Community members gathered at Top of the Hill Wednesday evening to sip wine in the name of conflict resolution.
The Dispute Settlement Center, located in Carrboro, hosted its sixth annual wine tasting event in the Franklin Street restaurant’s Great Room to raise money for its mediation programs.
“This is our signature event,” said Jen Richelson, vice president of the center’s board of directors.
The center, which was founded in 1978 and serves nearly 3,000 people a year, aims to settle disputes in the community peacefully and prevent the escalation of conflict through mediation and training. It was the first community mediation center in North Carolina.
Attendees tasted nine different wines provided by A Southern Season, a gourmet food store in Chapel Hill, and listened to music performed by the Ken Broun Trio.
People at the event also had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and bid on a variety of items, including gift cards to local restaurants, a three liter bottle of wine and handmade Native American flutes.
Tickets ranged from $35 to $40, and 15 percent of the money raised from the auction and wine sales will benefit the center.
Richelson said most of the funds will go toward the Dispute Settlement Center’s youth program, which works with schools and community organizations to teach conflict resolution.
Will Dudenhausen, the center’s youth programs coordinator, said the youth program recently signed a contract with Orange County Schools to institute mediation programs in middle schools.
