About CMSMC
The mission of Community Mediation of St. Mary's County (CMSMC) is to provide conflict management and mediation support services that empower people to turn conflict into conversation. We seek to educate the public about conflict management, train volunteers to become mediators, and to provide free, confidential, voluntary mediation and group-facilitation services.
Community Mediation of St. Mary’s County has provided mediation services to Southern Maryland since 2001. We are funded in part through a grant from the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) and donations from our community, which keep our services at no cost to the community. Learn more about our services Here.
As a Community Mediation Center, CMSMC adheres to the 9 Hallmarks of Community Mediation Centers
9 Hallmarks of Community Mediation Centers are Characterized by, and/or Committed to:
Community Mediation of St. Mary’s County has provided mediation services to Southern Maryland since 2001. We are funded in part through a grant from the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) and donations from our community, which keep our services at no cost to the community. Learn more about our services Here.
As a Community Mediation Center, CMSMC adheres to the 9 Hallmarks of Community Mediation Centers
9 Hallmarks of Community Mediation Centers are Characterized by, and/or Committed to:
- A private non-profit or public agency or program thereof, with mediators, staff and governing/advisory board representative of the diversity of the community served.
- The use of trained community volunteers as providers of mediation services; the practice of mediation is open to all persons.
- Providing direct access to the public through self-referral and striving to reduce barriers to service including physical, linguistic, cultural, programmatic and economic.
- Providing service to clients regardless of their ability to pay.
- Providing service and hiring without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, disabilities, national origin, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income.
- Providing a forum for dispute resolution at the earliest stage of conflict.
- Providing an alternative to the judicial system at any stage of a conflict.
- Initiating, facilitating and educating for collaborative community relationships to affect positive systemic change.
- Engaging in public awareness and educational activities about the values and practices of mediation
Our Mediators
What They Do
Support individuals throughout the mediation process to empower them to find solutions themselves for their unique situation. Mediators are non-judgmental and do not take sides.
Support individuals throughout the mediation process to empower them to find solutions themselves for their unique situation. Mediators are non-judgmental and do not take sides.
How They Are Trained
Our Mediators receive a minimum of 40 hours of mediation training from our center. The training teaches mediators to be impartial, avoid conflict or interests, ensure confidentiality, and maintain Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators.
Our Mediators receive a minimum of 40 hours of mediation training from our center. The training teaches mediators to be impartial, avoid conflict or interests, ensure confidentiality, and maintain Maryland Standards of Conduct for Mediators.
Board of Directors
Mia Bowers, Executive Director
Mia is a hardworking and dependable community leader with a strong record of having an impact on those around her. For more than a decade Mia has demonstrated her passion by serving the community in a variety of ways. As a member of the Transformative Mediation community since 2015, Mia has been trained to conduct mediations including but not limited to Child Access; Attendance; Re-entry; Property; and District court (landlord/tenant, small claims, peace orders). In addition to mediation, Mia is also a skilled facilitator trained to provide facilitation for large/small groups; IEP (Individualized Education Plans); and community conversations. In past careers, Mia created and implemented educational programs which comes in handy when designing new programs and training for the CMSMC. When Mia is not encouraging others to volunteer or donate to local causes, she enjoys curling up to a good book, listening to live music, watching movies, and exploring new foods.
Holly Hardesty, Program Manager
Holly loves helping people and guiding them to the right resources. Holly is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to help others. Holly is inspired daily by her children. In her free time,
Holly likes to travel and visit different areas. Holly has a Letter of Recognition in Computing Essentials, Certificates in General Studies,
Information Services Technology, and Technical Support. Also, she has an Associate’s Degree in Arts and Sciences.
Joshua Brewster, President
Joshua joined the board in 2014 with the intention of increasing awareness of the Center and the benefits of alternative dispute resolution, especially within the legal community of St. Mary’s County. Joshua is an employment and social security attorney with experience in mediating employment disputes. He frequently mediates disputes before the District Court of Maryland.
Michael Blackwell, Treasurer
Michel Blackwell is the Director of St Mary’s County Library. Michael has over 20 years’ experience in libraries. He enjoys this work for the same reason that he is interested in community mediation: promoting a stronger community through understanding, self-awareness, and life-long learning. Michael and his wife Lisa, who is also a librarian, relocated to St Mary’s County in 2015. They live in Tall Timbers and are enjoying making our county their new home. When not at work or engaged in the community, Michael enjoys cycling, sailing, cooking, and of course, reading.
John Roberts, Secretary
John and his wife Karen are the founders of Community Mediation. He has served as the Treasurer since inception and has remained very active as a mediator, trainer, and fundraiser.
Pamela Jamison
A native of Oxford, NC, who now calls both Haymarket, VA, and Leonardtown, MD, home, Pam has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. A former English teacher who later joined federal civil service, she retired from DoD federal service in November 2017 after almost 20 years as a program and human capital manager with the Department of the Navy and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. She joined Strategic Insight, LLC in Dec 2017 and is serving as a General Associate supporting various Department of Defense organizations. She has been a certified transformative mediator since January 2014 and volunteers her mediation skills with the Community Mediation Center of St. Mary’s County, MD. She is also a trained Lean Six Sigma Master Black
Belt.
Mr. John Warton
Retired Reporter, St. Mary's County Crime Solvers
chair of the Annapolis area chapter of the alumni association of Washington College of Maryland volunteer at Calvert Marine Museum
Relationship to Center’s Mission - I am eager to learn all things mediation. I plan to use my connections with the judiciary and government organization to bolster the mediation center relationship within the system.
Mia is a hardworking and dependable community leader with a strong record of having an impact on those around her. For more than a decade Mia has demonstrated her passion by serving the community in a variety of ways. As a member of the Transformative Mediation community since 2015, Mia has been trained to conduct mediations including but not limited to Child Access; Attendance; Re-entry; Property; and District court (landlord/tenant, small claims, peace orders). In addition to mediation, Mia is also a skilled facilitator trained to provide facilitation for large/small groups; IEP (Individualized Education Plans); and community conversations. In past careers, Mia created and implemented educational programs which comes in handy when designing new programs and training for the CMSMC. When Mia is not encouraging others to volunteer or donate to local causes, she enjoys curling up to a good book, listening to live music, watching movies, and exploring new foods.
Holly Hardesty, Program Manager
Holly loves helping people and guiding them to the right resources. Holly is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to help others. Holly is inspired daily by her children. In her free time,
Holly likes to travel and visit different areas. Holly has a Letter of Recognition in Computing Essentials, Certificates in General Studies,
Information Services Technology, and Technical Support. Also, she has an Associate’s Degree in Arts and Sciences.
Joshua Brewster, President
Joshua joined the board in 2014 with the intention of increasing awareness of the Center and the benefits of alternative dispute resolution, especially within the legal community of St. Mary’s County. Joshua is an employment and social security attorney with experience in mediating employment disputes. He frequently mediates disputes before the District Court of Maryland.
Michael Blackwell, Treasurer
Michel Blackwell is the Director of St Mary’s County Library. Michael has over 20 years’ experience in libraries. He enjoys this work for the same reason that he is interested in community mediation: promoting a stronger community through understanding, self-awareness, and life-long learning. Michael and his wife Lisa, who is also a librarian, relocated to St Mary’s County in 2015. They live in Tall Timbers and are enjoying making our county their new home. When not at work or engaged in the community, Michael enjoys cycling, sailing, cooking, and of course, reading.
John Roberts, Secretary
John and his wife Karen are the founders of Community Mediation. He has served as the Treasurer since inception and has remained very active as a mediator, trainer, and fundraiser.
Pamela Jamison
A native of Oxford, NC, who now calls both Haymarket, VA, and Leonardtown, MD, home, Pam has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from Fayetteville State University and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. A former English teacher who later joined federal civil service, she retired from DoD federal service in November 2017 after almost 20 years as a program and human capital manager with the Department of the Navy and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. She joined Strategic Insight, LLC in Dec 2017 and is serving as a General Associate supporting various Department of Defense organizations. She has been a certified transformative mediator since January 2014 and volunteers her mediation skills with the Community Mediation Center of St. Mary’s County, MD. She is also a trained Lean Six Sigma Master Black
Belt.
Mr. John Warton
Retired Reporter, St. Mary's County Crime Solvers
chair of the Annapolis area chapter of the alumni association of Washington College of Maryland volunteer at Calvert Marine Museum
Relationship to Center’s Mission - I am eager to learn all things mediation. I plan to use my connections with the judiciary and government organization to bolster the mediation center relationship within the system.
Our Partnerships
Mediators provide and alternative dispute resolution services to individuals participating in court cases. They assist in diverse legal actions, including unsatisfactory services, unpaid accounts, return of deposits and claims for damages.
We offer mediation services to school staff, parents and students for conflicts involving attendance and individual education plans.
Our partnership with the Sheriff’s Department focuses on early intervention. Deputies carry tear-off pads of mediation referral sheets that they offer to residents involved in family or neighborhood conflict.
Upon referral from the Circuit Court Family Services Coordinators in St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, specially trained mediators help parents, children, Department of Social Services (DSS) representatives, and their respective attorneys have constructive conversations in support of family and foster care issues, permanency planning and termination of parental rights (TPR).
The State’s Attorney in St. Mary’s County refers minor cases to the Center for mediation. Experience with these cases has been very positive, giving participants the opportunity to deescalate their conflict and resolve their differences outside the criminal court system.
