month in Washington State, when we reflect and celebrate the important role of the state-wide network of Dispute Resolution Centers (DRC). The DRC of Thurston County is part of a network of 21 community-based dispute resolution centers that serve residents across the state under the umbrella network Resolution Washington.
Next Thursday, October 19 is Conflict Resolution Day, and the DRC will be hosting a reception and open house from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at their offices. According to Joe Sanders, Community Engagement Manager, “if you haven’t recently – or ever – visited the DRC offices in West Olympia, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to see our expanded offices and mediation space, and our new Training Center.”
DRC Thurston County’s guiding vision is a South Sound community that has and uses healthy and respectful conflict resolution skills. The story of the DRC began in 1991 with the simple notion that individuals can settle their own disputes and learn effective communication skills with the help of other members of their community who have learned practical, teachable, and highly effective skills as impartial facilitators. In the 32 years since then, the DRC has helped empower thousands of Thurston and South Mason Counties residents to repair relationships, resolve disagreements, and communicate with respect and civility.
Safer by the Numbers
According to Sanders, in 2022 the DRC served 9,001 people - an increase of 40% from 2021! - through mediation, conflict coaching, group facilitation, and training. “Agreements were reached in 90% of mediation cases in 2022 with 95% of clients saying they said they would recommend mediation to others”, said Sanders. “The DRC also handled 1,799 housing-related cases in 2022, impacting 4,682 adults and children as well as trained 725 people in mediation, communication, conflict prevention, and conflict resolution skills.”
DRC may be best known for providing Mediation Services, where trained and certified mediators serve as impartial facilitators to help people in conflict work toward mutually beneficial agreements. “This covers the gamut from divorcing couples with children negotiating parenting plans to small claims court cases to neighbors and co-workers in conflict,” said Sanders. In recent years, the DRC has expanded its Housing Support resources to help landlords and tenants throughout Thurston and south Mason Counties navigate conflict. “Thanks to recent funding from the Cities of Lacey and Tumwater, landlords and tenants living in those cities are now able to access mediation and conflict coaching services at no cost,” said Sanders.
Other DRC services include:
The DRC stresses that "conflict is normal" and sees its primary role as providing skills and support to help members of our community navigate conflict, prevent conflict when possible, and communicate more effectively. “While the DRC receives some funding from state and local governments, the financial support of individual donors and local businesses is critical to growing and sustaining its capacity to address evolving community needs, now and in the years to come,” said Sanders.
The DRC's services rely on the efforts of more than 160 volunteers, which include 95 certified volunteer mediators and many more who are in the process of training and working toward certification. “Community-based conflict resolution is a vital community resource.
Dispute resolution helps resolve conflict upstream before it escalates to courts, eviction, violence, or police intervention. These services strengthen communities, workplaces, and families, with solutions that work for everyone’s own needs,” said Sanders. “If you enjoy helping others solve problems, please consider becoming a volunteer mediator or helping staff the DRC's Conflict Resolution Resource Line.” To learn more, contact info@mediatethurston.org or visit MediateThurston.org.
Driving through the streets in Thurston County it is easy to see those who are homeless living in tents and to think to oneself if they just had a home, everything would be better. Yet did you know there is a growing number of individuals and families who are living in a home that poses a risk to their safety? According to Pete Kmet, Board Secretary of Rebuilding Together Thurston County (RTTC) in America, nearly 2.6 million people live in unsafe and unstable homes that pose a risk to their health and safety. “Many people in our community are living on a very limited income and do not have the physical ability or funds to make repairs to their homes,” said Kmet. “RTTC changes the lives of low-income homeowners who have struggled to remain in their homes right here in our community.”
Rebuilding Together Thurston County was founded in 2003 by the Olympia Remodelers Council and other volunteers and is part of the Rebuilding Together national organization, with over 130 affiliates across the country. “Since 2003 we have improved the lives of over 500 people and repaired over 300 homes in Thurston County,” said Kmet. “In 2022 alone, we completed 59 projects!” Next Thursday, October 19th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. RTTC will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a free event at Uptown Grill.
Some of the projects RTTC does include installing smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, steps and handrails, wheelchair ramps, and ADA Toilets. RTTC also helps with other lower-cost repairs such as repairing and cleaning gutters and downspouts, minor electrical (replacing light switches, outlets, lights), minor plumbing (fixing leaky fixtures and drains), yardwork such as pruning bushes and shrubs, debris cleanup/disposal, pest control, minor carpentry such as repairing floors, decking, and walls and exterior siding repair and painting. When sufficient grant funding is available, RTTC will do larger repairs such as fixing/replacing leaking roofs, windows and doors, furnaces/heat exchangers, water heaters, and appliances.
RTTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so all donations are tax-deductible. “A gift of any amount can help provide a safe and healthy home for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Kmet. “For instance, $1,000 can build a ramp for a wheelchair-bound veteran. $700 can replace a family’s hot water heater. $500 can replace failing, water-damaged flooring in a kitchen or bathroom. $250 can repair a deadbolt and front door for a disabled single person. $100 can install grab bars for a senior at risk of falling. $50 can fix a sparking light switch in a child’s bedroom and even $25 can install a functioning smoke detector in a client’s home.”
Volunteering with RTTC is a unique experience that brings together individuals from all sectors and associations. “Volunteers work together to improve the quality of life for at-risk homeowners and are the backbone of the organization,” said Kmet. “When you volunteer, you make a lasting impact on the people who you serve as well as the people you serve with.”
For more information about donating or volunteering at RTC email info@rebuildingtogethertc.org.
Feeling unsafe can come in many forms and for women, during their menstrual cycle, they can feel especially unsafe if they are what is known as Period Poverty. (This is a new cause to me). Period Poverty is the limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education because of financial constraints or negative socio-cultural stigmas associated with menstruation.
The first National Period Action Day was created on October 19, 2019, to address this public health issue. This year’s Period Action Day is October 14th, and Period, The Menstrual Movement is calling on the global menstrual movement to donate one million period products to communities in need.
In Thurston County, the whole month of October has been designated as Period Action Month. Locally, the National Organization of Women-South Sound, Soroptimist International of Olympia, Zonta Club of South Puget Sound and the Woman’s Club of Olympia are working together to sponsor a drive to obtain sanitary napkins, tampons and liners to be delivered to local nonprofit organizations including CIELO, Quixote Village, SafePlace, The Other Bank at Thurston County Food Bank, Interfaith Services, Family Support Center, Community Youth Services, Plum Street Services, Quince Street Village and others. Menstrual products will be accepted throughout October at Traditions Fair Trade
“Last October these women’s groups collected 5,388 period products during Period Action Month for Thurston County residents, and we call on our local communities to help us exceed that number this year,” said Maggie Foran. “While state legislation last year passed mandating the provision of free menstrual products in K-12 public schools, many menstruating people still struggle to afford this monthly product expense”.
In 2018 and 2021 online surveys conducted by YouGov on behalf of U by Kotex of people ages 18+ who regularly experience a period, more than two in five respondents say they have struggled to purchase period products due to lack of income at some point in their life. Between 2018-2021, that number increased by 35%. “Also, during those years, there was a 75% increase in people who menstruate who say they have used a substitute product (toilet paper, paper towels, socks, etc.) for a period product, “said Foran. “The need is great”.
For questions contact organizers Irene at (360) 280-9460 or Linda M. at lryh@hotmail.com.
For more general information about period product advocacy, click here to go to Period Action Day’s website.
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here