Leadership Pathway
Restorative Justice Leadership Pathway
Restorative justice or restorative practices is an increasingly popular approach, rooted in indigenous cultures globally, for strengthening relationships, and preventing and addressing harm. Though best known for its applications in the justice system and schools, the principles and practices of restorative justice can be applied in many settings. And at RJI, our team is a highly sought-after resource hub providing support to a growing restorative justice field.
Fostering and strengthening restorative practices in multiple contexts is at the core of our mission, and RJI’s Restorative Justice Leadership Pathway (RJLP) was created to reach New Yorkers from all walks of life through our unique interdisciplinary, cross-sector, and cross-application approach. The RJLP includes various core touchpoints: our cohort-based training model, the Citywide Roundtables on Restorative Approaches, and the Youth Advocacy Council. We help lead New Yorkers from exposure to restorative justice to becoming skilled facilitators who can integrate restorative approaches and practices into multiple contexts, and who are part of RJI’s larger network. We do this by providing training and a supportive community of practice.
The RJLP welcomes anyone interested in restorative justice, including those engaged in social justice movements, community organizing, and public institutions and their employees who interact with marginalized communities.
To connect along the pathway, here are some additional resources to get started:
COHORT-BASED TRAININGS
RJI’s cohort-based training model was created to build a more diverse restorative justice community by equipping participants with restorative conflict resolution and community-building skills and by supporting them to serve as advocates for a widespread justice paradigm shift. This six-month program was designed for cohorts of community members who wish to build restorative justice skills in a supportive community as they identify best practices and develop culturally competent programming. We have developed trusted partnerships and alliances with various NYC-based community organizing groups and service providers, such as Mayday Space, the New York Public Library, ACLU, Sakhi, the NYU Steinhardt School, and Drive Change. To learn when our next application period begins, follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter.
Community Cohorts
The Beginning Your Restorative Justice Journey cohort is for those who are new to the restorative justice movement and is ideal for folks who have a basic understanding of the concept of restorative justice and are seeking community and resources to grow and learn more. If you wish to apply for this cohort, we encourage you to have a specific community or shared identity group within which you hope to practice.
The Building Your Restorative Justice Journey cohort is for cultural workers, community organizers, and movement builders who are looking to integrate restorative approaches into their work and to explore restorative practices as a response to harm in that context.
Organizational Cohorts
Whether you are a community-based organization, an educational institution, or a for-profit business, we’d love to work with you! Through workshops focused on the philosophy of restorative justice and restorative justice in action, followed by a series of six practice sessions, we will support your team to build skills and deepen relationships in order to foster a lasting culture of restorative practice. There is a sliding scale fee structure in place to accommodate groups and organizations with a range of resources. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation to determine if our approach is right for you.
CITYWIDE ROUNDTABLES ON RESTORATIVE APPROACHES
Since 2019, the Citywide Roundtables on Restorative Approaches have helped build and strengthen cross-sector networks of restorative practice throughout the five boroughs while developing a vision for collective action. These day-long, participatory gatherings incorporate ceremony, dialogue, Circle-practice, food, performance, and community. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with varying stakeholders across many identities, professions, and ages. Our goal in hosting these gatherings is to build and strengthen networks of restorative practice in New York City while developing a shared vision for a restorative city; a locale committed to non-punitive responses to harm predicated on authentic relationships, care, and communities working together for social justice. They also serve as an excellent point of entry for newcomers and an opportunity for experienced Circle Keepers to practice facilitation.
Past community partners include:
The Riverside Church, The Justice Sotomayor Community Center, Radical Health, The Circle Keepers, BCWT Consulting, The Center for Conflict Resolution (OATH), MoMA PS1, Sequoia Samanvaya, Community Capacity Development, Malikah, Project Hajra, Sakhi for South Asian Women, B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Collective, the Andrew Freedman Home, and more.
To learn more about our upcoming Citywide Roundtables, please see our calendar of events.
YOUTH ADVOCACY COUNCIL
Restorative Justice Initiative’s Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) is a 10-month youth leadership development program that equips NYC public school students and graduates (ages 15-20) to advocate for restorative practices in their communities as an approach to conflict resolution and violence and crime prevention by teaching restorative facilitation and advocacy skills.
Launched in June 2022, our various cohorts have since been collaborating on RJI’s programming. With the support of RJI staff and community mentors, the YAC has facilitated multiple talks, workshops, introductions to restorative justice with community-based organizations (in person and online), and in schools, implementing what they have learned about advocacy and facilitation through our programs.
For opportunities to apply to participate in our upcoming youth programming, please follow us on social media or subscribe to our bi-weekly digest.
2024-25 Cohort
Levi Angert, Adesewa Atewogboye, Gray Burce, Amelia Cervantes, Kudzaishe (Kudzi) E. Chezani, Omar Kassem, Christina Li, Alicia Lopez
Inaugural Members
Leanne Nunes, Mari Woodley, Jasmine ‘Jazzy’ Fuller, Isabella Juma, Juzette Celis
What people are saying about Restorative Justice Initiative
As both a practitioner and researcher, I am especially grateful for RJI's emails about events and research that are important and timely.
Additionally, RJI helps practitioners connect with others doing this very challenging work nationwide and globally. RJI serves as a professional learning community for those involved in the restorative justice movement.
Finally, practitioners can access information on how to maintain their own wellness as they carry out this very important work."
— Virginia Diaz
“The Restorative Justice Initiative (RJI) is a critical source of information and resources. Along with providing accessible and useful material for program development, RJI keeps us abreast of training opportunities and introduces us to other organizations in the restorative justice space. Connecting with RJI has been key to our progress creating an organization wide commitment to restorative principles and practice.”
—Stephen Tosh, Boys’ Club of New York Executive Director/CEO
“I didn’t think I could make friends with people who were from different places than me.”“We were quiet before you all got here. You brought the voice out of us.”“We all get to be weird here, together, and accept one another’s weird”
“What Restorative Justice Initiative is doing to bring together people working in restorative justice in different arenas is truly amazing. People are learning from each other, updating ideas, and finding ways to make restorative justice work in complex real life situations in New York.
— Tracey
“In my role as a law professor, I teach students about ways to resolve conflict and achieve justice that are healing rather than adversarial and punitive, exposing them to compassionate alternatives to traditional legal practice. Students are excited to learn about the healing potential of restorative practices and the empirical evidence demonstrating that such practices reduce recidivism among those who may have engaged in transgressions against their communities. The Restorative Justice Initiative is an indispensable resource enabling me to share with my students placement opportunities, trainings, and conferences, that may offer them pathways to using their legal talents to engage in this vital work. There is nothing else like it in New York.
— Marjorie
“Expanding non-adversarial ways to resolve wrong-doing that includes perpetrator, victim, and community—is essential if our country is to move in the direction of peace. RJI does a wonderful job of pulling together many New York City area organizations that are working toward this goal.
— Julia
“The Restorative Justice Initiative is essential in helping New York City build and grow a network of stakeholders from the government, nonprofit and private sectors interested in advancing restorative principles, practices and policies in our criminal , education and social service systems.
— Julie