The Colorado RJ Council will host the 2016 Colorado Restorative Justice Practices Conference- LOOKING THROUGH A RESTORATIVE LENS – Engaging Perspectives from Communities Around COin Vail, CO, September 25th – 28th. ..
My name is Katie and I am a current second-year GSSW student. I have a long-standing interest and passion in social justice, youth-focused programs, and conflict resolution on micro and macro levels. My interest in conflict resolution began with my participation in an international inter-faith “peace program” that I returned to as a leader-in-training and facilitator for several summers after. The largest take-away I left with was: conflict and injustice could not be resolved by punishment, retaliation or revenge – resolution required communication, accounting of every side of a story, and space and focus on healing. ..
This is a big question in the field of restorative justice practices. Are there Confidentiality Protections for Restorative Justice Practices? ..
We hear a lot these days about the “School to Prison Pipeline”. There is data, anecdotal evidence and concern all around. Get inspired to end it and join the Colorado College events this month. ..
The Colorado RJ Council is pleased to announce it will host the 2016 Colorado Restorative Justice Conference, September 25 -27, at the Vail Marriott.
Save the dates and get ready for a look through the RJ Lens at the trends, triumphs and treks ahead.
This event promises to offer the RJ Community in Colorado and beyond a look at Restorative Justice Practices in Colorado from our 25 year history to the present and well into the future.
There will be great opportunities for everyone interested in Restorative Justice Practices from the new-comers to long-timers.
The nation’s first Restorative Justice Film Festival will provide tools and insights into how to communicate our work.
Call for Film Festival entries and Presenters as well as registration for early birds and more about the event will be coming soon.
Stay tuned here at www.rjcolorado.org.
..The Colorado Restorative Networks group formed in August of 2014. It's mission is to bring restorative practices to all aspects of life in Colorado from homes, to neighborhoods, to workplaces, to policy making, to places of worship, etc.
Our Network members are involved in a variety of projects, using restorative practices in traditional and pioneering ways. Our members interests vary. They include restorative practices in schools, racial justice, restorative parenting and divorce, restorative dialogues on eldercare, the environment, policy making and mental illness, restorative circles for domestic violence survivors, neighborhood and community building, and restorative workplaces. We meet monthly to share ideas, get to know one another, and build collaborations. To learn more about the network visit www.restorativenetworks.com. We meet every first Thursday of the month from 10:15 am till 12:15 pm, either in Boulder, Longmont or Arvada. We have the ability to patch people in by Skype.
One of our current projects involves bringing the restorative principles of relationship, respect, responsibility, repair, and reintegration to the City of Longmont as a way to address the impact of mental illness related issues on the city's residents. We are going to hold a series of community conversations that are adapted restorative peacemaking/solution circle processes. Our ultimate goal is to give voice to those who are directly and indirectly effected by mental illness, and to bring those who are interested in making a difference together to create community-based solutions to the crises that occur.
We need volunteer facilitators. If you are a Restorative Justice and/or Nonviolent Communication (TM) practitioner and would like to be involved in facilitating these conversations, please contact Jessica Dancingheart at (303) 589-8420 or jessica@openingtopossibilities.com.
If you would like to get on the Restorative Networks mail list, email Jessica at jessica@openingtopossibilities.com.
..In 2016, one of the RJ Council’s priorities is to support the development and expansion of Restorative Practices in Schools (RPS). In an effort to move forward as a statewide community, the RJ Council will convene three meetings in the first quarter of the year to establish best practices in RPS. ..
2015 proved to be a productive year for the RJ Council and RJCO.
And 2016 promises to be an exciting year of growth for Restorative Justice Practices in Colorado.
There are always opportunities for members of the RJ Community to get involved, share your news and events and contribute to the blog.
Please contact the Colorado RJ Coordinator, Deb Witzel for questions and more information. Deb.witzel@judicial.state.co.us
..Circle Round Restorative Best Practices Merges With Restorative Solutions, Inc.
Strategic Combination Will Increase Effectiveness of Service Delivery of Restorative Practices and Create a Powerful Collaboration Between Two Leading Restorative Justice Organizations
Boulder, CO (December 15, 2015) – Two leading restorative justice organizations in Boulder, Colorado—Restorative Solutions, Inc. and Circle Round Restorative Best Practices, LLC—have agreed to merge under the name and auspices of Restorative Solutions, Inc. The merger will allow two leading restorative justice organizations to combine their efforts, talents, and contacts in the field to provide more comprehensive training and consulting services to schools, towns, governmental agencies and juvenile justice organizations.
This
merger comes following the passing of Anne Rogers, a pioneer and leader in the field of Restorative Justice in Colorado and the nation, who was
the founder of Restorative Solutions. Anne strongly supported the continuation of Restorative Solutions following her passing.
“The combination of Restorative Solutions and Circle Round Restorative Best Practices creates an exciting opportunity for our company, for our clients, and for the field at large," said Randy Compton, President and Co-founder, Restorative Solutions, Inc.
Catherine Childs, CEO and Founder of Circle Round Restorative Best Practices, brings more than a decade of experience in the field of Restorative Justice practices and also with Restorative Solutions, Inc. She recently took over Anne Roger’s position as director of Restorative Justice Services for the 20th Judicial District Probation Department.
Restorative Solutions, Inc. has a long history of restorative justice work in both schools and criminal/juvenile justice and was the lead training organization for Denver Public Schools when they launched their district-wide “restorative practices” program in 2007.
Catherine Childs brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the merger, including Circle Round to Stay in School, a truancy prevention and intervention model, and a community based Restorative Justice services model and training manual for municipal and district courts that can be adapted and implemented around the country.
This merger began with a five-day Summer Institute for Restorative Practices held at Flagstaff Academy in Longmont Colorado, which was a collaboration between Restorative Solutions, Inc., Flagstaff Academy and Circle Round Restorative Best Practices. Catherine Childs led the highly successful, two-day workshop on Implementation Science.
Restorative Solutions, Inc. offers a fresh approach to improving our response to wrongdoing, crime and conflict—in schools, community and criminal justice systems, and workplaces. Our clients recognize the potential of restorative justice and restorative practices and are committed to creating healthy organizations and communities of engaged and caring citizens. Restorative Solutions is dedicated to inspiring and supporting individuals, organizations and communities to embrace restorative community justice values, principles and practices. We encourage the use of these principles and practices to bring out the best response to wrongdoing, crime and conflicts in a wide variety of settings.
Our services include, skills training in restorative practices, program development, program management, strategic planning and integration, partnership building, community development and team development. Our trainers and consultants have assisted hundreds of organizations and communities nationally and internationally in finding ways to incorporate restorative justice values, principles and practices.
For more information call Restorative Solutions, Inc. at 303-449-2737 or visit their website at http://restorativesolutions.us
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