Restorative Works

IIRP
  • 2.5 (2)
  • Philosophy

Restorative Works! Hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, Ph.D., M.Ed., M.S., is centered around restorative practices – the study of building relationships and community. With guests from across the globe, we invite you to listen and be inspired by transformational stories from passionate restorative practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and more. Learn practical solutions to addressing harm/traumas and proactively increasing a sense of belonging in your community, schools, and at home. Explore methods to facilitate meaningful conversations that create understanding and positively impact the people around you.

  1. 6d ago

    The Human Side of Change Management with Dr. Doug Judge

    What does it take to move restorative practices from an idea into sustainable, meaningful change? In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back IIRP Associate Professor Dr. Doug Judge for a conversation about the structural, cultural, and emotional dimensions of implementing restorative practices in schools and other organizations, as outlined in his recent Presidential Paper Addressing the challenges of change through evidence-based implementation and chapter of the same title in Restorative Practices in Education: Research and Applications. Dr. Judge joins us to explore why knowing what works is only the beginning. He introduces key insights from implementation science, including the importance of understanding what works, where it works, and under what conditions. Rather than assuming that evidence-based practices will automatically translate into effective change, he emphasizes the relationships, readiness, culture, and conditions that help initiatives take root and thrive. The conversation examines how restorative practices can strengthen change management, reviewing how fair process, including engagement, explanation, and expectation clarity creates agency and builds trust among the people affected by change. Dr. Judge explores the value of proactive, relationship-centered support and explains why organizations should invest heavily in prevention, community building, and relationship development rather than relying primarily on responsive approaches. Dr. Judge has more than 25 years of experience in education, administration, large-scale implementation in schools, social work, and youth services. His career has focused on addressing systemic inequities in influential public institutions. He served as a special education teacher in a variety of public and institutional school settings, and as a school administrator at a large public alternative high school in Seattle, focused on providing restorative and healing-centered wraparound supports. As the Director of Social and Emotional Learning for Highline Public Schools, Doug led the districtwide implementation of restorative practices, positive behavior supports, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

    The Human Side of Change Management with Dr. Doug Judge

  2. Aug 27

    Joy as Resistance, Community as Practice with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Dr. Claire de Mezerville López speaks with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker, Chair of the Department of Community Engagement and Leadership at Point Park University, about the connections among restorative justice, community, education, writing, and joy. A writer, teacher, restorative justice practitioner, and scholar, Dr. Walker challenges the idea that writing and learning must happen in isolation. She shares how she has come to understand writing as a community practice and reflects on the writers, artists, and thinkers who have influenced her approach to community engagement. She also explores the role of humor and joy in helping people recognize their shared humanity, particularly when addressing difficult or complex issues. Drawing on poet Toi Derricotte's idea that joy can be an act of resistance, Dr. Walker considers how intentional joy can become part of restorative practices. Dr. Walker also discusses her experiences applying restorative practices in public defense and K-12 education. Her work with public defenders showed her how approaches centered on restorative practices can emerge, such as developing mitigation stories for people facing sentencing. She contrasts that experience with her work alongside educators, where she encountered more resistance to restorative practices and gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of creating change within school communities. Dr. Walker is a writer and teacher whose work explores the intersections of Black womanhood, community, and expression. She holds a doctorate in rhetorical studies, and her work is influenced by the brilliance and insight of Yona Harvey, Brian Broome, Deesha Philyaw, Damon Young, Tony Norman, Kendra Ross, and INEZ. Tahirah endeavors to reflect the vibrant and unapologetic voices that make Pittsburgh feel like home.

    Joy as Resistance, Community as Practice with Dr. Tahirah J. Walker

  3. Aug 20

    The Garden of Joy: Empowering Students Through Culinary Skills and Restorative Practices

    Food has the power to nourish more than our bodies; it can also strengthen relationships, build community, and create opportunities for healing. In this episode of Restorative Works, host Claire de Mezerville López speaks with Ali Rizvi, LSW, volunteer executive director of Garden of Joy Culinary Academy and school social worker with Cincinnati Public Schools, about how restorative practices, shared meals, and life skills education are transforming the lives of young people in Cincinnati. Ali shares how his introduction to restorative practices through IIRP shaped both his work in schools and the creation of Garden of Joy, a free culinary, gardening, and youth development program rooted in nonviolence, food justice, and restorative practices. Rather than excluding students who struggle with behavior, the program creates opportunities for accountability, relationship building, and growth through daily circles, cooking together, and conversation. Ali reflects on the community response that led to Garden of Joy's creation following youth gun violence in Cincinnati and describes how volunteers, families, educators, and community members have united around a shared commitment to providing safe, supportive spaces for young people. Ali's work is rooted in restorative practices, nonviolence, youth development, food justice, and creating spaces where young people feel safe, valued, and connected. Ali believes food can be a powerful doorway into relationship, accountability, healing, and joy. In addition to his work at Garden of Joy, Ali serves students and families as a social worker at Hays-Porter School. He is passionate about building community-centered programs that help young people learn nonviolence and essential life skills. Tune in for a powerful reminder that building stronger communities often begins with simple acts of connection. Whether through a family dinner, a classroom circle, or a shared conversation, Ali demonstrates how food, relationships, and restorative practices can create lasting change.

    The Garden of Joy: Empowering Students Through Culinary Skills and Restorative Practices

  4. Aug 13

    Creating the Conditions for Change: Restorative Practices and Collective Care

    How can schools move beyond reacting to harm and instead create the conditions that help prevent it? A continuation of the conversation started in the episode, The Sustainability Myth: What Schools Get Wrong About Restorative Practices, host Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Lan Nguyen and Jennifer Vermillion of the San Diego County Office of Education to explore how restorative practices can interrupt the school-to-prison nexus through systems change, collaboration, and relationship-centered leadership.  Together, they challenge traditional approaches to discipline and examine why keeping young people out of the justice system requires more than school-based interventions. From engaging families and community organizations to ensuring restorative processes are accessible to all students, the conversation highlights the importance of expanding who has a voice and who has a seat at the table. Lan and Jennifer also discuss one of the greatest barriers to sustainable implementation: expecting educators to lead change without first creating the conditions for their own well-being. They argue that lasting transformation begins by investing in adults, fostering belonging, and moving beyond one-time training toward leadership that embodies restorative practices.   Jennifer is a project specialist with the San Diego County Office of Education, providing professional learning and coaching on restorative practices implementation. Before working with the County Office, Jennifer spent 5 years with a non-profit, supporting schools in San Diego with their restorative practices implementation, training, and student leadership initiatives. She provided direct services in addressing conflict issues between students, families, and school staff through a restorative justice model that kept youth out of the justice system. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in peace and justice studies.  Lan is a futurist, educator, and leader who is passionate about designing and implementing more liberatory ways of engaging, teaching, and leading in schools. In her work, she critiques and examines systems of power, applies participatory and humanizing approaches to systems change, and uses a decolonial lens to understand issues of educational and social inequity. Lan has held diverse roles in K-12 education, supporting local, statewide, and national projects on community engagement and school climate. She currently supports restorative justice practices implementation across San Diego County at the San Diego County Office of Education.  Tune in to hear more practical wisdom for restorative practitioners navigating current social challenges, with more patience, trust, and humility.

    Creating the Conditions for Change: Restorative Practices and Collective Care

  5. Aug 6

    Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes Dr. Layla Dehaiman, assistant professor of special education at the University of New Mexico, to explore how school communities can become more equitable, inclusive, and transformative. Fresh from defending her doctoral dissertation with distinction, Dr. Dehaiman shares insights from her research examining how educators experience and make sense of restorative practices, offering a powerful counter-narrative to traditional implementation studies.  As a seasoned restorative practitioner, Dr. Dehaiman explains why restorative work is more than a collection of strategies: it's a philosophical shift that challenges educators to rethink discipline, relationships, and community. She discusses her research on school discipline, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the importance of centering educator voices as schools strive to build more just learning environments. The conversation also explores the role of mindfulness, co-regulation, and educator wellness. Dr. Dehaiman introduces practices like "Warm-Hearted Wednesdays" and explains why helping educators regulate their own nervous systems is essential for supporting students through challenging moments.  Dr. Dehaiman earned her doctorate in Special Education from Syracuse University, where her scholarship focused on restorative practices, equity in school discipline, and inclusive education. In her professional career in education, she has collaborated extensively with school districts, state education agencies, and institutions of higher education to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive teacher preparation and induction programs. She has mentored and coached pre-service and early-career teachers and developed curriculum for teacher residency and certification pathways. Her work has centered on the implementation of restorative practices, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and other holistic approaches to behavioral support, with an emphasis on fostering equitable and sustainable school environments. She was named a recipient of the 2026 Career Achievement Award, part of the Paul Bartlett Ré Peace Prize, for her work supporting students with restorative practices. Administered through the UNM Foundation, the prize honors individuals whose work advances harmony, healing, and nonviolent approaches within their communities.  Tune in for more practical insights to create more inclusive schools and remind us that investing time in relationships today creates stronger communities tomorrow.

    Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student

  6. Jul 30

    From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes guest Melkam Tesfaye for a grounded conversation on restorative practices in higher education and student affairs. Tesfaye draws on her background in law, mediation, and conflict resolution to explore how approaches that are rooted in restorative practices take shape inside complex university systems, particularly within the context of Gonzaga University.  Tesfaye emphasizes that restorative practices is more than just an initiative, it is culture-building, relational leadership, and sustained engagement. She highlights a common challenge across both K–12 and higher education settings: not resistance to restorative practices, but the ongoing difficulty of finding time to implement and sustain them. From onboarding conversations to cohort-based training models, she illustrates how institutions can move beyond one-off workshops toward long-term relational learning.  Melkam is the assistant director of student conduct and conflict at Gonzaga University, where she works with resident directors on student conduct cases and manages conflict resolution services, such as educational conversations, mediation, and restorative justice conferencing. She is a trained restorative practices facilitator and serves on a divisional task force implementing restorative practices within Student Affairs. With a background in law, Melkam brings extensive expertise in mediation, adaptable dispute resolution, and restorative practices, along with a multidisciplinary perspective to conflict resolution. Melkam is a member of the Restorative Justice Network of Catholic Campuses (RJNCC) national planning team. She has led trainings on de-escalation and restorative practices in the workplace and is an active community mediator.  Tune in for stories and examples of everyday practices that are foundational to building trust, compassion, and shared accountability in academic environments.

    From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments

  7. Jul 23

    Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Assistant Director of Learning and Community Engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club, Gabbie Ballesteros. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of art, advocacy, and restorative practices, revealing how creative expression can strengthen relationships, amplify voices, and inspire meaningful social change.  Drawing from her work in classrooms, community organizations, and theaters across New York City and around the world, Gabbie shares how theaters create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. She discusses the parallels between restorative practices and theater, explaining how both rely on trust, vulnerability, dialogue, and shared accountability to build stronger communities.  The conversation also highlights Punch, the Broadway production inspired by a real restorative justice story, and the innovative post-show dialogue circles that invited audiences to move beyond passive viewing into authentic community conversation. Gabbie reflects on how storytelling encourages empathy, sparks curiosity, and creates opportunities for lasting transformation both on and off the stage.  Gabbie is a multi-disciplinary administrator, teaching artist, and performer who believes deeply in universal access to and engagement with the arts. In her role at the Manhattan Theatre Club, she collaborates on programs spanning classrooms and community spaces throughout New York City, across the US, and around the world that empower learners to engage joyfully and authentically with theater. Gabbie has led a session on community partnerships with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, moderated special panel events and audience discussions, and was selected for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program with the New York Foundation for the Arts. She has proudly served as an educator in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas and her home country of the Philippines. She strives to uplift the intersection of art and advocacy across all avenues of her work.  Tune in to hear about Manhattan Theatre Club's educational initiatives, including international playwriting programs, partnerships with community organizations, and free theater resources that make storytelling accessible to educators and learners worldwide.

    Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices

  8. Jul 16

    Building Bridges: Leading in Higher Ed with Restorative Practices

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Dr. Alex Boesch, educator, higher education administrator, and organizational culture expert, for a thoughtful conversation about how restorative practices can bridge intercultural competence and social justice in higher education.  Drawing on more than 15 years of experience implementing restorative practices on college campuses, Dr. Boesch explores how circles create space for meaningful dialogue across differences. He shares real-world examples from his work at Wayne State University, including facilitating listening circles following moments of community trauma and creating spaces where students, faculty, and staff can process difficult events with care and dignity. He discusses the importance of intentional facilitation and how structures rooted in restorative practices provide emotional safety, ensuring every voice has the opportunity to be heard.  In his current role at Wayne State University, Dr. Alex Boesch leads strategic initiatives that support a positive and healthy organizational culture. He regularly designs and facilitates workshops, retreats, and learning experiences for employees. He is skilled at leading working groups to improve organizational culture. Dr. Boesch has infused restorative practices in his higher education and consulting work for 15 years. He has presented at conferences on the intersection between restorative practices, intercultural competence, and social justice.  Dr. Boesch holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University.   Tune in to discover how intentional dialogue and restorative practices can transform how we lead higher education.

    Building Bridges: Leading in Higher Ed with Restorative Practices
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out of 5
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About

Restorative Works! Hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, Ph.D., M.Ed., M.S., is centered around restorative practices – the study of building relationships and community. With guests from across the globe, we invite you to listen and be inspired by transformational stories from passionate restorative practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and more. Learn practical solutions to addressing harm/traumas and proactively increasing a sense of belonging in your community, schools, and at home. Explore methods to facilitate meaningful conversations that create understanding and positively impact the people around you.

Information

  • Creator
    IIRP
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Restorative Works

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