nashville-conflict

One year of leadership

Wed, 21 May 2025 20:24:20 GMT

Reflections from the Executive Director

Shannon just wrapped up her first year as Executive Director at NCRC and what a year it’s been! We sat down with her for a reflection on the moments, goals, and dreams that have shaped her first year.

What is one moment that has stuck with you?

Speaking at my first Mediation Matters luncheon as an Executive Director is a moment I will never forget.

What's one moment that reminds you why this work matters?

Every time one of our staff shares a success story, whether it be a conversation between neighbors, a particularly difficult parenting situation, or between a landlord and a tenant, that results in a successful agreement, I am truly elated. It gives such clarity to the work I have to do each day.

What has your initial focus been in the last year?

My goals in the first year included developing meaningful relationships with our board, staff, community and funding partners, preparing our organization for a strategic planning process, and identifying sustainable funding streams.

What do you think makes NCRC special?

We are the only organization in Davidson County (and beyond) providing community mediation to our community. Conflict resolution work is truly remarkable in the way it can transform individual lives and communities. Many do not realize the tremendous impact a conflict can have on a family. It impacts you financially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Helping families and individuals find solutions so that they can rebuild their lives is the heart of our work.

What is something that has surprised you about the role?

I am not sure if it’s a surprise but the transformation you go through is important to note. You’re somehow evolving into a different person and also the same exact person you’ve always been. I still spill too many snacks and drinks on my business clothes.

What are some resources that have helped you in your leadership?

I am so grateful for the professional development opportunities provided to me by the Healing Trust Executive Peer Circle Program, TNN’s Board Governance program, and the Executive Coaching from the Circle Center I did to prepare for this role. These resources are invaluable to the nonprofit sector.

"I believe strongly that we have to resource ourselves and have a learner’s mentality."

What is one big dream that you have for NCRC?

My biggest dream is that NCRC becomes a nonprofit household name. We have done our important work under the radar for many years and those who work with us, know our value. I’d like to continue to share the good work we do with our larger Nashville community. I’d like our community to embrace mediation as a way to prevent evictions, stabilize families, and handle conflict in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.

What is one goal that you are excited to work towards in year two?

I am so excited to work towards a 3 year strategic plan, institute the logic models our team has been working so hard on, and continue to share our work with so many great volunteers, donors, and partners.

What is a quote or motto that guides you?

"Peace starts at home."

We all have a responsibility to make the world a more peaceful place and often that starts with the way we manage our stress and our own conflicts. It’s a reminder to me to take care of myself, my family, staff, and friends in difficult times. As mediators and conflict professionals, we must develop a practice of inward awareness before we can be fully present and grounded for others.

What book, podcast, or show have you loved recently?

Crucial Conversations is a book I think everyone should read when they start their conflict journey. Communication is everything. I wish I had read it earlier! I also think David Brooks’ book, “How to Know a Person” is a great recent release given the age we’re living in. Tennessee Nonprofit Network’s “I was told there would be snacks” is a great podcast for me. I love their relatable content.

If you weren’t doing this work, what would you be doing?

I have long said I should have gone into counseling. It’s been an interest of mine for many years. My dream gig as I have gotten older is definitely working at a garden center.

What is your ideal way to unwind after a long day?

On my best days I’ve hugged my husband and son, fiddled in the garden, and picked up a good book.

Conversations with the Clerk

Fri, 16 May 2025 18:25:54 GMT

Conversations with the Clerk

At NCRC, we believe that community mediation plays a powerful role within the court system to build stronger, more resilient communities. In an episode of Conversations with the Clerk, our Civil Mediation Director, Faith Klein, sat down with the Circuit Court Clerk of Metro Nashville-Davidson County to talk about how mediation helps resolve disputes quickly, safely, and effectively outside of a courtroom.

NCRC helps people come to mutual agreements that are created by the participants and feel fair to everyone involved.

"When you go in before a judge, you lose control of the situation… In mediation, you can sit down and really consider all of the circumstances around your dispute and have more control over the outcome.”

Faith explains how a case might end up in mediation and how NCRC has a dedicated room inside General Sessions Civil Court, offering people a real time alternative to litigation. The conversation also touches on who can become a mediator, how to become Rule 31 trained, and the overall impact of our work. We’re proud to work alongside the Davidson County Courts to make mediation more accessible to our community.

Building Together: Spring 2024 CMC Workshop

lainey@nashvilleconflict.org (Lainey Krzystowczyk) — Fri, 17 May 2024 18:08:44 GMT

Collaborating to strengthen community mediation services across the state of TN

This week, Community Mediation Centers from across the state of Tennessee gathered to discuss the exciting future of community mediation and how we can collaborate to strengthen community mediation services across the state. The centers represented across the state included:

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (Nashville)

Community Mediation Center (Knoxville)

Mid-South Community Justice & Mediation Center (Memphis)

Community Mediation Services (Anderson County)

The Community Mediation Center (Colombia)

Chattanooga

This workshop was a fantastic opportunity for all of us to exchange ideas, share community mediation best practices, and build strong and lasting connections. We discussed the many ways to provide training and resources to future centers, ensuring they have a strong foundation for success. Be on the lookout for a new resource hub for emerging CMCs on our website! We also explored ways we can share the larger mission of community mediation with clients, volunteers, courts, and the broader community.

We left the workshop with a renewed sense of purpose, enthusiasm, and connection. The future of community mediation looks bright, and we are excited to continue collaborating and building together. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making our Community Mediation workshop a resounding success.

This conference is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the American Arbitration Association - International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR).

2024 Community Mediation Center Workshop Gallery

Get to Know Shannon

lainey@nashvilleconflict.org (Lainey Krzystowczyk) — Wed, 08 May 2024 16:30:00 GMT

Get to know Shannon

It’s been just over a month since Shannon stepped into the Executive Director role at Nashville Conflict Resolution Center! With a fresh vision and clear passion for conflict resolution and community mediation, Shannon is leading us to a new chapter of growth, built on the foundation of high quality mediation at no cost. As we embrace this exciting transition, we thought it would be the perfect time for you to get to know Shannon more.

We’re thrilled to bring you a Q&A with Shannon, where she shares insights into her goals, her approach to leadership, and what she envisions for the future of NCRC.

Q&A with Shannon Wagner

What about NCRC excites you the most?

We have a truly outstanding staff and volunteers. They are excellent mediators and good people. It’s also not out of order to say that we are in the midst of trying times, globally and locally. NCRC’s focus on conflict resolution and mediation is so vital and meaningful. It feels like a larger calling and mission.

What are you most excited about achieving with NCRC in the next year?

I am excited about embarking on a strategic planning process and envisioning NCRC’s future. Additionally, our program delivery model changed so much during the pandemic and the years that followed, I am also looking forward to settling into remote mediation as the new normal. We have grown tremendously in terms of access and in several counties across Tennessee.

What has been your favorite moment in the past month?

Watching our staff celebrate successful mediations and come together to support each other in tough situations.

What drives your leadership style?

I lean toward collaboration in decision making. The staff might tell you I never stop talking about the enneagram and I like using tools like that to build relationships and collaboration. I often say, “my first reaction isn’t my last” because I like to hear everyone’s opinions and then I am comfortable stepping in to make the final call.

Who/what has shaped your approach to leadership?

I have worked for some wonderful people and I have also had my fair share of challenges. I always respected the leaders who were most able to articulate the “why” in a situation even if they had tough decisions to make. I believe a team is stronger when they can collaborate and show respect even when they don’t agree. I am so grateful to the women, in particular, I have worked with in my career who showed me the way and built me up even when we had very different styles or personalities. That is the kind of leader I hope to be.

What values are most important to you as a leader?

I believe in transparency, mutual respect, and clarity. I won’t hold any of my staff to a standard I can’t also achieve and that includes demonstrating healthy boundaries and accountability. Nonprofit employees and mediators change lives every day and we have to take care of the people who do that work.

What is a favorite place in Nashville?

Probably Beaman Park. I live close by and I spend a lot of time hiking and gardening and out in nature. It’s the first place I took my son hiking when he was 3 months old.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

In this season, you’d find me in the garden at home or snuggling with my son on the couch. I am never without a gardening goal.

What book are you reading?

Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. I love the soothing cadence of her writing and she’s local to Nashville.

Welcome Our New Executive Director!

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:00:00 GMT

A Letter from the Executive Director

"I am thrilled to continue the work started by so many dedicated and passionate volunteers 24 years ago. Stepping into the role of Executive Director is both an exciting opportunity and a profound honor. I believe deeply in the power of mediation and conflict resolution to create social and economic impact, foster resilience in families, and create meaningful change in our communities. Our collective society is enhanced when we can tap into the power of mediation and resolve conflict with skill and compassion.

I am grateful to Dr. Sara Figal for her innovation and her mentorship over the last year. I am lucky to have an amazing team of mediators and staff dedicated to preserving the ideals of equitable and accessible community mediation. Thank you to our dedicated Board of Directors for their confidence and diligence.

Founded in 2000, Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) has a long-standing history of providing quality and effective conflict resolution to individuals in our community struggling with conflict in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. It is not only restorative, but it is fair and equitable to all parties involved. NCRC is in an exciting moment of change. As we look to the future, we stay grounded in the knowledge that we are building on a foundation of providing high quality mediation at no cost.

Last year, NCRC provided nearly 600 mediations, both remotely and in-person, across a range of programs including parenting, civil, and victim offender reconciliation. We deliver mediation training, conflict workshops, and outreach to hundreds of clients a year, strengthening the mediation community and giving true access to anyone who needs our services. We partner with the courts across 16 counties and a host of valued community partners to bring families together, keep people in their homes, ensure small businesses maintain their income, and get people back to work.

Without your support, none of this would have been possible. As we approach our 25th anniversary, I want to thank you for your engagement, financial support, volunteerism, and passion for community mediation. Please feel free to call or email anytime. I look forward to connecting with you."

See how you can get involved today!

What is Eviction Right to Counsel?

sara@nashvilleconflict.org (Sara Figal) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:53:03 GMT

A Metro Nashville Pilot Program

The Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) program is a new initiative that provides free legal services and education to low-income residents of Metro Nashville who are facing eviction. Free services include legal advice and advocacy, landlord-tenant mediation, and full representation in court. The ERTC program is a two-year pilot program funded by the Metro Nashville City Council, and is a collaboration between Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Conexión Américas, the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association, and NCRC.

If you would like to learn more about the legal resources available through this program, visit the Legal Aid Society of Middle TN

The Positive Impact of Parenting Mediation

sara@nashvilleconflict.org (Sara Figal) — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:19:57 GMT

Mediating a Parenting Plan Helps More Than You Might Think

We often work with parents or guardians of minor children who come into mediation without a lot of confidence in what the process can do for them. In most cases, they are very happily surprised, because 1) mediation helps them to design a parenting plan that is realistic and tailored to their lives; and 2) the process creates pathways for better communication and less stress for everyone involved. This note from a mediation participant says it all:

“Today is the first day of relief I have had in seven years. I have been in happy tears all day. We were able to agree on something in the best interest of our child. I cannot express my gratitude for the hope you have given me today in having a solid plan in place for our son, but also hopefully resolving issues in the future together.”

Court Interpreters Needed!

sara@nashvilleconflict.org (Sara Figal) — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 10:43:15 GMT

Calling all interpreters!

Did you know that courts in TN are struggling to meet the needs of people with limited English capacity? In order for NCRC to deliver on its mission to provide mediation and help stabilize families regardless of resources or background, we have to be able to ensure that language needs are met. Last year, we partnered with interpreters to support speakers of Amharic, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Spanish, and ASL. Please spread the word that we are looking for more trained interpreters -- particularly for Spanish and Arabic.

nashville-conflict

One year of leadership

Reflections from the Executive Director

What is one moment that has stuck with you?

What's one moment that reminds you why this work matters?

What has your initial focus been in the last year?

What do you think makes NCRC special?

What is something that has surprised you about the role?

What are some resources that have helped you in your leadership?

"I believe strongly that we have to resource ourselves and have a learner’s mentality."

What is one big dream that you have for NCRC?

What is one goal that you are excited to work towards in year two?

What is a quote or motto that guides you?

﻿ "Peace starts at home."

What book, podcast, or show have you loved recently?

If you weren’t doing this work, what would you be doing?

What is your ideal way to unwind after a long day?

Conversations with the Clerk

Conversations with the Clerk

﻿

"When you go in before a judge, you lose control of the situation… In mediation, you can sit down and really consider all of the circumstances around your dispute and have more control over the outcome.”

Building Together: Spring 2024 CMC Workshop

Collaborating to strengthen community mediation services across the state of TN

2024 Community Mediation Center Workshop Gallery

Get to Know Shannon

Get to know Shannon

Q&A with Shannon Wagner

What about NCRC excites you the most?

What are you most excited about achieving with NCRC in the next year?

What has been your favorite moment in the past month?

What drives your leadership style?

Who/what has shaped your approach to leadership?

What values are most important to you as a leader?

What is a favorite place in Nashville?

Where can we find you when you’re not at work?

What book are you reading?

Welcome Our New Executive Director!

A Letter from the Executive Director

What is Eviction Right to Counsel?

A Metro Nashville Pilot Program

The Positive Impact of Parenting Mediation

Mediating a Parenting Plan Helps More Than You Might Think

Court Interpreters Needed!

Calling all interpreters!

"Peace starts at home."