Community Mediation & Restorative Services

02/03/2026

Want to make a difference in your community? Become a volunteer with CMRS! Training, support, and the chance to help people reconnect — it’s an experience that changes lives.

Learn how: https://www.cmrsmn.org/get-involved.html

01/31/2026

Conflict doesn’t mean failure.
It means something needs to be heard.
Mediation creates space for respectful conversation and real solutions.

Send us a message to learn more!

https://www.cmrsmn.org/mediation.html

01/25/2026

Every voice deserves to be heard.

Mediation provides a structured, neutral environment where people can communicate with dignity and move forward with confidence.

Our role, with the generous support of trained volunteer mediators, facilitators and partner organizations, is to systematically change how communities address conflict and find mutually acceptable and lasting resolutions.

https://www.cmrsmn.org/

01/21/2026

To the Hennepin County renters and rental providers with a housing dispute. Contact CMRS at referrals@CMRSmn.org or fill out a mediation request from on our website. We understand that both providers (landlords) and renters may have concerns about having to go to the Hennepin County Government Center for your hearing. You may contact one of our legal resource providers IN ADVANCE. They can help you attend your hearing remotely and help you access the financial and mediation resources that are available at court.

01/20/2026

Our beloved community,
We are so proud to be a part of a community that joins together to respond to hate with love. Please watch this space for information about resources and opportunities to come together.

We'll begin with legal resources, sharing this communication from the Minnesota Justice Foundation.

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Lawyers have a special responsibility for the quality of justice. The increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the Twin Cities area and throughout Minnesota targeting Minnesotans is cruel, violent, and disruptive to individuals, families, community life, and public safety. The negative impact of this activity on immigrants and immigrant-owned businesses cannot be overstated, especially with respect to their ability to contribute to our communities, earn a living, and function at even the most basic level. The impact on the public as a whole includes the erosion of access to justice, public safety, and trust in the rule of law.



Access to justice organizations around the state were already working at capacity to help people address their rights to due process and their basic needs in areas such as housing, public benefits, and safety. People were already turned away due to the volume of need for assistance. These enforcement activities destabilize the lives of our neighbors and cause trauma, fear, and pain. The need for free legal services has and will increase due to these events - for immigration services and also in other areas such as housing, family law, and other legal issues that arise out of emergencies.



It is a privilege to be trained in the law, and when lawyers and law students exercise this privilege in pro bono service, they help increase access to justice for all. Our colleagues in the immigration bar navigate the ever-changing landscape of immigration law and are now doing so in the context of dramatically increased need and increased violence. We can show support for their work through our engagement. There are and will be opportunities to help in immigration matters, immigration-adjacent matters such as helping people prepare for legal issues associated with the possibility of deportation, and various other public interest practice areas. Usually, we tend to say that people don’t need to have substantive practice experience in an area of law in order to do pro bono, because they can receive training and support. At this time, some case types may be more appropriate for people who already have related practice experience, due to the impact of the crisis on capacity for providing training and support. There will be a place for you to tap in! MJF will participate in legal community conversations and work to help law students connect with opportunities to be involved in legal work that addresses these needs. In the meantime, below is a list of resources so you may stay informed on this evolving situation and see real-time needs directly from our partner organizations.



Anna Beadle, Executive Director

Eva Kendrick, Board President

Resources:

Immigrant Law Center

https://www.linkedin.com/company/immigrant-law-center-of-minnesota

https://www.ilcm.org/immigration-resources/

https://www.ilcm.org/get-involved/subscribe/



Minnesota's Immigration Legal Services Hub Initiative

https://www.lawhelpmn.org/minnesotas-immigration-legal-services-hub-initiative



City of Minneapolis

https://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/2025/december/fed-activity-updates-resources/



ACLU Minnesota

https://www.aclu-mn.org/ice-feds-form/



The Minnesota Attorney General's Office

Federal Action Reporting Form

https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Federal-Action/



Minnesota State Bar Association

Resources to Support the Rule of Law and our Communities

https://mnbars.org/?pg=MSBAAnnouncements&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=136937



Request an MJF law student volunteer to work with you (for attorneys)

https://mnjustice.org/for-attorneys/volunteer-request-form-2/



Law students, please contact your MJF staff attorney if you are doing law-related volunteer work such as legal observing and would like to log your hours or share about ways other students could get involved.

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01/20/2026

Litigation is expensive, stressful, and time-consuming.
Mediation is confidential, cost-effective, and solution-focused.
It’s not just an alternative — it’s often the better way.

Visit our website or send us a message to learn more.

01/17/2026

Community is at the center of everything we do.

Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc. is a Minnesota-based nonprofit that provides low to no cost conflict resolution services in Hennepin County. Since 1983, CMRS has helped individuals and communities engage in respectful and productive conversations, resulting in better understanding and creative, concrete solutions. We believe many of our community’s most pressing issues – such as housing instability, school conflict, juvenile crime, and neighborhood discord – stem from an unresolved dispute or harm. Our role, with the generous support of trained volunteer mediators, facilitators and partner organizations, is to systematically change how communities address conflict and find mutually acceptable and lasting resolutions.

https://www.cmrsmn.org/

01/14/2026

Feeling stuck in a conflict? Mediation offers a powerful alternative to traditional approaches. With Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc., you can expect:

✅ Confidentiality: Discuss sensitive issues in a safe space.
✅ Empowerment: You control the outcome, not a judge.
✅ Cost-Effectiveness: Often more affordable than legal battles.
✅ Sustainable Solutions: Agreements you help create are more likely to last.

Discover how mediation can empower you to find lasting solutions. Visit our website or contact us today!

https://www.cmrsmn.org/mediation.html

01/10/2026

Conflict is part of life — resolution can be too. If you’re stuck in a disagreement, CMRS is here to help you find a way forward, together. Learn more or request mediation today at cmrsmn.org.

01/06/2026

Sometimes all it takes is one facilitated conversation to change everything.
If you’re carrying stress from a conflict, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Mediation can help.

https://www.cmrsmn.org/

01/02/2026

Looking ahead in the year?
Mediation can help you resolve lingering disputes, clarify expectations, and create a healthier start for everyone involved.

Send us a message if you'd like more information on how can help!

12/31/2025

We are deeply grateful for your support throughout the past year. We wish you a happy and healthy New Year and look forward to serving you in the year ahead.