The Middlesex Law Center in Lowell has provided conflict resolution services since 1989. The center administers consumer protection, individual, community and trial court mediation and training, school-based violence prevention programs and international conflict resolution training and services. These programs are funded through a partnership between MCC and the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Lowell Public Schools, and the U.S. State department.
The Consumer Protection program works in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, investigating and mediating consumer issues. In over 10,000 cases since 1990 the MCC Law Center has provided savings to consumers of over 3 million dollars.
Home Heating Advisory
If you are on a limited income and are concerned about the high costs of heating, you may want to contact the following statewide heating assistance programs:
Citizens Oil Heat (discount heating oil for eligible persons): 1-877-563-4645
Distrigas Heat Assistance (help with natural gas for eligible persons): 1-866-427-9918
Good Neighbor Fund (emergency assistance for eligible persons in temporary crisis):1-800-334-3047
The Middlesex Mediation program is approved by Massachusetts Trial Courts to train and provide professional mediators to the Superior Courts and District Courts and mediates approximately 250 cases each year. Mediation services are available for private and public disputes on a no-fee or sliding scale fee basis. 45-hour certificate mediation training is provided several times each year. The program was established in 1990.
SCORE (Student Conflict Resolution Experts)
Massachusetts Office of Attorney General
Lowell Public Schools
Since 1991, the Law Center has provided on-site peer mediation at Lowell High School and frequently trains teachers, staff, and students in mediation in other communities. The SCORE program is a schools-based, violence prevention partnership between the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Lowell Public Schools and Middlesex Community College. The statewide SCORE (Student Conflict Resolution Experts) program mediates several thousand cases each year.
International Programs at MCC Law Center: The U.S. State Department awarded the Law Center a grant from 1997-2002 to design and implement a conflict resolution program in Cambodia at their national university. Law Center Director, Prof. Ken Dunn and other MCC faculty and staff have traveled to Cambodia over the past several years to implement this grant. Prof. Dunn also served as Project Director for a Fulbright-Hays scholarship program with UMASS-Lowell and MCC awarded for study in Cambodia in 2002 and is currently leading a project developing a law program with the National Institute of Management in Phnom Penh. He was selected to serve as International Observer with the Cambodian human rights NGO,NICFEC, in the July 2003 national elections.