Durham library hosts negotiation workshops for girls

Durham County Library will host a workshop series aimed at teaching young girls negotiation skills.

Listen Up, Speak Up! will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, April 18 and 25, and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, May 2. Girls who complete the series are invited to a pizza party at noon, May 2. It all takes place at the Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St.

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, peer negotiation is a necessary social skill that helps promote positive behavior, academic success and school safety. The workshop is based on a program created by Professor Linda C. Babcock, author of Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide.

During the workshop, girls will learn how to improve relationships with peers, siblings and adults; recognize more situations as negotiable; and develop an understanding of and confidence in using negotiation basics including, position v. interests, collaboration, goal setting, logrolling and win/win, lose/lose and win/lose strategies, according to a press release.

Guest speakers will include Tammy Baggett, Durham County Library director; Karen Bethea-Shields, local attorney andformer District Court Judge for the state of North Carolina; Darlene Deberry, an entrepreneur and adjunct professor at Durham Technical Community College; and Tamara Gibbs, a broadcast journalist with more than 20 years of experience.