Who We Are
Our Mission is: To help individuals in the community develop the capacity to respectfully resolve conflict
Our Vision is: To be recognized as the community resource for developing skills and establishing systems to improve the well-being of the community by making peaceful resolutions a way of life
The Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina was incorporated in 1989 by a group of concerned community members (representing the District Attorney’s office, District Court Judges, East Carolina University and Legal Services) who were seeking to develop mediation services in Pitt County. In the spring of 1989 with a grant from the Perkins Foundation, they opened The Mediation Center of Pitt County in Greenville. During the first year of operation the Center developed a mediation referral program with the district court system, trained 21 community volunteer mediators, provided mediation training for employees of Empire Brushes and developed a peer mediation program at Falkland Elementary School. Over the next two years the Center expanded the peer mediation program in 10 schools in Pitt County, hosted the Southeastern Mediation Conference and continued mediation services for the courts and community.
In 1993 responding to requests for services in surrounding counties, the Board of Directors decided to create a regional center – The Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina. Nash and Edgecombe Counties were incorporated into the organization and in addition to developing court/community mediation services, the Center developed the peer mediation program in 20 schools in the Nash-Rocky Mount school system. The Center also collaborated with the Mediation Network of North Carolina to write a teacher manual for developing and implementing Peer Mediation Programs in the schools and offered Train the Trainers Workshops for teachers across the state.
Since that time, MCEC has provided training to numerous counties in eastern North Carolina and maintains an ongoing contract with Pitt County Schools to provide Peer Mediation training, and classes in anger management and Bully Prevention. In 1994 at the request of the Juvenile Services Program in Nash and Edgecombe counties, the Center created the RESOLVE program (now known as RESOLVE It Together) to help “at risk” youth and their families learn to appropriately deal with conflict. The program served 40 families that year and went on to serve hundreds of families in several counties. The RESOLVE curriculum was published in 1998 and the program has been replicated throughout North Carolina.
Truancy Mediation was developed for the Nash-Rocky Mount schools in 1995 and expanded to Pitt County in 1996. The program serves an average of 70 youth and their families each year. The Teen Court program was developed in Pitt County in 1997 and now operates in 7 counties (out of 5 offices). Hundreds of youth offenders are served through Teen Court each year.
The Craven County office was opened in 1995 and court referred mediations were taken for two years. In 1997 the RESOLVE program started in Craven County and in 2001 the Teen Court Program began services. RESOLVE services were started in Wilson County in 1995 and in 2000 an office was opened to provide mediation services. A Teen Court program began in 2003.
MCEC expanded into Duplin County in 2011. This expansion then allowed programs and services to expand into Wayne and Johnston counties as well.
Currently (2021), MCEC provides services/programs to 13 counties through our 6 offices.
What We Do
The Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina (MCEC) is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1989. MCEC has designed and implemented programs to help youth, families, and adult community members resolve conflict. These programs focus on respecting and appreciating differences while problem solving.
Teen Court- An alternative program designed for youth who have caused harm to someone or something by committing a minor level miisdemeanor offence. The youth accepted into the program are ages 11-17, and must admit their responsibility (their part) in the offence before they are allowed to participate. Through the Teen Court experience, they are held accountable for their offence and are given sanctions--assignments to complete to make up for what they did--deemed appropriate by a jury of their peers: volunteers from all the Middle- and High Schools in the District. More restorative options offered include: Peer Jury Panels and Circles/Peer Accountability Circles.
Anger Management- Pre-teens, as well as Teenagers, more often react with their anger in ways that are unproductive and land them in trouble. This set of classes will guide them through the What, Whys, and How of managing their anger through journaling, discussion, and rehearsal of skills.
Family Connections- a counselor works with youth and their family to process deep rooted issues, change behavior patterns, and renew outdated and false belief systems.
Girls Empowered- provides skills and information to middle and high school girls which will help young ladies to develop confidence and recognize early how they should be treated by others.
Community Service/Restitution- works with youth who are either court ordered or required as a component of a diversion plan. Youth are assigned community service hours and/or to pay money back to their victims by doing specific amount of hours.
The D.E.A.D. Program- meaning, “Drugs End All Dreams,” is a 12-week program that works with youth in grades 6-12. The program will take youth on a journey to educate them about the dangers of substance use and abuse, while providing them with an understanding of drugs and alcohol. Students will also receive tools and resources which promote healthy choices and avoidance of substance use. Assessments are offered to determine if a youth is already involved in using substances.
Court/Community Mediation- mediators serve as a neutral third-party helping individuals resolve their disputes in a peaceful manner.
Medicaid Appeals Mediation- offers Medicaid recipients who are either denied requested services or who have had their services reduced an opportunity to discuss their concerns with the state entity that made the decision to deny or reduce services and mediators serve as a neutral third party to help parties come to a mutually acceptable resolution.
