As the restorative justice movement struggles to gain recognition and to pursue a
healing vision within larger mainstream society, let us also listen to those within
the movement whose voices have not always been heard or whose work is not fully recognized.
In this spirit, the Zehr Institute is honored to amplify four beloved practitioners
- Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, Tammy Krause, Jasmyn Story, and Yarrow Skoblow - who
span four generations of the movement in conversation about the past, present, and
future of restorative justice. Our guests will offer intersectional perspectives,
as well as bring their rich experiences across a variety of non-traditional life paths
to bear on deep reflection on how the restorative justice movement has been evolving,
what it has accomplished, where it has fallen short, and what remains as challenges
and opportunities.
Guest Bios
Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz, MSW, is currently the Denominational Minister for Peace and Justice for Mennonite
Church USA and was previously the Coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee’s (MCC)
Restorative Justice program for over 25 years. She has provided training and technical
assistance to restorative justice programs across the globe. She co-taught the restorative
justice course at EMU’s Summer Peacebuilding Institute for almost 20 years. She has
co- authored The Little Book of Restorative Discipline for Schools and What Will Happen
to Me? She has also authored the Little Book of Victim Offender Conferencing. Lorraine
worked as the Foster Care Supervisor before serving in her current role. She received
her Master’s in Social Work from Marywood University, Scranton, PA.
Yarrow Skoblow (she/they) is a Jewish, dancing, folk music-writing, nature-baby who has been intentionally
immersing herself in restorative practices for the last 3+ years. In high school,
after being deeply inspired by a Non-Violent Communication workshop and later reaping
its teachings in an inflammatory interpersonal conflict, Yarrow knew that the ecosystem
of human emotion, connection, and the ways we hurt and heal each other was a curiosity
that she needed to pursue. Yarrow is passionate about supporting alternatives to punitive
and relationally-severing systems, eager to uplift call-in culture while thoroughly
and lovingly addressing harm and need. From 1:1 mediation to intra-institutional conferencing,
Yarrow is building her skills as a practitioner of deep listening and witnessing.
Yarrow believes that magic occurs when we are invited to reach our fullest potential.
She is empowered to uplift others in Restorative Circles, consent-based relating,
voice activation offerings, embodied dance forms, and more. She currently studies
at Hampshire College. Yarrow extends deep gratitude to her teachers, including William
Syldor-Severino, Jasmyn Story, Madhurai Sumhara, Cyrena Giordano, Jess Vecchia, and
Jamie Samowitz, and the writings of adrienne maree brown, Audre Lorde, Howard Zehr,
and many more.
