The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire

Board Spotlight: Adam Kirk Adam Kirk is a partner at HunterMaclean and practices in the areas of taxation, corporate, and real estate law, with a focus on community development and financing, historic preservation through the utilization of historic tax credits, and commercial development utilizing new markets tax credits. Adam is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs. Prior to law school, he practiced accounting in an international publ...ic accounting firm and later served in financial and SEC reporting roles for publicly traded companies. While in law school, Adam was an adjunct professor in the Boston University School of Management. We are proud to welcome Adam to the Mediation Center's Board of Directors. Thank you for sharing your guidance and expertise.

Board Spotlight: Denethris L. Barnes Denethris L. Barnes is an associate attorney at The Manely Firm, P.C. She is a native Savannahian, and obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Spanish from Armstrong Atlantic State University. Denethris graduated as Salutatorian of Savannah Law School in Savannah, Georgia. She joined the Savannah Law Review and eventually became the Executive Editor of law review. Denethris also was a member and competed on the Mock Trial and ...Moot Court teams, becoming Chief Justice of Savannah Law School’s Moot Court. She was a member of the Order of the Oak, served as Vice President of the Savannah Law chapter of the National Women’s Law Student Organization and held the positions of Secretary and Vice President of the Black Law Students Association. Growing up in a large family, Denethris learned the importance of the family unit and continues to put families first by working toward positive resolutions as an attorney with The Manely Firm, P.C. We are proud to welcome Denethris to the Mediation Center Board of Directors! Thank you for sharing your guidance and expertise.

In mediation training, we talk a lot about conflict styles. A person's conflict style is the way they approach (or don't approach) a conflict. There are pros and cons to each style--no one is all good or all bad. There are five main conflict styles: 1. Competing (The "Shark"): A competing conflict style will use all possible power to win and defend their position. 2. Avoiding (The "Turtle"): An avoiding style denies conflict or delays facing it for as long as possible. ... 3. Accommodating (The "Teddy Bear"): A person with an accommodating conflict style will satisfy the needs and concerns of others at their own expense. 4. Compromising (The "Fox"): A compromising conflict style seeks mutually-acceptable solutions that satisfy both parties through concessions and common ground. 5. Collaborating (The "Owl"): A person with a collaborating conflict style seeks to satisfy all parties and find comprehensive solutions through mutual brainstorming and seeking alternative solutions. Which conflict style are you? ? Let us know

Happy Valentine's Day! Sending peace and love to all our supporters, volunteers, patrons, and community members. We love you bear-y much!

FREE Parenting Class: Managing Parent-Teen Conflict Having too many arguments with your teen? Shouting matches or silent treatment? Having trouble with your parent? Feeling misunderstood? The Mediation Center's Managing Parent-Teen Conflict class will teach parents and their teens how to constructively manage conflict, communicate effectively, and repair and rebuild your relationships. Next Saturday, Feb. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Register here: https://forms.gle/VHT74Usiw2E3ETXT6

We had SUCH a great time at last night’s Velvet Gala. This one looked a little different from previous years, but it proved to be just as fun and inspirational as years past, thanks in no small part to our generous sponsors, speakers, silent auction donors, volunteers, and staff. Thank you to all who attendedwe hope you had as much fun as we did!