Mission

The Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management (MGC)'s mission is to promote and apply a constructive approach to conflict management and to resolve disputes, including litigation.

The Big Idea

There are ways to solve problems before they boil over, and the Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management is committed to helping mediate those solutions. The center is a place for more than 400 people to resolve conflicts, including through litigation, for free. With trained bilingual staff and expanded services, they look to meet the ever-increasing need for mediation and conflict resolution in Monterey County. The nonprofit’s Big Idea – Building Bridges: Mediation and Access to Justice program – looks to offer these services with more frequency and availability to South County residents.

Being a mediator with the Mandell Gisnet Center is hard work, rewarding, and inspiring. With guidance and good communication, we help Monterey County residents resolve conflicts―sometimes small things, sometimes problems they've been struggling with for years―so they can get back to living a better life. There is also my own benefit in learning to better navigate challenges I face, and better understand and feel more hopeful about the conflict, contention, polarization, and animosity in our society now. There is hope!

- Stacy Hughes