Fania Davis defines restorative justice in this way: “restorative justice is a proactive relational strategy to create a culture of connectivity where all members of a community thrive and feel valued. It includes: (1) storytelling and relationship building, (2) truth-telling and accountability, and (3) reparative action” (based on Fania Davis, The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice, loc 309 and loc 412)”
Recently the INVITE group at Luther (integrating nonviolence into theological education) and Interfaith Action (a St. Paul nonprofit) held a lunch time webinar introducing restorative justice. We highlighted Brenda Burnside (Let’s Circle Up Restorative Services), Annie Kahn (Ramsey County Attorney’s Office), and Randi Ilyse Roth (Interfaith Action). You can view the recording here.
We hope that these brief notes make you curious! And now, the ABIDE committee at Luther is pleased to invite you to join in a three day in-person training led by Kay Pranis, a nationally recognized restorative justice educator based here in the Twin Cities. The goal of this training is to begin to learn something of restorative justice practices, particularly Peacemaking Circle practices, and then to start to find ways to implement them in your own settings.
The Peacemaking Circle is used to build community, promote healing and transform conflict in educational settings both as a prevention practice and an intervention practice when relationships are disrupted. In a time of deep division and increasing isolation the Restorative Justice vision and the Peacemaking Circle process provide both a profound conceptual foundation and pragmatic process illuminating a path towards a society in which everyone belongs and everyone is valued for their gifts.
The training will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day from January 31 to February 2, and you must commit to attending all three days. All fees for the training will be paid by Luther Seminary, and in addition we will provide snacks and food during the event.
Faculty and staff will be given first priority in this training, but as room permits we will also welcome students. Please register here.
Questions can be directed to Mary Hess (mhess@luthersem.edu)