Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center

The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center seeks applicants for the 2026-27 BEAM Fellowship cohort. BEAM is short for Broadening Equity and Access in Mediation and springs from the WDRC’s commitment to honoring our region’s rich tapestry of communities and supporting mediators who represent, connect, and resonate with clients of all backgrounds and identities.

Through this Fellowship, the WDRC aspires to increase the racial, ethnic, and language diversity of the mediator pool in Whatcom County. This Fellowship opportunity uniquely supports successful candidates over the full trajectory of becoming a certified mediator.

BEAM Fellows receive:
- Full Scholarship for our Professional Mediation Training (40-hours, $795 value)
- Full scholarship to our Practicum Program (18-24 months, $495 value)
- $1000 honoraria dispersed throughout the fellowship at key milestones

If the following guidelines feel like a fit for you, we invite you to fill out a BEAM Fellows application, or reach out to our staff for more information:
- Interested in becoming a certified community mediator in Whatcom County
- Available to attend Professional Mediation Training and complete the Mediation Practicum Program
- Identify as Black, Indigenous, among other communities of color, or are bilingual and bicultural
- Live in Whatcom County and plan to remain in the area

Learn more and apply at whatcomdrc.org/beam

Accountability isn’t about blame, it’s about having the skills to take responsibility, navigate hurt, and build relationships that can withstand difficulty.

Join us for The Art of Accountability, a two-part training designed to help you strengthen your skills for taking accountability, receiving feedback, offering sincere apologies, and repairing trust.

Part 1: Sustaining Relationships Through Difficulty and Hurt.

📅 Thursday, September 3 | 3 - 6 PM
Explore centered accountability, practice receiving difficult feedback, and learn the “2% Rule” for taking responsibility.

Part 2: Apology and Repair Lab

📅 Thursday, September 10 | 3 - 6 PM

Discover the building blocks of trusting relationships, practice developing a sincere apology, and explore approaches for repairing trust.

Join us for one part or both! Whether you're navigating a challenging relationship or simply want to build stronger communication skills, this training offers practical tools you can put into practice right away.

Learn more and register at: whatcomdrc.org/art-of-accountability

We’re excited to introduce the 2026 Peace Builder Award award recipients!

These remarkable individuals and organizations are helping build a more peaceful Whatcom County through connection, leadership, belonging, service, creativity, and care for our community.

Join us in recognizing this year’s recipients and the many ways they are putting the pieces together in our homes, schools, and community.

The Peace Builder Awards will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026, and tickets are available now at the link in our bio.

Behind every family that finds healing through mediation, every neighbor who learns to navigate conflict constructively, and every young person who discovers peaceful problem-solving skills, there's a special group of community members making it possible.

Our Partners for Peace are monthly donors who provide the steady foundation that allows the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center to be here when individuals and families need us most.

We invite you to become a Partner for Peace with a monthly gift of just $10. For many of us, that's about the cost of one or two coffees each month. For an individual or family in crisis, it helps provide a safe place to rebuild trust, improve communication, and find a path forward.

Learn more and sign up today at the link in our bio.

Los conflictos son parte de la vida, pero no tienes que enfrentarlos solo/a/e.

Ya sea que estés lidiando con desafíos dentro de tu familia, tu trabajo o tu organización comunitaria, contar con un espacio neutral para conversar puede marcar toda la diferencia.

En el Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (Centro de Resolución de Disputas de Whatcom), ofrecemos servicios en español para ayudar a las personas a encontrar soluciones, mejorar la comunicación y construir acuerdos duraderos.

Conoce más sobre nuestros programas en whatcomdrc.org o contáctanos hoy al 360.676.0122 o a [email protected].

Join us for the 2026 Peace Builder Awards as we celebrate the individuals, organizations, volunteers, and public servants who make Whatcom County a more peaceful place to live and work.

Every ticket purchased helps the WDRC continue providing mediation, conflict resolution education, and community programs that strengthen our community every day.

Early Bird Tickets start at $75 for a limited time, with additional ticket options that reflect the true cost of attendance and help make it possible for others to attend.

Learn more and reserve your seat today: whatcomdrc.org/peace-builder-awards

Build practical skills for navigating conflict more effectively in our upcoming Understanding Conflict training series.

This interactive training offers an opportunity to strengthen existing skills, explore new approaches, and develop strategies for communicating more effectively at home, in the workplace, and throughout the community.

When: July 14 and July 21, 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: WDRC office in downtown Bellingham

During this two-part, in-person training, participants will learn how to recognize their responses to conflict, actively listen and assert their needs, and communicate effectively in high-stress situations.

To learn more and register, visit: https://www.whatcomdrc.org/upcoming-trainings-and-workshops

*Or check out our link in the bio*

Understanding Conflict Training — Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center This six-hour training is offered multiple times a year and focuses on communication and conflict resolution skills applicable to home, community, and work. Participants learn to understand their responses to conflict, actively listen and assert their needs, and communicate effectively in high-stres...

Happy Pride Month!

We were so excited to kick off this year’s Pride Month with Whatcom Youth Pride, and we’re thrilled to participate in the upcoming Bellingham Pride Festival at the Depot Market in Bellingham on Sunday, July 12, and Ferndale Pride at the Pioneer Pavilion on Saturday, July 18. We hope to see you there!

To learn more and view a comprehensive list of local Pride events, check out this calendar by the Bellingham Q***r Collective: https://www.bellinghamqueercollective.org/calendar

P.S. A special shout-out to all of the incredible community partners who make these important and joyful events possible!