Events

Margaritas for Mediation

May 5, 2010, 7:00 -10:00 P.M.

Riverside Yacht Club

102 Club Road

Riverside, CT

 

Our Margaritas for Mediation fundraiser attracted over 150 people and a wonderful time was had by all with Mariachi music, Mexican fare, and of course, margaritas. Our Mexican Game of Chance played at an enormous cactus tree was a popular spot and players went home with tantalizing prizes. Our game of Heads and Tails was great fun, with the winner and runner-up showing off lovely items donated by Tiffany and Betteridge Jewelers. Our guests included our lead sponsors, Diamondback Capital Management and Giovanna Miller.

Our Board President, Mark Soboslai, addressed the crowd describing how DSC is helping the schools, youth, and the community with mediation and how effective it can be in helping to prevent youth from getting deep into the criminal justice system. He also gave a big thank you to DSC Board member and event chair, Alessandra Messineo Long, who rallied a wonderful committee to produce a tremendously successful event.

 

DSC Hosted a "Meet the Mediators" Event
at the Home of Board Member Linda Shreve

A gathering was held at the home of DSC Board member, Linda Shreve, to hear stories about a range of disputes resolved by mediators from the agency. Those in attendance included several Redding town officials including First Selectman Natalie Ketcham, Police Chief Douglas Fuchs, President of the Redding Education Foundation, Alice Smith, and former Redding School Board member, Peter Bonfanti.

One mediator recounted an example of a sports-related dispute that had resulted in an arrest. It was successfully resolved by facilitating dialogue between the coach involved and a parent of the young girl and included a letter of apology.

Another mediator had an example of a fight between two teenage girls that had started based on rumor. It was successfully resolved after each girl explained their side of the story. They agreed they could renew their friendship, but not in the school setting where social pressures between cliques were too daunting. Other successful mediations narrated included a property-related dispute where trees were cut down and fences were disturbed, which resulted in an especially creative resolution.

Left to right: Redding First Selectwoman Natalie Ketcham,
DSC Executive Director Dorothy Adams, Redding Police Chief, Douglas Fuchs

 

DSC Honors High School Student with
Young Mediator of the Year Award

To publically highlight the positive impact mediation has on both the students who participate in mediation and the school culture, DSC initiated the Young Mediator of the Year Award. Submissions from area schools having Peer Mediation Programs are solicited each winter and DSC mediators carefully review each and select a winner. The young mediator is recognized at a school award ceremony and both the student and his or her school mediation program receive awards.

Dorothy Adams, DSC Executive Director, Carlos Corona, Young Mediator of the Year,
John Castelluzzo, Brien McMahon Mediation Program Head

 

DSC in the News

DSC has received some particularly positive and extensive press coverage, from Bridgeport to Boston, and from Chicago to Denver. The stark decrease in juvenile recidivism was revealed in a study being done at the University of New Haven (UNH), which uses DSC juvenile court data. The articles include:

• A Connecticut Post Article and Editorial
• A Hartford Courant Article
• A Chicago Tribune summary from Associated Press

DSC Court mediator, Eryn Ament Bingle, had an article published in Connecticut Lawyer, entitled, "Victim Offender Mediation: A Critical Component of Success in the Connecticut Juvenile Court". The article discusses how mediation provides a valuable opportunity for many juvenile offenders to resolve their cases outside of the traditional criminal justice system. The article shows how mediation is efficient, effective and good preventive medicine. "A first-time arrest during high school almost doubles the likelihood that a student will drop out of school, but a court appearance nearly quadruples that risk."

 

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