Restorative justice is a growing movement to respond constructively to crime and other harms. It guides people who commit harms to take a full and active form of accountability. At the same time, it takes seriously the needs of victims and their right to have a strong voice in how the harm is repaired. Schools, courts, and workplaces are increasingly getting their team members trained in these values and tools as a win-win model of handling violations. CDR is also handling a growing number of requests to develop and facilitate restorative conferences, and is in need of trained volunteer facilitators who can contribute to their community in this impactful and rewarding way. 

Who is this training for?  What will I learn?  

Mediators, current and future restorative justice volunteers, social workers, educators, justice system professionals, community members…. anyone with a passion to guide heart-driven conversations between harming and harmed persons.  This training is geared around the art of facilitation that holds space for deep sharing and listening that helps people to experience the power of being heard, and helps them to shift forward toward discussions about reparation and positive change. While the training focuses mostly on criminal cases, the skills for restorative conferencing can readily apply to other settings such as school discipline and workplace conflict. Participants can expect a thorough (digital) training manual, an engaging blend of small-group, large-group, and presentation times, along with three role plays for experiential learning.