Serving justice-involved youth in Chatham County between the ages of 12 and 24, the Flip the Script program provides a structured, supportive environment where participants can strengthen their emotional awareness, improve communication skills, develop effective conflict resolution strategies and increase their confidence in making positive life choices.

“The Flip the Script program creates opportunities for young people to identify their strengths, develop self-awareness and build healthier patterns, so they are not defined by previous mistakes or past behaviors,” said The Mediation Center’s Director of Youth Initiatives Sherlisa Praylo. “Over the course of eight interactive sessions, participants engage in facilitated discussions, experiential activities, role-playing exercises, self-reflection and collaborative problem-solving.”

Flip the Script is funded by a Violence Reduction Grant through the City of Savannah, which makes the program available, free of charge, to local teens and young adults. The Violence Reduction Grant program focuses on funding programs and services that help reduce gun violence among youth and young adults who have been or are at high risk of becoming involved in gun violence.

Throughout the program, youth learn to recognize emotional triggers, regulate intense emotions, communicate effectively, manage conflict constructively, de-escalate high-tension situations, establish healthy boundaries and strengthen positive relationships. Participants are encouraged to interrupt negative cycles and rewrite the narratives that shape their behaviors and decisions. By learning to respond rather than react, youth discover that they have the power to create new possibilities for themselves and their communities.

Flip the Script addresses these challenges by equipping participants with practical skills they can immediately apply in their everyday lives. The program uses a trauma-informed, restorative and strengths-based approach that recognizes the impact of lived experiences while focusing on each participant's potential for growth and success. Each session builds upon the previous one, allowing participants to practice new skills while increasing their confidence and capacity for self-management.  

By the conclusion of the program, participants will develop a personalized set of tools and strategies to help them navigate conflict, manage stress, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships and make decisions that align with their goals and values. More importantly, they will leave with a greater sense of self-efficacy and the understanding that positive change is possible.