SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire––Savannah, Ga.’s leading organization dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict and creating a more conflict-resilient community for the past 40 years––recently launched Flip the Script, an innovative new youth development initiative designed to help underserved adolescents and young adults build the social-emotional competencies to navigate life’s challenges in healthy, productive and nonviolent ways.
Serving justice-involved youth in Chatham County between the ages of 12 and 24, the Flip the Script program provides a structured, supportive environment where participants can strengthen their emotional awareness, improve communication skills, develop effective conflict resolution strategies and increase their confidence in making positive life choices.
“The Flip the Script program creates opportunities for young people to identify their strengths, develop self-awareness and build healthier patterns, so they are not defined by previous mistakes or past behaviors,” said The Mediation Center’s Director of Youth Initiatives Sherlisa Praylo. “Over the course of eight interactive sessions, participants engage in facilitated discussions, experiential activities, role-playing exercises, self-reflection and collaborative problem-solving.”
Flip the Script is funded by a Violence Reduction Grant through the City of Savannah, which makes the program available, free of charge, to local teens and young adults. The Violence Reduction Grant program focuses on funding programs and services that help reduce gun violence among youth and young adults who have been or are at high risk of becoming involved in gun violence.
Throughout the program, youth learn to recognize emotional triggers, regulate intense emotions, communicate effectively, manage conflict constructively, de-escalate high-tension situations, establish healthy boundaries and strengthen positive relationships. Participants are encouraged to interrupt negative cycles and rewrite the narratives that shape their behaviors and decisions. By learning to respond rather than react, youth discover that they have the power to
create new possibilities for themselves and their communities.
“Flip the Script is based on the belief that young people have the ability to change the direction of their lives by changing the way they think, respond and engage with others,” Praylo added. “Often times, youth face stressors related to school, family dynamics, peer relationships, community violence, social pressures and the transition into adulthood. Without appropriate tools and support, these experiences can contribute to impulsive decision-making, unresolved conflict and strained relationships.”
Flip the Script addresses these challenges by equipping participants with practical skills they can immediately apply in their everyday lives. The program uses a trauma-informed, restorative and strengths-based approach that recognizes the impact of lived experiences while focusing on each participant’s potential for growth and success. Each session builds upon the previous one, allowing participants to practice new skills while increasing their confidence and capacity for self-management.
By the conclusion of the program, participants will develop a personalized set of tools and strategies to help them navigate conflict, manage stress, communicate effectively, build healthy relationships and make decisions that align with their goals and values. More importantly, they will leave with a greater sense of self-efficacy and the understanding that positive change is possible.
ABOUT THE MEDIATION CENTER:
The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire is Savannah’s leading organization dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict, creating alternatives to litigation and increasing access to justice. Currently celebrating 40 years of serving the local community, this 501©3 nonprofit is committed to conflict resolution, de-escalation and fostering community health in coastal Georgia. Honored as a Best of Georgia Regional Winner for Mediation Services, The Mediation Center has trained more than 500 volunteer mediators, conducted nearly 30,000 mediations and facilitated over 7,000 settlements. Learn more: mediationsavannah.com.
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