The Mediation Center Staff

The Community Mediation program assisted over 600 individuals during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.  Many types of disputes are referred from the criminal and small claims magistrates, public defenders, district attorneys, former clients and community organizations.  Often, parties are friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers.  Over 40 volunteer mediators are able to handle a variety of criminal, small claims, landlord/tenant and interpersonal issues through mediation.  Because of these volunteer mediators, we are able to serve community clients free of charge.  Laura has been working with the Life Skills program and is planning to offer this valuable parent/teen communication and conflict resolution course in Spanish in early 2007.

Laura can be reached at 828-251-6089 ext 11 or via email at laurahj@mediatebuncombe.org

Megan Leschak, Youth Program Director

The past year has been another successful year for the Restorative Youth program of The Mediation Center.  Within the Asheville City School system, over 600 students were served along with at least 80 staff and parents (during the 2005/2006 school year).  These mediations account for 669 hours of service time.  Presentations, classroom dialogue, classroom skills building and trainings were also given throughout the year.  Some of the topics included discussion in bullying, alternatives to fighting, conflict resolution skills, and dealing with anger and defiance.  For more on the Restorative Youth program, use this link.

Megan can be reached at 828-251-6089 ext 15 or via email mleschak@mediatebuncombe.org

Sara Guciardo, Family Mediator

The Family Mediation program helps families that are encountering conflicts with separation and divorce, parenting plans, child/parent issues, adult child/elder parent issues and family communication styles.  Last year, the Family Mediation program served over 400 clients in mediations, facilitations and consultations.  Sara Guciardo has been facilitating discussions, mediating conflicts and conducting trainings since 1994.  She has an M.A. in Organization Development and is certified by North Carolina to mediate superior court settlement conferences.

Life Skills is a support program for youth and their families. The program is an experiential course that actively enables families to increase their ability to creatively solve problems and respond to emotions appropriately, de-escalate crisis and set boundaries, and address ongoing conflict.

The Family Visitation Program currently offers two services:  Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchanges.  Therapeutic Visitation and Parenting classes may be services offered in the future as demand warrants.  With many years of experience working with children and families, Amy is a natural fit to continue to develop this valuable and much needed community resource.