What We Do
The Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) is a community based nonprofit organization providing confidential resolution of conflicts as well as training and education to schools, individuals, families, businesses and other entities in metropolitan Detroit and throughout Wayne County.
In 2016, WCDRC handled a total of 3,500 cases, an increase of 1,500 cases over two years ago.
Celebrating 30 Years of Resolving Disputes
The Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) can trace its origins all of the way back to 1987, when the “Southwest Detroit Neighborhood Reconciliation Center” was founded under the umbrella of New Detroit, Inc. Its original mission was to provide peaceful dispute resolution for the residents of the 3rd and 4th police precincts in southwest Detroit. In the thirty years since its founding, the Center has greatly expanded its scope and changed its name several times, but remains dedicated to providing peaceful resolution to residents of Wayne County.
Two short years after its creation, the Center expanded its scope and joined the statewide network of community dispute resolution centers provided for in the Community Dispute Resolution Act of 1989 and began receiving court filing fees as a primary funding source. An important element of the CDR Program was to utilize volunteers as mediators. In 1990, to reflect its growth, the Center’s name was officially changed to the “Detroit Neighborhood Reconciliation Center.”
In 1993, the Detroit Neighborhood Reconciliation Center became legally independent of New Detroit, Inc. and Sharon Miller became its first Executive Director. The Center began to serve not only the City of Detroit, but also the suburbs of Wayne County. The new referral sources included the 18th (Westland) and 23rd (Taylor) district courts as well as the Taylor Police Department and Canton Township Department of Public Safety. Soon thereafter, with the adoption of court rules governing court-ordered mediation, the Wayne County Probate Court became one of the Center’s earliest and largest sources of court-referred cases.
In 2003, after 13 years as Executive Director, Sharon Miller stepped down and Howard Lischeron, WMC’s Deputy Director, stepped into the position of Executive Director. His charge was to further expand the programs of the Center both in terms of number and emphasis. To reflect and encompass the growing work being done in the area of mediation throughout Wayne County, the Centers name was changed in 2005 to the Wayne Mediation Center. At the same time, two offices were consolidated and relocated to Dearborn, more in the center of the County.
In 2019, WCDRC had a change in leadership.
Dearborn, Mich., November 2019 – David Robinson, who recently retired as Deputy Chief of the Dearborn Police Department, was hired in October to serve as Interim Executive Director of Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) upon departure of the nonprofit organization’s former director.
David Robinson served on WCDRC’s board of directors for nearly five years and has more than 30 years of service with the Dearborn Police Department, including extensive experience in operations, supervision and development of internal and community-wide initiatives. Board of Directors member Sihaam Jafaar agrees: “Our board was delighted that David agreed to accept our offer as Interim Executive Director.”
Robinson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and law enforcement administration from Michigan State University, and Master of Science degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Eastern Michigan University, where he also attended the school of police staff and command executive leadership program. As an active participant in charitable events and community organizations, Robinson also helped organize a chaplains group for the faith based community.
In 2022, WCDRC had a change in leadership.
Dearborn, Mich., April 2022 – Susan Wilson, who was previously our Director of Operations, was promoted to serve as Executive Director of
Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) upon departure of the nonprofit organization’s former director. More information to come.