Nominations Are Open for the 2025 Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award
This Award is named after Emeritus Professor Grayfred Gray. During his 28 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Law, Grayfred Gray practiced as a mediator and was the founder of the well-regarded UT mediation clinic and other programs in which law students mediated cases referred by Tennessee courts and federal, […]
Job Opening: Executive Director, Community Mediation Center (Knoxville, TN)
The Community Mediation Center (CMC) in Knoxville, TN is a 501c3, chartered in 1994. We provide volunteer court mediation services for courts in Knox County, restorative justice processes for juvenile and adult cases, divorce and post-divorce mediation for those in need, and non-court mediation for neighborhood and workplace disputes. CMC has an excellent mediation training […]
12 Pillars for Mediation
Communicate – Provide Information – Inform To optimize your settlement efforts, you have no less than three people that you must persuade – your client, the mediator, and your adversary. If you have not fully informed your client of the strengths and the weaknesses of the case, then you have not helped your client fairly […]
Community Mediation Centers: Providing Access to Justice Across Tennessee
In Tennessee, community mediation centers are quietly but effectively resolving disputes across the state. With hardworking staff and volunteers, they provide access to justice for unrepresented parties. These centers do significant work to promote excellence in mediation, provide public education about the benefits of mediation, and build peace in their communities. During the pandemic, CMCs […]
2024 Grayfred Gray Award Recipient: Karen Phillips
TAPM Press Release: In 2007, the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators (TAPM) established its Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award to honor Tennessee mediators who are committed to PEACEMAKING, EMPOWERMENT, and SERVICE for Tennesseans. Grayfred Gray served 28 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee (UT) College of Law, and practiced as […]
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Mediation
Being a professional conflict manager and a coach requires more than simply understanding the theory of negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution. In practice, these disciplines require a deep comprehension of human beings and their emotional responses. To really excel in managing, resolving, and mediating conflicts, emotional intelligence is not a mere asset, but a necessity. […]
Bridging Generations: The Timeless Nature of Conflict in Nursing
In the quiet moments I’ve shared with my daughter, a registered nurse, we always find ourselves marveling at the threads of similarity that tie our professional experiences together, despite the decades that separate our careers in nursing. As I listen to her recount the challenges she faces today, I’m transported back to my own days […]
The Unique Value of In-Person Workshops: A Reflection
As we approach our annual workshop, memories from our pre-COVID meetings at Lipscomb University come to mind. I’ve heard similar reflections from some of you, expressing a longing for the days of face-to-face interaction. We’re in a familiar bind as we consider the format for our Annual Workshop: the ease and inclusivity of a virtual […]
Nominations Open for TAPM’s 2024 Grayfred Gray Public Service in Mediation Award
This Award is named after Emeritus Professor Grayfred Gray. During his 28 years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee College of Law, Grayfred Gray practiced as a mediator and was the founder of the well-regarded UT mediation clinic and other programs in which law students mediated cases referred by Tennessee courts and federal, […]
Negotiation is Stimulating Communication
by Marc Harwell Achieve UnderstandingGeorge Bernard Shaw astutely commented that “the single, biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” How do you break through the illusion and enter the world of effective persuasion? Questions Are Crucial Before 400 BC or more than 2,400 years ago, Socrates taught Plato and other […]
Seven Etiquette Tips for Working With Interpreters in Mediation
I first started working with interpreters my first year after law school. My work focused on civil rights for people with disabilities, and I first learned about the laws ensuring equal access as well as proper etiquette when working with someone whose first language was not English or who had Limited English Proficiency (LEP). I […]
Community Mediation Gathering in Nashville
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Sara Figal and the team at Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC), staff from five community mediation centers across Tennessee were able to together in Nashville at the beautiful Scarritt Bennett campus for a 3-day collaborative retreat. Many participants were meeting in-person for the first time and the opportunity to […]
The Power of Mentoring in Mediation: Learning, Growing, and Thriving Together
by Gordon Russell, TAPM Board Mentoring is a cornerstone of growth and success in various fields, and the realm of mediation is no exception. Whether you’re a law student first embarking on your mediation journey or an experienced mediator seeking continuous improvement, the guidance and support of a mentor can be invaluable. Nurturing […]