The Power of Empathy. Member Spotlight: Sherri Marie Carr
“Leave every place you go, everything you touch, a little better for your having been there.” -Julie Andrews
This quote is something of a life motto for Sherri Marie Carr, a lawyer and ADR advocate based in South Carolina. Her extensive pro bono and volunteer work reveals an empathetic, passionate peacemaker dedicated to making the world a better place.
Sherri Marie grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. An early interest in mediation came from learning about her friend’s brother’s work as a diplomat in Poland. What could have been a passing connection in her youth put Sherri Marie on the path to peacebuilding. She attended Clemson University, then Oklahoma State University to receive her Master’s in Hospitality Administration, and finally Michigan State University to get her JD.
Sherri Marie’s motivation to study law blossomed when she interned for the former Texas State Senator and current Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, as well as former U.S. Representative and Majority Leader Dick Armey. Sherri Marie became interested in how law gets made, specifically the intricate process of reading a wide variety of legislation to find creative workarounds, identity key oversights, and capitalize on opportunities for commonalities. Her methodical, academic side is well-balanced, however, by a genuine love for people and community.
Sherri Marie credits her hospitality degree as a critical part of her compassionate and patient nature. In her work as a lawyer, her hospitable side cuts through the hostility sometimes associated with the profession. Sherri Marie comments on the importance of having a wide array of demographics in her profession: “If it was just one stereotypical type of person, we would only see the lens of the justice system through that person’s perspective, and it would be such a detriment to the world at large. As many different people can come to the legal profession, the better we are.” And, speaking about her clients, Sherri Marie stresses how she is “there as their advocate.” As efficient and organized as Sherri Marie is as a lawyer, she never neglects the human side of her work.
And her work’s importance cannot be understated. Sherri Marie started her own legal practice specializing in ADR called Leadership, Ltd. Co. There, Sherri Marie and her team facilitate mediation conferences and provide arbitration, negotiation, and notary services, as well as personalized coaching. Leadership Ltd. Co. is part of a larger effort by Sherri Marie to advance ADR as a more popular option in the legal world.
In addition to her law practice, Sherri Marie volunteers with the Upstate Mediation Center. There, she is part of a pilot program working to mandate mediation in SC court cases, which would help to address court backlog and minimize the number of cases going to trial. Mediation would instead create a more relaxed and successful legal system by giving control back to the parties involved. When conflicts are settled out of court, stronger relationships can often be built in the process. Sherri Marie cites such occasions as the most rewarding part of her career.
Also through the Upstate Mediation Center, Sherri Marie is part of an organization that reunites unhoused people with their families. She notes how the Center’s open-minded approach to mediating these interactions can work wonders for both parties involved. Sherri Marie has also volunteered for Mothers2Mothers, a non-profit committed to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS through breastfeeding in sub-saharan Africa.
Pro Bono legal work is an important part of Sherri Marie’s life. She has been on the campaign to “End UN Immunity when Peacekeepers Commit Sexual Exploitation & Abuse”, as well as an advocate for heightened legal enforcement against psychological and cognitive warfare through technology. Sherri Marie has also raised awareness for the humanitarian and philanthropic crisis in Nigeria, and she has written about the importance of Pro Bono Advocacy to the United Nations & the U.S. State Department for slaves and alleged slaves to have legal representation. Furthermore, Sherri Marie answered the Innocence Project’s call to advocate for a fair trial in the Marcellus Williams case. Sherri Marie’s Pro Bono work is purely done for the good of society, coming from a place of great compassion and kindness.
Sherri Marie, a member of the Seneca Rotary Club, found out about MBBI through the Rotary’s network. At MBBI, she has acted as a delegate at a high level UN political forum on the Sustainable Development Goals; Sherri Marie is particularly passionate about SDG number three—“ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. She is also excited about getting involved with MBBI’s global grant to help citizens transition back to their homes in Syria.
Sherri Marie stays busy with her impressive and diverse range of endeavors for peace. Surely, she is leaving every place a little better for her having been there.
Article by Elsie Aleck, MBBI Writer