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Upcoming Webinars
[All Webinars will be livestreamed on Streamyard.com (click on the title link below to register and create a calendar event to view directly on Streamyard.com) the Zehr Institute Facebook page and the Zehr Institute Youtube Channel]
Taming Our Egos as RJ Facilitators: Avoiding Unintended Consequences
The heart of the restorative justice movement, particularly as expressed in victim offender dialogue, community conferencing, and circles, is anchored in human relationship, respect, humility, and authentic communication. As the movement has grown over the past decades, many believe too much emphasis has been on facilitation techniques. While these techniques are important to learn, they can also become a significant obstacle to true dialogue if practiced too rigidly, if our ego is too active in the belief that we know best what makes for an effective dialogue and a successful outcome. Taming this ego as RJ facilitators requires a mindfulness-based approach that is grounded in open hearted, moment by moment, non-judgmental awareness of ourselves and those we are with. It is a way of being rather than doing that draws upon the ancient wisdom and practices of many indigenous communities. Deep compassionate listening goes far beyond the more common active listening and paraphrasing that keeps us in our heads. By working with breath and silence, taming our egos and deep listening is a gift of awakening for both the practitioner and the recipient. In sharing this gift, Sheryl and Mark will draw upon many stories from their RJ work in numerous states and countries.
When: Wednesday, October 18, 12-1:30pm ET
Guests: Sheryl Wilson and Mark Umbreit
Host: Hannah Kunde
Expanding the Circle: Restorative Justice in Education for Diverse Learners
Restorative justice is increasingly applied in schools worldwide to manage classrooms and create inclusive, socially connected, and supportive learning environments for every student. Restorative practices help students develop self-advocacy and social-emotional skills and address conflict at the same time they are building academic competencies. This experiential webinar will help participants explore the needs of diverse learners including students with disabilities and English language learners, identify restorative applications for supporting these students and their families, and accommodate differences when circle-keeping. Attendees will learn methods for removing barriers to participation for students with disabilities that are beneficial for all. During this session, facilitators will also demonstrate how facilitation and training of restorative practices in bilingual classrooms support the social emotional needs of students and staff by recognizing the diversity of languages spoken and taught in the school community, developing positive relationships through languages and deepening cultural competency.
When: Wednesday, November 15, 12-1:30pm ET
Guests: Jessica Gonzalez, Chelsea Kovacs, Lisa Shaw
Host: tarek maassarani
Exploring Restorative Approaches to Human Resources Management
What if your approach to Human Resources was guided by a clear set of tested principles and tools to transform adversity in the workplace and build right relationships?
This is a question Just Outcomes has been asking HR professionals across Canada through interviews and roundtable discussions and through our various workplace partnerships. As we have listened to the voices of HR professionals, we have witnessed how restorative justice offers them a unified framework based on a common set of principles and tools that can bolster their ability to navigate complex and intersecting challenges. In this webinar, we’ll explore common challenges HR professionals face, how RJ speaks to these challenges, and how Just Outcomes works with HR professionals to develop a plan for implementing restorative approaches.
When: Wednesday, December 20, 12-1:30pm ET
Guests: Michelle Jackett and Matthew Hartman
Host: TBD
Past Webinars
Centering Survivors: A Critical Conversation
Centering victims and survivors of harm is a longstanding principle of restorative justice. What does this mean in the restorative justice movement today? How should we define “victims” and “survivors”? What needs must be addressed? Join us for a critical conversation with the leaders of two RJ-informed initiatives centering survivors of violence who offer fresh […]
The Promise and Perils of “Standards” in Restorative Justice
This webinar will explore the contested issue of “standards” in restorative justice, using the example of a current initiative in the Canadian province of British Columbia as a basis for group discussion and learning. While some restorative justice advocates urge that standards are essential to maintaining quality practice and securing the confidence of referral agents, […]
Dealing with the Past from a Theological /Faith-based practice
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Va. In June 2015, Dylann Roof, a White Supremacist, shot nine people at Bible Study in Charleston, South Carolina. The Reverend Wallace Adams-Riley later delivered a sermon about his own church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Va. (This webinar was sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities).
Coming to the Table
Coming to the Table began when two dozen people, African and European descendants from both sides of the system of enslavement in the United States, gathered together at Eastern Mennonite University in January 2006. (This webinar was sponsored by Virginia Foundation for the Humanities)
Truth-Telling on Race Relations in the US Context
This webinar will reflect on the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission, which dealt with a situation where native families “suffered unjustly under racially biased policies designed to disrupt community, disband traditional family structure and solve ‘the Indian problem’ by assimilating native children into white society.” (This webinar was sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities)
Transformative Community Conferencing
Drawing from both the Transforming Historical Harms manual (Hooker and Potter-Czaijkowski EMU 2012) and the Little Book of Transformative Community Conferencing, Hooker will discuss the role and practices of unveiling hidden narratives that support and sustain conflict, and those that allow conflicting parties to move forward together. (This webinar was sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities)
Law Enforcement Through Restorative Justice: Peacebuilding in the community
This course has been postponed to late fall (2017) or early winter (2018). Please check back again at that time for ways to register. This six part course is an introduction into restorative justice with an emphasis on its applications in law enforcement. Participants will explore innovative ways to incorporate restorative justice within an agency, […]
Community Justice Partnerships
“There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask “what’s possible?” not “what’s wrong?” Notice what you care about, be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.” –Margaret Wheatley Guest Bio Officer Vanessa Westley is a twenty-five year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.
Transformative Justice
What is transformative justice? What can restorative justice thinkers, scholars and practitioners learn from the contemporary transformative justice movement? This webinar offers an introduction to transformative justice. It will also highlight leading organizers’ current work to conceptualize transformative justice praxis and create responses to intimate violence.
Restorative Justice and the practice of Law
Many attorneys are seeking ways to implement restorative principles and/or practices within their law practice. Over the past few years, some of these have been gathering to share ideas and support one another -they include a wide range of law practice i.e. criminal defense, prosecution, personal injury, family law, and others.
Making Manna: A story about the failings of the justice system and a victim’s efforts to heal
A girl is sexually abused by her father, and runs away. “Never again!” she yells as she slams the door. Now she’s on her own. Obviously she needs to survive.— But she also needs to heal her wounds and come to terms with the family she left behind. Author Eric Lotke discusses his new novel, […]
Restorative Justice, Restorative Theology, Restorative Church
Over the past couple of decades we have seen greater cross-fertilization between the realms of restorative justice, restorative theology, and restorative church practices. What might be gained if there were more deliberate efforts to encourage these cross-over conversations? Could theologians of the Christian faith benefit more from having direct knowledge of restorative justice case studies?
Can restorative justice address structural and racial injustice? A neuroscience perspective
The first guiding principal of Restorative Justice states that “Crime is fundamentally a violation of people and interpersonal relationships.” Yet, crime is not always judged as criminal and there can be far-reaching impact. Recent events involving the shootings of unarmed African Americans by police clearly represent a violation far beyond that of the grieving families and their immediate communities.
The Transformation of Prisons, Prisoners, and communities: restorative justice through trauma healing awareness
As practitioners of Restorative Justice we often do not take enough time to reflect on our practice and the learnings we have gleaned from this beautifully healing and hard emotional work. This webinar explores Restorative Justice through the lens of working with men in prison and trauma healing awareness.
Lessons From 18 Years of Community Conferencing and Restorative Practices in Baltimore
The Community Conferencing Center has been providing Restorative Practices in Baltimore for 18 years across many sectors, including: neighborhoods, schools, juvenile justice system, prisons, etc. Founding Director Lauren Abramson will discuss the successes, the challenges, and a vision for moving forward.
Youth Leadership for Restorative Justice
Young people most affected by mass incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline are leading a movement for restorative justice in their schools and communities. In Chicago, Voices for Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE), a collaborative led by students of color, recently won the passage of a school discipline law that requires all Illinois schools to dramatically change their discipline policies.
Re-Entry Planning Circles: A Solution-Focused Approach For Incarcerated Individuals and Loved Ones
A main purpose of the reentry circle is to give Individual imprisoned people the opportunity to address their needs for transitioning into the community with the support of their loved ones. They meet in prison with loved ones who they identify and are invited by the facilitator. Often the circle is the first time the imprisoned person has seen some members of their family for months or years.
Native American Spirituality and Restorative Justice
The Honorable Robert Yazzie is a retired chief Justice of the Navajo Nation. He was the Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation from 1992 through 2003. He practiced law in the Navajo Nation for 16 years, and he was a district judge for eight years.
Restorative Justice in Everyday School Practices: A Panel Discussion
Our fourth webinar focused on pipelines to prison, what perpetuates those pipelines, and how RJE can begin to disrupt them. It’s been a great series and we’re grateful for our guests who have taught us so much about RJE.
Possibilities for Interrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline
In this webinar, Carl Stauffer, Kathy Evans and Johonna Turner from Eastern Mennonite University, will discuss Restorative Justice in Education and examine the ways in which the implementation of restorative justice in school settings can address racial disproportionality and interrupt the cradle to prison pipeline.
But That Teacher Doesn’t Like Me: The Importance of a Relational Pedagogy
Dorothy Vaandering and Brenda Morrison, established educators and researchers, will share with us aspects of relational pedagogy, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with students, and discussing how RJE helps teachers to do that.
Student-led Restorative Justice in Fairfax County
Students from Fairfax County Public Schools Thomas Jefferson High School will present their student led restorative justice program. In September of 2013 the student honor council adopted a restorative justice approach to address academic integrity issues. Students were trained and mentored to facilitate restorative justice circles for cheating, plagiarism and other academic integrity issues.
Restorative Justice in Education: Learning From Students
In this webinar, youth leaders in the program discuss the pitfalls and successes associated with instituting an alternative form of discipline and community building.
Finding Partnership: Community and Police in Pursuit of Restorative Justice
C4RJ is a unique community-police nonprofit partnership founded in 2000 and operating in the Greater Boston area. The unique initiative has engendered widespread regional interest; C4RJ now serves 13 police departments and communities with requests for expansion continuing apace.
Restorative Justice and Victims: Reflections from a Survivor and Practitioner
In this interview-based webinar, Ellen reflects on the theory and practice of restorative justice but also on the case documented in the film.
The Paradox of Being an Indigenous Restorative Justice Practitioner
In this webinar Harley will provide his perspective on restorative justice based on his cultural and personal experience as a practitioner. He will also speak on the impact of unresolved historical trauma and its effects on conflict in indigenous settings as well as what it might mean for Restorative Justice.
Using Restorative Justice Values to Design Transformative Spaces
This webinar explores the relationship between restorative justice values and the architecture and design of spaces in which justice occurs, including restorative practices.
Integrating Customary Practice and Restorative Justice in Libya
Najla Mangoush will outline the possibilities for conflict transformation in Libya, by moving beyond state authority for controlling the transition and intervention in the aftermath of mass crimes and integrating restorative justice principles and customary practices.
Setting up a Restorative Justice Program in Your Community
Carl interviews Lorraine and Howard on their experiences with establishing restorative justice programs. Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz is the restorative justice coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Fambul Tok: Community Transitional Justice in Sierra Leone
Launched in 2008, Fambul Tok provides an innovative example of a community-driven and owned transitional justice process that illustrates the spark of creative genius resulting from the partnership of civil society and local communities that are allowed to dream and act out a better justice for the future – a reconciliatory, healing justice that holds promise for generations to come.
Victims' Needs in Death Penalty Cases
What application does restorative justice have in the highly-charged, adversarial context of death penalty cases? Is it possible to do more to engage the families of homicide victims in these cases and in doing so, to help address their needs? What can and should the defense team do in these situations?
When Restorative Justice Goes to Prison
This webinar explores what happens when Restorative Justice goes to prison.
Trauma and Restorative Justice
Elaine Zook Barge directs the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program at EMU. She has facilitated trauma trainings throughout the United States as well as Mexico, Haiti, the Sudan, Colombia and Myanmar.
Does Restorative Justice Need Forgiveness?
Sujatha Baliga is a lawyer and restorative justice practitioner who facilitated a restorative justice process for a murder covered in The New York Times Magazine. How did this case unfold? What can restorative justice practitioners learn from this pioneering case? What is the relationship between forgiveness and restorative justice? How do we relate to the media on these issues?