2002-2005

  • The St. Louis Partnership for Community Mediation, the St. Louis Restorative Justice Collaboration and the Missouri Restorative Justice Coalition recognize the need for comprehensive restorative justice and community mediation activities in the St. Louis area.

Spring 2006

  • The future of community mediation programming in the St. Louis area is discussed and the idea of a collaborative approach to mediation and restorative justice activities forms.
  • Discussions begin on forming a St. Louis program based on community justice center models nation-wide.

Summer/Fall 2006

  • First meeting of community stakeholders for a community justice center
  • Community mediation referrals increase due to stakeholders joining
  • Community Mediation Subcommittee begins to meet to develop process for referrals from law enforcement
  • Discussions begin on developing a school restorative justice program to respond to truancy and other concerns
  • Diane Keyser from the Community Mediation Center in Independence, MO meets with stakeholders to help determine the best course of action for collaborative services while maintaining program autonomy within stakeholder programs

December 2006

  • To better reflect the mission and nature of services, the community justice center of St. Louis is renamed Community Conflict Services of Metropolitan St. Louis

January 2007

  • CCS offices open at the World Community Center.

Spring 2007

  • CCS stakeholders begin working on Child Support Diversion process
  • Marketing materials and curriculum are developed for programs, including the School Restorative Discipline Program
  • An editorial on CCS runs in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • CCS receives its  first grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph Tabitha Grant

Summer 2007

  • Fundraising committee begins meeting to determine financial needs for future program
  • CCS volunteers begin meeting with staff at the Center for Women in Transition to develop curriculum for Impact of Crime on Victims classes
  • First Interpersonal Peacemaking and Mediation Skills Trainings held
  • Restorative Discipline Program debuts at Long Middle School with the training of 6th grade teachers on talking circles and strength-based communication.