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Community Mediation Center

  

THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Volume 4, Issue 1

January, 2004

New Year’s  Resolutions for CMC

CMC Staff

·  John Doggette, Exec. Director

·  Lisa R. Givonetti, Assc. Director

·  Sharon Upshaw, Knox Co. Prog. Director

·  Judith Toole, Blount Co. Prog. Director

·  Kathleen Thomforde, Office Assistant

·  Meredith Adams, VISTA

·  Lisa Beckman, VISTA
 

.

 

 Erin Corcoran, VISTA, Editor

 

Inside this issue:

New Year's Resolutions

Volunteer of the Month

Peer Mediation Update

Our Mediation Community

Mediator Spring Training

Accomplishments and Kudos

Monthly Calendar

New Year’s is a holiday celebrated in numerous cultures, at several points throughout the calendar year.  Whenever it is celebrated, however, the day often carries with it themes of renewal and rebirth, fresh starts and new goals.

     According to my research of new year’s websites and articles, many Americans seem make New Year’s resolutions only a part of the celebration, making lofty goals they don’t intend to pursue, or heavy promises that are virtually impossible to keep. 

     Volunteer mediators in the CMC family, known for commitment, are most definitely the exception to this theory, and the Neutral Zone wanted to know what some of the goals are for our volunteer mediators in the next year.

     Volunteer mediator Carol Scott would like “to have a stronger

commitment toward making Knoxville a better and safer place for ‘ALL’ people.”

     Kim Deaton says an important goal for the next year is to be mindful of the place our clients are in, and to work on meeting them where they are emotionally, instead of bringing them to us.  Deaton also would like to gain a stronger understanding of the Tennessee law and court procedures.

     General Sessions mediator Richard Gombert says, “the kind of mediation we do is empowering.  I tend to be a little overbearing at times and I want to work on not leaning on the clients, and really letting them reach their own agreement.  This is different from past work I’ve done.”

    All of CMC staff looks forward to 2004 with our volunteer mediators.

  

 

Volunteer of the Month

By John Doggette

January’s volunteer of the month is unknown to most of our Board members and volunteers.  However the product he provided while serving as a summer intern with CMC has been appreciated by many. 

     Mark Adams created two peer mediation videos for CMC; a step-by-step training video, and program promotional video which coins the phrase, “peer mediation: a tool for life.” Mark began compiling footage during the April 2003 Mediation Fest.  He extended his completion time into October to gain additional footage, including student interviews, to ensure the products met both his standards and those of CMC. 

     We thank you Mark, for both your creative and productive assistance. Mark is married to CMC’s VISTA Meredith, and their partnership is most definitely an asset.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Peer Mediation Update

     As the peer mediation program moves into 2004, “progress” and “future” continue to be the buzz words around Knox County middle and high schools. 

     The second quarterly peer mediation advisory council is scheduled to meet Monday, January 5th at 5:30 pm. The meeting will again include students, school coordinators, parents and volunteer mediators. The continued planning of the second annual Mediation Fest will be a major topic of discussion.

      Additionally the second quarterly student peer mediation newsletter is due to be printed this month.  Last quarter’s writers, Briana Bilbrey, Alana Simmons and Jared Spoons are anxious to complete the next issue, as well as gain additional student writers.

     Four Knox County middle school students will join CMC staff at the January 7th School Board meeting to present the recent events and progress of the program.  The students attending include Alison Foster, of Vine Middle Magnet School; Kristina Karluski, of Karns Middle School; Allison Fitch of Halls Middle School, and Devon Wadley of Carter Middle School.

     Two Knox County middle schools are scheduled to have trainings this month.  Halls Middle School will have their second training of the year, with a new group of sixth graders ready to replace the outgoing eighth-grade mediators.

     Similarly, Holston Middle School’s eighth grade peer mediators have finished their fall refresher class, and are ready to assist CMC staff in training a new class of sixth and seventh grade mediators.  The eighth graders plan to serve as mentors for the remainder of their time at Holston.

     Finally Carter High School’s principal, Cheryl Hickman, has contacted CMC staff about beginning a peer mediation program this semester.  Many of her students, who are former Carter Middle School peer mediators, have requested a program be started at CHS.  Hickman, happy to oblige her students, has asked for a meeting with CMC as soon as the second semester begins.  This will make CHS’s program the first ever student-requested program.

“Our Mediation Community”

By John Doggette

     The Community Mediation Center will open 2004 with a weekly television program on Knoxville’s Community Television.  The goal of “Our Mediation Community” is to inform, entertain and engage those watching, about the CMC and the importance of peaceful alternatives to conflict within the community we serve.  The program will be aired each Saturday evening at 7:15 pm, first airing on January 3rd.

     My weekly guest will be either a volunteer, client or sponsor, or an individual with other ties to peaceful conflict resolution.  January guests include Sam Fowler, volunteer and retired board chair; Dale Robinson, volunteer and Tennessee Human Rights Commission mediator; Dave Rupert, volunteer and Human Resources Director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and Bob Swan, General Sessions Court mediation director.

     The program’s format will be a kitchen table conversation with the invited guest on a specific topic of interest.  A staff member or guest will then present a mediation tool that might be used by families in mediation. The closing will be a snapshot of our volunteers explaining why they believe in volunteer mediation.

     The mediation “concept” will be selected from a quality tool-box constructed by volunteer mediator Pete Mahoney.  For those of you familiar with CMC, our dragon –Truth, and Gay Street mascot – Ears, will both be making their debut this month.


Mediator Spring Training

     The next volunteer training class, which will be held this March, is quickly approaching.  Planning for the training activities is already underway, along with new recruiting avenues.

     We as staff, however, realize that many of our quality mediators joined the CMC family as a co-worker or friend of another volunteer mediator.  We are most appreciative for all of your referrals.      

     We are hoping to exceed the last training class in size, adding particularly to our General Sessions teams.  If you know of anyone who is retired, or available in the daytime, we will be conducting interviews in February.  As usual, all potential volunteers can visit our website, www.2mediate.org, to print out an application, or stop by or call our Gay St. office.

      If anyone is available to help in any way with this spring’s training class, please also call our Gay St. office. Our fall training class would not have been possible without the help of our volunteer mediators.  Activities such as applicant interviews and training role-plays were largely done by volunteers.  Thank you, again, for giving your time not only to clients, but also to the sustainability of the CMC.
 

Accomplishments and Kudos

By John Doggette

During a Board retreat several years ago the discussion centered around whether the most important CMC goal was: 1) To ensure that the quality of staff, board, volunteers and services is maintained and strengthened, or 2) To ensure CMC’s financial viability, and develop new/additional sources of funding.  Implicit in the discourse was the recognition that CMC receives many requests for assisting the low-income, as well as assisting other agencies that are unfounded.   Both goals have remained pertinent in 2003, and the following have all occurred within the year:

Two classes of volunteer mediators were recruited, interviewed and trained, receiving 40 hours of instruction and role-playing.

Three VISTAs were recruited to replace those completing their years of service.

The first peer mediation festival was held in April.  The enthusiastic response led to a peer mediation summer camp and many Knox County schools requesting trainings in the fall.

The first draft of the juvenile court mediation manual was completed by former VISTA Susy Hayden.

CMC was funded by the Administrative Office of the Court to administer a nine-month pilot on dependency mediation, situations where children have been removed from the parents for serious reasons.

General Sessions mediators provided 465 mediation days during 2003. 

 

 

Monthly Calendar

·          Executive Committee meeting, January 8th, 11am at the Court Top Café.

·          Board Liaison meeting, January 8th, 12pm at the Court Top Café.

·          Board meeting, January 15th, 6:15pm at Juvenile Court.

·          Peer Mediation Advisory Council Meeting, January 5th, 5:30 pm at the annex.

·          Knox County School Board meeting, January 7th, 5pm in the 1st floor boardroom, AJ building.

 

 

  Community Mediation Center

        912 S. Gay St, Ste L-300,

   Knoxville, TN 37902

  Phone: 865-594-1879

  Fax: 865-594-1890

  Email: mediate@esper.com

  www.2mediate.org

 

 
 


 

Community Mediation Center

  

THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Volume 4, Issue 2

February, 2004

CMC TRUSTS IN MEDIATION
   

CMC Staff

·  John Doggette, Exec. Director

·  Lisa R. Givonetti, Assc. Director

·  Sharon Upshaw, Knox Co. Prog. Director

·  Judith Toole, Blount Co. Prog. Director

·  Kathleen Thomforde, Office Assistant

·  Meredith Adams, VISTA

·  Lisa Beckman, VISTA
 

.

 

 Greg Bascko, VISTA

Erin Corcoran, VISTA, Editor

Inside this issue:

CMC Trusts in Mediation

Volunteer of the Month

Peer Mediation Update

Child Dependency Program

Volunteer Training

Change of VISTAs

Girls' Empowerment

Monthly Calendar

February is a month that is commonly known for celebrating love.  We at the CMC however, would like to use February as a month to celebrate trust in mediation.

     In many cases people who are referred to mediation are ambivalent and/or scared to begin the process.  Our practice is voluntary, and therefore we can only ask parties for their trust and open-mindedness.

     Because we ask this of our parties, the Neutral Zone asked two of our experienced mediators how they grew to trust in the process and in  their co-mediators, as well as what makes them trustworthy.

     “Trust anytime is super important,” says Marsha Hupfel.  She added that she has grown to believe in the process, “by doing it. I’ve seen [mediation] work in astounding ways.”

     According to Greg Davis, trust in the mediation process comes from “internalizing and embracing.”  “Work the process, apply your skills and have the parties feel and know the results are theirs.”

     Hupfel feels that trust in a co-mediator occurs during “silence that

 

comes about when people are open.  Active silence is the beginning of trust for me.” 

     Hupfel further added that she works particularly well with a co-mediator who she can tell shares a similar interest in helping the parties to move forward. As an example she recalled a particular mediation she completed with Pete Mahoney.  “We had never met before, but we just clicked.”

     Davis gave another example of a trustworthy co-mediator.  “Dick Zivi and I were doing a mediation about ten years ago and we were both in the same mind set at the same time without saying a word.  The outcome was unique and innovative for both parties.”

     How do Hupfel and Davis feel they are trustworthy mediators? “I open up and ask [a co-mediator] how they like to work.  I try to show interest in who they are,” says Hupfel. 

     “I try to stay open and fluid to the opportunity for personal growth and development.  Everyone has a story to tell and if we listen we can learn,” adds Davis.      

  

Volunteer of the Month

February’s Volunteer of the Month is Blount County mediator Terri Lyon.  Terri has been a part of the CMC since April of 2002 and we are certainly lucky to have her.

     Terri worked for Alcoa, Inc for 16 years, however she recently left to pursue consulting opportunities.  Terri also served as an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau.  “I enjoy mediation and arbitration because they give the citizens of our community a way to resolve their disputes.  I think mediation is a wonderful opportunity for people to resolve a dispute in a way that both parties are satisfied.”

     Terri is a licensed Industrial and Organizational psychologist in both Tennessee and Indiana.  She also volunteers as a LEGO League robotics coach and serves as Director of Alcoa Tennessee Federal Credit Union.

     Terri lives in Blount County with her husband Pat, and two sons, JP (age 11) and Daniel (age 8).
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Peer Mediation Update

    

     January’s efforts have led to February’s awareness of the peer mediation program. On January 5th, the Peer Mediation Advisory Council held it’s second quarterly meeting.  Those in attendance include CMC Board members Lisa Carroll and Amy Goff, Assistant DA and Board member Del Holley, Cedar Bluff Middle School Assistant Principal and Board member Tim Wigeinstein, West High School social worker Katie O’Farrell, Halls Middle School 7th grader Jared Spoons and his mother Sheree Spoons, and Gresham Middle School 8th grader Briana Bilbrey and her mother Kathy Bilbrey.

     The second annual Mediation Fest was the major topic of discussion at the meeting.  This year’s Fest will be held on April 16-17 at the new Knoxville Convention Center.

     The council discussed sponsorships, promotional activities, keynote speakers and workshop ideas.  The Fest will include workshops for students, parents and school coordinators, from 20 Knox County Schools. 

     Knox County middle and high school coordinators Bobby Gratz and Donna Wright continue to show their support for the program. They have agreed to once again include CMC staff at the March principals’ meetings to inform principals of peer mediation progress, as well as to promote the Fest.

     On Wednesday, January 7th, four middle school students attended a Knox County school board meeting with CMC staff.  These students include Allison Fitch of Halls Middle School, Allison Foster of Vine Middle Magnet School, Kristina Karluski of Karns Middle School, and Devon Wadley, also of Vine MS. 

     Knox County Program Director Sharon Upshaw addressed the board and presented CMC’s peer mediation promotional video.  School Board Chair Sam Anderson responded to enthusiastically to CMC and invited the four students to the center stage of the meeting.  Additionally School Board Representative Robert Bratten requested that peer mediation programs be introduced at all Knox County schools, beginning with South Doyle middle and high schools. 

     Holston Middle School 6th and 7th graders completed their peer mediation training on January 12th and have already begun contributing to Holston’s program.  Holston has the largest peer mediation program in Knox County, and spent the first semester of this year reviewing and refreshing. All peer mediators, along with coordinator Tracy White, are currently visiting classrooms with role-play demonstrations to promote awareness of their program.

     Halls Middle School continues to grow, and CMC staff is scheduled to train a second class of peer mediators this March.  Finally, in addition to South Doyle, CMC is still hoping to begin the first-ever student requested program at Carter High School.

 

   

 

 Child Dependency Program

 

by Lisa Beckman
 

CMC was recently selected by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to administer a mediation pilot program involving child dependency and neglect cases.

     The AOC is funding the pilot through a Byrne grant, and CMC is responsible for the development and implementation of the program procedures and protocol.  As administrator, CMC has organized a pilot committee consisting of representatives from Knox County Juvenile Court (KCJC), the Department of Children’s Services (DCS), the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB), additional child welfare agencies, and private attorneys.  The goal of the pilot is to offer mediation services to families whose children have been removed by the state due to alleged abuse or neglect. The services will also be available to families in immanent danger of losing their children due to abuse or neglect.

     The mediators, a group of court-appointed Rule 31 attorneys, will assist the families, court-appointed guardians and DCS in developing permanency plans through mediation.

     CMC Associate Director Lisa Givonetti explains, “The plan may involve the establishment of goals that parents must meet in order to achieve reunification of their families, or the plan may deal with visitation and family involvement if the child is to be placed in foster care.”

     Cases will be ordered to the Child Dependency Mediation Pilot Program directly by the Knox County Juvenile Court, and Program Coordinator Meredith Adams will be responsible for scheduling the mediations. 

     Says CMC Executive Director John Doggette of the pilot, “This is a unique opportunity for CMC to work in partnership with AOC, KCJC, DCS, FCRB, and several other agencies in order to administer a program that will serve as a state-wide model for child dependency mediation.”

 

     

Volunteer Training

 

 

     The spring training class for volunteer mediators is once again approaching.  The training will be held on the weekends of March 19-21st and 26-28th.

     VISTA Greg Bascko is currently in charge of promoting and recruiting volunteer applicants.  Advertisements will be displayed in an upcoming Sunday issue of the News Sentinel, as well as in the Metro Pulse and the Halls Shopper.  Greg has also distributed several fliers throughout Knoxville.

     As reported last month, we are hoping to exceed the fall training class in size with the full 24-person occupancy.  Greg and fellow CMC VISTA Lisa Beckman will be taking the class, along with three or four people from TCAC, but that still leaves at least 18 open spots! We are grateful for all of the references we have gotten from volunteers in the past. If anyone knows of someone who would make an excellent volunteer mediator, please continue referring them!

     Applications can be downloaded at www.2mediate.org and may be submitted to the Gay St office or directly to Greg.

 

 

Change of CMC

VISTAS

By Lisa Beckman

CMC would like to welcome Greg Bascko to our community.  Greg is originally from Pigeon Forge and is a psychology major at the University of Tennessee.  Greg is hard-working and self-confident and we are certain he will make a significant contribution to CMC.

     February also marks the end of VISTA Meredith Adams’ term with CMC. She has been an unfaltering and conscientious VISTA, managing case work and peer mediation tasks with equal skill.  Meredith’s fellow VISTAs agree that she is proficient and competent, professional and friendly.  Fortunately, Meredith will remain a part of the CMC family until June, serving as the Child Dependency Program Coordinator. 

 

Girls' Empowerment

 

 

     This month CMC will host the first ever Girls’ Empowerment lock-in for teenage girls living in Johnson City Housing.  The lock-in will be held on February 20-21, at the Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, on Market St.

     The goal of the lock-in is “to provide skills in handling conflicts peacefully, in learning to mediate in real situations, and in modeling leadership qualities to girls in their communities.”  The weekend is being coordinated and led by Program Director Sharon Upshaw, along with VISTA Lisa Beckman.

     The lock-in will include games, workshops, and group challenges addressing themes such as peer pressure, discrimination, depiction of girls and women in the media and future goals.  There will additionally be a showing and discussion of the movie Erin Brokavich, and a self-defense class.  The event is free and will be open to 25 girls.

 
 

Upcoming Events

·          Executive Committee Meeting, 12 pm, February 12, Gay St

·          Board Meeting, 6:15pm, March 18, Juvenile Court

·          Girls Empowerment Weekend, February 20-21, Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church

·          Spring mediator training class, March 19-21, 26-28th

·          2nd Annual Mediation Fest, April 16-17, Knoxville Convention Center

 

 

 

Community Mediation Center

 

·          912 S. Gay St, L-300

 

Knoxville, TN 37902

 

·          Phone: 865-594-1879

 

·          Fax: 865-594-1890

 

·          Email:  mediate@esper.com

 

·          www.2mediate.org

 

 

 
 


 

Community Mediation Center

  

THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Volume 4, Issue 3

March, 2004

Public Views of Mediation

CMC Staff

·  John Doggette, Exec. Director

·  Lisa R. Givonetti, Assc. Director

·  Sharon Upshaw, Knox Co. Prog. Director

·  Judith Toole, Blount Co. Prog. Director

·  Kathleen Thomforde, Office Assistant

·  Meredith Adams, VISTA

·  Lisa Beckman, VISTA
 

.

 

 Greg Bascko, VISTA

Erin Corcoran, VISTA, Editor

Inside this issue:

Public Views of Mediation

Volunteer of the Month

Peer Mediation Update

Bullying and Peer Mediation

Law Students Join CMC

Girl's Leadership

Spring Training

Monthly Calendar

For those readers who are unfamiliar with “Our Mediation Community,” the Neutral Zone wanted to share some of our favorite quotes about mediation, from our recent guests.

     “Very often the issue that gets tried before a judge is not the real issue of the case.  In mediation we can get to the real issues.” Sam Fowler

     “Some of the skills I really use are my active listening skills.  I really like to pay attention to what people are saying.  And silence doesn’t bother me.  Silence is actually a very effective tool in terms of listening to people, and enabling them to speak for themselves.” Dale Robinson

     “I really believe mediation is very beneficial to clients.  The mediators in General Sessions Court provide clients with a safe, secure, and neutral environment to resolve their disputes.” Bob Swan, Knox County General Sessions Court Judicial Clerk and Mediation Director.

     “Each mediator, they bring to that process [of mediation] a set of skills, or tools….you have a toolbox that you bring with you...and you will take whatever tool out of your tool box that works best for you towards meeting the objectives of the process.” Dave Rupert 

     “An important part of what I do in the DA’s office has to do with dealing with persons who have been victimized by criminal acts...having a person arrested and brought into court, required to post bond and

 

hiring an attorney; going through some expense and embarrassment related to the criminal process can be a very traumatic thing.  And so if the DA’s office can provide people with an opportunity to resolve their conflicts without traumatizing one side or the other, I think that’s something that is beneficial to the community and those individuals.” Del Holley, assistant District Attorney.

     “In mediation, they [student peer mediators] get to solve their problem and work it out so that it doesn’t exist anymore.  And they learn something in the process.” Katie O’Farrell, Knox Countyschool social worker and peer mediation coordinator.

     “Unfortunately we have hundreds of cases that come through juvenile court...with so many of these cases, if you do not get to the root cause of the problem, and the circumstances and the issues that have brought them before the court and have led to some kind of charge against a young person, then you’re really not going to resolve the issue on a long term basis.” Darryl Smith, Assistant Court Director, Knox County Juvenile Court.

     “I’ve found it to be a real gratifying experience...I enjoy sitting across the table from the litigants...and they seem to know that you’re neutral and that you’re there to help them. It’s sort of fun to lead them through their problem.” Don Ferguson

 

     

  

Volunteer of the Month

     CMC has a rule that to be selected as a volunteer of the month a person must have mediated for at least one year.  The staff and VISTA schedulers began several months ago asking to waive this rule for Pete Mahoney. 

 

     Pete has been everything a CMC scheduler could hope for.  He is an excellent mediator and works well with all co-mediators.  He takes mediations in advance and he tries to be responsive to last-minute volunteer cancellations.  Pete has also been patiently and conscientiously involved in mediations that have lasted several months.  And when the inevitable problems occur during an evening mediation, Pete is an effective problem-solver.

 

     Finally, without Pete CMC would be without its well-known mediation tool box, which was designed and created by Pete. CMC is honored and grateful to have Pete Mahoney as one of our family of mediators.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Peer Mediation Update 

     As the peer mediation program moves into the month of March, the second annual Mediation Fest is the major area of concentration for students, coordinators and CMC Vistas and staff members.

     This year’s Fest is scheduled for Friday, April 16 at Knoxville’s Public Defender building.  The goals of this year’s fest are to celebrate the many successes of the program, and further expand peer mediation into more Knox County middle and high schools.  Peer mediation has become widely accepted by both school officials and court officials in Knox County and their support is what will keep the program going for hopefully many more years. An additional goal of the Fest is to continue to increase the awareness of peer mediation into the general county. 

     The CMC staff members are working to include potential student peer mediators and coordinators from ten new middle and high schools in this year’s Fest.   Of course all current peer mediators will also be included, hopefully serving as role-players, helpers, and Question and Answer Panel members. CMC Vistas are holding meetings with each school’s peer mediators asking for continued input on the Fest.

     The current peer mediators have also indicated their desire to promote the peer mediation program and the upcoming fest around the county in their own way. 

     Mediators  and coordinator Sharonne Shavers from Vine Middle Magnet school, for example are holding a student creative art exhibit.  Vine is known for students who excel in artistic, musical and dramatic skills.  Some of Vine’s peer mediators have also recently participated in a school-wide Black History gala.

     As they promote the program Vine students are also holding several role-play practice sessions to fine-tune their mediating skills in between scheduled sessions.  “It’s fun to help people out with their problems.  They feel comfortable talking to me,” says Jacorey Smith.  “Sometimes they [the disputants] don’t want to come to a solution,” he adds.  “But we try to make [the sessions] fun for them to get them to talk.”

     Karns Middle School students are also holding an artistic display, with the theme of “masks of many emotions.”  They will be creating masks that depict depression, excitement, frustration and other emotions.  Karns’ mediators are also working to continue to expand their program around their school.  They’ve made poster advertisements, visited classrooms, (a popular awareness exercises with our schools), and are working to be part of the Karns Middle School website.  Vista Lisa Beckman is the CMC liaison to both schools.

      In other peer mediation news, the new class of Halls Middle School peer mediators is scheduled to be trained at Halls on Friday, March 12.  Additionally HMS’s Coordinator Sue Clapp will be appearing on “Our Mediation Community” next month.

 

   

 

 Bullying and Peer Mediation

 

by John Doggette
 

     Erin and I gave two interactive presentations at the February 16 Knoxville’s Promise Youth Summit on the combined subject “Bullying and Peer Mediation.” The first principal of America’s Promise is – For each child to have one non-parent caring adult, (may be a volunteer during a mediation). Another, is for the child to have a safe place (perhaps during the mediation).

 

     We asked participants whether youth could be capable of mediating disputes between other kids and we would like to share some of the responses.

 

     To our volunteers who mediate disputes involving youth- we hope you reflect on how their thoughts could become part of your mediation process.

· All kids get bullied, that’s part of life, and it’s painful. I would like to fight back but I can’t.

· Adults believe that they know how we feel because they were kids once, but things are different now and they don’t know.

· Some kids, not all, can keep information on other kids confidential. 

· Teachers frequently label kids and never change.  Kids as mediators only deal with the issues of today.

· If adults don’t think we are mature, how better to learn than to be mentored as peer mediators.

· Peer mediation would be a valuable way to learn.

 

     Each of these statements could become the source of an open-ended question by a mediator to learn about the youth, the background of the issue and hopefully to further the process of a problem-solving solution.

 

 

     

Law Students Join CMC

 

    

     If anyone has stopped by General Sessions Court during the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed an increase in the number of mediation teams.  This is because CMC is currently working with eleven UT law students who are participating in a mediation clinic.

 

     The mediation clinic, taught by visiting professor Deborah House, who is an attorney and mediator herself, is an elective class in the larger, Advocacy clinic.  In the Advocacy clinic, law students learn about the representation of indigent persons, (persons who cannot afford attorneys), in cases such as landlord tenant, employment and juvenile cases.  These are also some of CMC’s most common cases.

 

     House believes in the mediation clinic because, she says, it is part of “zealous advocacy.” Zealous advocacy means trying to give a client absolutely every possible alternative to help themselves.  House believes that because mediation offers a win-win solution, it compliments law, rather than take away from it.

 

     Most of the students in the mediation clinic are third-year students, and may be considering becoming certified as family mediators and/or rule 31 mediators.  Cassandra Henley, is one of these students.  Henley has been observing general sessions and visitation mediations and is interested in pursing public interest law after she graduates this spring. Henley says after observing many mediations that she is surprised at how many clients have more interest in the background issues in mediation, rather than the logistics of settling and resolving the said dispute at hand.

 

     Is it difficult for law students to change hats to mediators once a week? Henley admits that it is difficult at times to let the parties do the work and not interject with legal facts or advice, however she does believe in the process.

 

     The law students will be working with CMC mediators until the end of their semester in late April.  Look for them to begin mediating in the upcoming weeks.

 

 

Girl's Leadership

By Lisa Beckman

Last weekend, February 20-21, CMC staff members Sharon Upshaw, Erin Corcoran and Lisa Beckman conducted a leadership lock-in for 18 teenage girls living in three Johnson City housing complexes.  Tennessee Community Assistance Corporation (TCAC) Ross Program Coordinator Barbara Horton and Americorps Vista Dorothy Smith also attended the Friday evening session of the weekend.

 

     The participants were selected by their resident or recreation director as possessing those skills to be positive role models to other girls in their neighborhood.  The purpose of the lock-in was to build leadership skills and empower these young women to better deal with conflicts using mediation skills, and to be role models for youth in their respective communities.   

 

     CMC conducted a series of workshops and activities during the two days consisting of themes such as portrayal of women in the media, dealing with peer pressure, self-esteem, future goals, and self-defense.  The self-defense portion of the evening was a class on personal security and moves of personal protection, taught by a Knox County Police Officer. Additionally much time was spent covering conflict, its causes, and how to cope with and/or avoid those causes.  Even meal times were used as opportunities to address subjects like discrimination and food shortages.

 

     While the girls were neighbors, many of them were strangers to each other, and through group challenges and shared discussions, they were taken outside of their comfort zone.  Out of these experiences came discussions on racism, discrimination, aggression and daily defense mechanisms such as rebellion or acting out. 

          

      CMC staff members were glad to have had the opportunity to work with the girls in Johnson City and to share some of the values of mediation.  Several participants asked CMC staff members to return and do more activities on a weekly basis.

 

Spring Training

 

    

     One final reminder, the spring training class for volunteer mediators is scheduled for the second and third weekends of this month, March 19-21 and 26-28.  We should be having close to a full class this month, with several enthusiastic volunteers.

 

     We wanted to thank all the volunteer mediators who have agreed to help with interviewing the volunteer applicants on March 7.  Again, CMC would not function without all of our dedicated volunteers! If you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a volunteer in the last few days before the March 4 application deadline, please let Greg know.

 
 

What's Happening This Month

·          Executive Committee meeting, Thursday, March 11, 12 pm at Gay St office.

 

·          Board meeting, Thursday, March 18, 6:15 pm at Juvenile Court.

 

·          Spring training class, March 19-21, 26-28.

 

 

 

 

Community Mediation Center

 

·          912 S. Gay St, L-300

 

Knoxville, TN 37902

 

·          Phone: 865-594-1879

 

·          Fax: 865-594-1890

 

·          Email:  mediate@esper.com

 

·          www.2mediate.org