Local Voices
Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Debra Kolodny, Resolutions Northwest
Patch talks to Debra Kolodny about her work with Resolutions Northwest.
Patch talks to Debra from Resolutions Northwest about her work in the Portland nonprofit community.
Patch: Tell Patch a little about you and your organization.
Debra: Resolutions Northwest facilitates honest dialogue to resolve conflict and advance racial and social justice. We envision inclusive and just communities in which people connect across differences and equitably share opportunities to thrive. We offer mediation, conflict resolution, facilitation, equity, restorative justice and anti-racism services , consultation and training. I have only been the Executive Director at Resolutions Northwest for six months. Before coming here I ran two national non-profit organizations for a total of 12 years, worked in and with the labor movement for 17 years, specializing in workplace democracy, interest based negotiations, strategic planning and facilitating governance bodies. I am also an ordained rabbi and served a pulpit for three years.
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Patch: How does your organization help to strengthen the local community?
Find out what's happening in Portlandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Debra: From supporting neighbors through the resolution of their conflict with our mediation services to facilitating local organizations through resolution of a complex, conflict plagued issue, to training and consulting to organizations who want to ensure that their systems, policies, procedures and working environment supports equity, to ensuring that students in our public schools are accountable and responsible for their missteps in ways that promote resolution of problems without punishment, RNW has a huge impact on many aspects of the Portland community.
Patch: When did you open?
Patch: What is the biggest struggle your organization faces?
Debra: The need for our services are vast. Ensuring that those who need us can find us to attend our training or contract with us for our services is our greatest struggle.
Patch: What do you hope for the future of your nonprofit?
Debra: No other organization in the state combines anti-racism, equity and restorative justice with the empowering model of facilitation, conflict resolution and mediation that we provide. We hope to help transform the city and the state by empowering all in need of these services to resolve problems and address harm to everyone's satisfaction, in ways that are sustainable and efficient.
Photo By: Resolutions Northwest
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