The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire is slated to host its 2018 Youth Awards Extravaganza at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 at Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School, 151 Coach Joe Turner St., in Savannah.

This event serves to recognize student mediators who make a tremendous impact on both the community and as role models in their schools by helping their peers navigate conflict, develop conversation skills, and facilitate differences peacefully. WSAV news anchor Kim Gusby will emcee the event and Savanah-Chatham County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Ann Levett will be the keynote speaker.

The Mediation Center’s Peer Mediation Program is a confidential process for resolving conflicts. Students have the opportunity to talk through difficult situations with the help of these trained student mediators. Peer Mediators do not take sides and keep all information confidential. This process nurtures empathy and empowers students to develop their own solutions.

The Peer Mediation Program has trained students in over 35 schools. The program consists of delivering Peer Mediator Training to student mediators from second to 12th grade, which prepares them to mediate conflict among their classmates. Sixty-two percent of incidents occur in the classroom, taking away from valuable instruction time. School coordinators have supported these Peer Mediators to mediate over 300 disputes during the 2016-17 school year, with 97 percent resulting in students reaching an agreement, and 92 percent of agreements remaining effective one-month post mediation.

“It is so important to our organization that we recognize these peer mediators who are committed to making their school a peaceful place to learn. These students go through intensive training in communication, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills before becoming peer mediators and it’s vital that we recognize their hard work and accomplishments,” Mediation Center Executive Director Jill Cheeks said.

Please register to attend this event by emailing [email protected] as space is limited. To learn more about the Mediation Center or the Peer Mediation Program, please visit www.mediationsavannah.com.