Oakland Mediation Center celebrates 20th anniversary

Industry leaders, judges, attorneys, educators, volunteers, dignitaries, community supporters, and family members celebrated Friday evening, April 9, as Oakland Mediation Center rang in their twentieth anniversary at "Twenty Years of Magic-The Magic of Mediation!" Individual awards were presented to honor the extraordinary efforts of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts; retired Judge Stephen Cooper; Thomas M. Cooley Law School Dean, John Nussbaumer; and practicing attorney and mediator, Jon H. Kingsepp. "When we selected our honorees we knew that they were good people, but when you read their bios you are staggered by their accomplishments," said Bonnie Hanes, executive director of the Center. OMC's four distinguished award recipients were honored with the 2010 Leadership Award, the 2010 Community Hero Award, the Innovator Award, and the Nanci S. Klein Memorial Award, respectively. Others in attendance included Oakland County Circuit Court Judges James Alexander and Leo Bowman; Oakland County 52nd District Court Judge Brian MacKenzie; Oakland County Circuit Court Judges Colleen O'Brien, Edward Sosnick, and Joan Young; Oakland County Commissioner David W. Potts; Birmingham Mayor Rackeline Hoff; Edward Pappas, past president of the State Bar of Michigan; and Thomas M. Cooley Law School Assistant Dean Martha Moore, Auburn Hills campus. "Twenty Years of Magic-The Magic of Mediation" Gala was a tremendous success with approximately 125 tickets sold and over $10,000 raised to support the expansion of OMC'S Youth Programs and address Michigan's high school dropout crisis. Guests munched and mingled through the gourmet cocktail hour at the Auburn Hills Marriott-Pontiac at Centerpoint Hotel and enjoyed entertainment courtesy of "that funny, magic guy," Magician Andrew Bennett. Floral centerpieces were designed and arranged by Gala sponsor, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace. Rose Printing Services designed, printed and sponsored the invitations. OMC also acknowledges the generous sponsorships of American Staffing Assurance Company, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, The Skillman Foundation, and William & Kathy Brodhead. Since its inception in 1989, Oakland Mediation Center continues to reign as the state's leading community dispute resolution center, mediating 34,297 conflicts, serving 76,300 individuals, and 30,092 businesses to date. Since the inception of its Youth Education program in 1999, OMC has empowered 76,973 youth to peacefully resolve conflict themselves through the following programs: "Second-Step", violence prevention; "Peers Making Peace", peer-mediation; "Olweus Bullying Prevention"; "Truancy Prevention" and "Victim-Offender" Mediation. To learn more about training or sponsorship opportunities, visit OMC's Web site at http://www.mediation-omc.org/. Published: Wed, Apr 21, 2010

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