Durham Restorative Justice Project

Yesterday's Restorative Justice Book Club was more of a free flowing conversation, than a discussion of Zehr's book, in which we all shared life experiences that illuminated the principles and practices in Howard Zehr's book. I loved it! There were two main themes: RJ with your neighbors and RJ in Uganda. Dale Herman, who has been involved in reconciliation work in Uganda through the Mennonite Church, shared several amazing stories of his time there. His stories illustrated what it was like to live in a country in which Restorative Justice is integrated into how society approaches harms and wrong-doing. Fascinating. We also focused on neighborhoods and how RJ can be used in Neighborhood Watch situations and how neighborhood listserves provide an opportunity to share RJ principles and use RJ informed approaches to handling crime or wrong-doing. This was so exciting because it opened up an arena in which we can all start practicing RJ today on the micro level. Silvia Thompson shared that in Texas she lived for seven years in one complex and only knew one neighbor. We know that RJ helps build community, so how can we start using the principles to connect to the people who are iving right around us? I loved the Book Club and look forward to more opportunities for these kinds of conversations in which we share our life experiences and reflect on how Restorative Justice can be woven into our everyday life. Hey, check out Mali Rowan's website, she has posted several interesting interviews with RJ practictioners. I enjoyed listening to Kay Pranis being interviewed my Mali Rowan. Best wishes, Amy Elliott

Reminder: Saturday April 21 3:30-5:00 the Restorative Justice Book Club meets at the Main library in downtown Durham, Roxborto Street, third floor Board Room. We also meet on April 28 3:30 - 5:00 same time and location. At both meetings we will discuss "The Little Book of Restorative Justice", by Howard Zehr. If you don't read it before the club meets, come anyway and learn about the ideas in this great little book. On the April 21 we dicuss the first half of the book and on April 28 we dicuss the second half of the book. After the Book Club we will grab dinner somewhere downtown Durham.

Saturday's screening of Burning Brides was a success! The conversation circle afterwards was stimulating and new connections were made. I told people at the film screening I would post the link to the OJJDP webinar on Restorative Justice from January 26, 2012 "Bricks and Mortar: Building to Withstand the Winds of Change". I suggest that you google it and then scroll down to the link. If you cannot find it, email me [email protected] and I can try sending it that way. MARCH 14, 2012 2:00 PM is the next Restorative Justice webinar by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. You can register for this free webinar. Just Google it. The topic is DISPROPORTIONATE MINORITY CONFINEMENT. They will archive the Webinar about two weeks later on the web, just like they did with the first one (from January 26th, "Bricks and Mortar..." )

Justice Circle Would you believe that the Chicago Police Department has hired experts in ancient Native American traditions to implement these techniques in youth violence ...