Even if attorney-mediator Laurel Kaufer were not in my small and cherished group of "Fabulous Women Neutrals," I would still be publicly applauding the launch of the Mississippi Mediation Project, selflessly sheparded from concept to realization by Ms. Kaufer's enormous creative and dedicated efforts.

Not to re-invent the wheel, we crib here from reporter Amber Craig's article posted on gulflive.com Project Donates Largest Collection of Mediation Books in State to Ina Thompason Library. 

 

The Mississippi Mediation Project concluded the final day of its conflict resolution session Wednesday by dedicating a section of mediation books to the Ina Thompson Public Library in Moss Point.

The three-day conference organized by the non-profit organization brought top mediation experts from across the nation to Pelican Landing, where 30 people from Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties learned problem-solving skills.

Laurel Kaufer, the project's founder, called the Essential Problem Solving Skills workshop a success.

"It was beyond my expectations," Kaufer said.

Kaufer, who traveled to Moss Point from her home in Los Angeles, said this particular group was exceptional, because there was no attrition in the attendance. The number of people actually grew after the first day, Kaufer said.

"After the first day, people called their co-workers and bosses and said, You have to come to this,'" Kaufer said.

Kaufer said the shelf of 40 books was donated to the project from publishers and some authors Kaufer personally knows, and her goal was to donate the largest collection of mediation books in the state.

After some work, Kaufer said she found that a library in Jackson had 38, so she knew she wanted to beat that number.

"I knew 38 was my magic number," she said during the dedication.

Mayor Xavier Bishop said mediation is an important skill for the Gulf Coast, calling post-Hurricane Katrina stress an often-ignored "epidemic" in the area.

"The epidemic is stress and tension and anxiety that tend to be negative and manifest themselves in anger," Bishop said.

Anita Reddix-Augustin, a participant from Vancleave, said the workshop was challenging and fast-paced.

Reddix-Augustin, a state-certified instructor, said after three days of lectures, dialogues, question and answer sessions and role playing, she and her fellow classmates learned a great deal.

"We all met the challenge," she said.

Jeannie Goff, a school counselor at Singing River Elementary, said the training is especially important for her in the education field, and she plans on applying the lessons in active listening and nonverbal communication at her job.

"I think we need more conflict resolution in our schools," Goff said.

Kaufer said her team will return for another basic course in April and an advanced course this summer.