“Instead of changing the world one ‘peace’ at a time, we’re now changing it lots of ‘peaces’ at a time.” Executive Director Cynthia Jurrius conveyed that message of Mid Shore Community Mediation Center’s growth at a recent reception at Scossa in Easton for about 35 board members, donors, volunteers and staff.
In its first year, 2006, the mediation center’s volunteers conducted 65 mediation sessions, reported Board President Linda Webb. In its just-completed fiscal year, that number had grown to 543 sessions. She provided further statistics demonstrating the organization’s enhanced effectiveness in converting initial inquiries into mediations and increased number of trained volunteer mediators.
Those statistics have contributed to recent recognition for the organization that was announced by Webb. Mid Shore Mediation has been named a Level Five mediation center, according to the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office. Only two other mediation centers in the state have been accorded this designation—Montgomery County and the City of Baltimore.
“This is truly amazing when you consider how we compare in population to those other jurisdictions,” Webb noted. U.S. Census numbers for 2013 show Mid Shore Mediation’s service area of Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot counties have a combined population of 103,284, while Baltimore City has more than 622,000 and Montgomery County more than a million residents.
Webb also announced that Mid Shore Mediation’s growing school-based mediation program is being used as a model for one being developed by Montgomery County. The number of school-based mediations has more than doubled in the past two years, and Webb recognized program coordinator Jennifer Williams and her team of AmeriCorps members and Salisbury University interns for the program’s success.
In addition to Williams, Jurrius recognized staff members Murph Brangenberg and Megan Timms, along with the past and current board members for their efforts.
Both Jurrius and Webb emphasized that Mid Shore Mediation’s success is a result of the teamwork and commitment of its volunteers, staff and board, along with the support of its donors. They thanked those in attendance, some of whom had been with the organization from its beginning, for contributing to that success, and welcomed their continued participation.
“This is exciting work,” said Jurrius. “We can see the possibility of getting to that tipping point where most people know that conflict can be resolved peacefully and productively. It can make a tremendous difference in people’s lives, and in our community.
“We have a long way to go, but the momentum is building.”
For more information on mediation, to make a contribution, or to volunteer as a mediator, call Mid Shore Community Mediation Center at 410-820-5553 or visit www.midshoremediation.org.
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