Politics & Government
Conflict Resolution Center Thriving After Move to Bethesda, Director Says
After relocating from Wheaton to Bethesda, the county's Conflict Resolution Center continues to partner with Wheaton organizations.
Walking through Wheaton’s Mid-County Regional Services Center, it may take a second to notice the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County has left the building.
Now located on the second floor of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda, the new space offers the regional non-profit room to breathe and flourish, according to its executive director.
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“We had seven people using that small [Wheaton office], and it was pretty unworkable; we weren’t able to focus,” Carolyn Stilwell said. “We’re a growing organization and needed to be able to bring in all of the staff and bring on more volunteers.”
Since relocating in October, Stilwell said the center has expanded its community conferencing program and increased its full-time staff. Prior to the move, volunteers had the responsibility to coordinate all of the free programming, including dialogue circles, mediation, mentoring and re-entry services. Stilwell also stressed the importance of their early intervention programs with young students.
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“We work with a lot of schools and the youth of Montgomery County, and we’re expanding towards the CJS [criminal justice system] and juvenile court system, to reach out to these kids before they get suspended from school or even arrested,” Stilwell said.
With the center’s 100 trained and widespread volunteers, its mobility and the fact it handles the majority of intake over the phone, Wheaton residents should see little change in the services provided. The old telephone number is still in use, in addition to a new toll-free line, Stilwell said.
“Our center partners with Wheaton Workers Center and Montgomery Works, which gives presentations in Wheaton,” Stilwell said. The Conflict Resolution Center’s outreach specialist, Lynda Richmond, holds office hours in Wheaton each Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Richmond, a member of AmeriCorps with Montgomery Works, is also fluent in Spanish.
“We have partnerships with community centers and churches in each community of Montgomery County, so people won’t have to travel long distances for their mediations,” she said.
For more information visit crcmc.org, or call the Montgomery County Conflict Resolution Center at 301-652-0717 or 301-652-0718.
