C.J. Larkin, J.D., senior lecturer and administrative director of the School of Law’s Dispute Resolution Program, and several law students were instrumental in helping a team-oriented mediation address issues of perceived citizen disenfranchisement in Kirkwood, Mo.
Larkin and the law students worked with William Whitcomb of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Community Relations Service, on the project. The 14-page mediation agreement was the result of an almost two-year process following an incident at a Feb. 7, 2008, city council meeting in which a Meacham Park resident went on a shooting rampage, resulting in the deaths of seven people.
Community representatives and city officials signed the agreement Jan. 21. The agreement was adopted by resolution by the Kirkwood City Council.
As part of the process, former WUSTL law students Ross Blankenship, J.D., Stephanie Huang, and RaNae Dunham Inghram, J.D., provided process design, research, drafting and documenting assistance.
The agreement covers three specific areas that address concerns over “differing racial perceptions” and include improvements to the city’s Human Rights Advisory and Awareness Commission, Kirkwood Police programs and home-improvement program.
“The entire project was a tremendous learning experience for the students and for me,” Larkin said. “We watched the process we helped design with DOJ unfold in a series of dynamic meetings over the course of 20 months.”
Larkin said that they saw how important mediation principles are in the real world — agreeing on a fair process, empowering the participants, listening respectfully, identifying important interests, coming up with creative options, and finding practical, workable solutions.
“It took a lot of work and thoughtfulness on the part of the mediation teams — energy and effort and sometimes — just patience was needed,” Larkin said. “We came away with great respect for everyone involved and renewed faith in teamwork.”