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"San Francisco Community Boards [is] one of the most prominent examples of a form of community mediation deeply rooted in community life. Its ideology focuses on the capacity of popular justice to embody community power and to express community values. This vision has captured the attention of idealistic program developers, foundations, government policymakers, and countless eager volunteers. It has inspired numerous programs and training models."*
Our Mission
The mission of Community Boards is to empower the communities and individuals of San Francisco with the strength, skills and resources needed to express and resolve conflicts peacefully and appropriately for their culture and environment.
Community Boards now operates the longest running no-cost neighborhood mediation program in the United States.
Some facts about Community Boards...
 Founded in 1976 with the mission to provide the general public with an empowering, effective and free alternative for resolving their disputes.
Developed a unique panel mediation model of teams of three mediators who work collaboratively to create a safe and confidential environment.
Created a rewarding -- both personally and professionally -- avenue for concerned citizens to volunteer their time, energy and skills in helping others.
In 1982, introduced its Conflict Manager Program, a peer mediation model that is now one of the oldest programs in the United States.
Maintains an active pool of 150+ volunteer community mediators drawn from a pool of 400+ long-term mediators.
Serves 2000 San Francisco residents, nonprofits and businesses a year.Offers its dispute resolution services in English, Spanish and Cantonese.
Partners and collaborates with a broad array of social service agencies, public departments and community nonprofits.
Continues to develop and field test new programs and resources for public audiences, such as seniors, gang prevention and other high-risk populations.
Since 1976 Community Boards has...
Trained 16,000 community members of all races and ages to be skilled volunteer mediators.
Staffed 8,500 conflict resolution panels with these trained volunteers.
Assisted 46,000 San Francisco residents in resolving their conflicts peacefully.
Facilitated more than 2,000 decision-making meetings for public and nonprofit agencies.
Provided peer mediation program development and training at more than 3,000 schools across the country.
*Sally Engel Merry & Neal Milner
The Possibility of Popular Justice,
A Case Study of Community Mediation in the United States
University of Michigan Press, 1995
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