The mediators listened to both of us. They seemed to care passionately, and helped us stay focused on the kids. It took multiple sessions and about 9 hours before we came to agreement — Khiry and Ayanna would spend each Thanksgiving with my whole family up in New Jersey, we would split finances 70/30, and I had in writing that the kids would be with me 12 days a month.
It wasn’t until I was remarried and me and my current wife went to mediation at CMP, that I actually took steps to become a mediator. My wife and I were not able to come to an agreement in our mediation, but we have a better relationship since the mediation because it allowed us to see each others’ concerns, and know each other better. Because of Volunteer Maryland, I spent a year at CMP recruiting male and youth mediators so that we can help out more families in Baltimore like mine. Then I was able to join the staff full time.”
— Kevin Chase, former CMP Mediation Liaison