The Restorative Lens National Center on Restorative Justice

In this episode, hosts LTomay Douglas and Alanna Ojibway speak with Christina Parker, who is one author of the chapter “Who’s In and Who’s Out: Problematizing Peacemaking Circles in Diverse Classrooms” in Colorizing Restorative Justice. Christina’s work provides a critical lens of the way peacemaking circles in classrooms do not always provide a safe space to include the voices of marginalized students.

In this episode, hosts LTomay Douglas and Alanna Ojibway speak with Dr. Johonna McCants-Turner about her journey from youth organizing to transformative justice and how listening to the lived experiences and wisdom of youth can provide some of the most valuable insight into the ways safety/justice are defined and approached. Johonna offers a critical discussion not only individual experiences of harm and violence, but to challenge and transform the conditions that lead to those instances of harm to begin with.

In this episode, hosts LTomay Douglas and Alanna Ojibway speak with Edward Valandra, Waŋbli Wapȟáha Hokšíla, who is both an author and editor for Colorizing Restorative Justice. His chapter, “Undoing the First Harm: Settlers in Restorative Justice,” gives voice to the need for settlers to recognize the ways that restorative justice too often fails to address the first harm: which is the theft and continued occupancy of Indigenous land. Through honesty and education, Edward sheds light on the contradicting relationship between RJ practitioners instilling restorative practices/values, while at the same time failing to acknowledge or take accountability for ways that settlers continue to benefit from the stolen land. He discusses practical ways that educators and practitioners can take action and bring dialogue of the First Harm into restorative spaces.

In this episode, hosts LTomay Douglas and Alanna Ojibway speak with Dr. Desiree Anderson, who authored the chapter in Colorizing Restorative Justice titled “Co-opting Restorative Justice in Higher Education.” Desiree earned her Ph.D. from the University of New Orleans (UNO) and focused her research on the use of campus-based restorative justice approaches as a response to racially-motivated bias incidents. She currently serves as the Associate Dean of Diversity and Student Affairs at UNO. In this conversation, Desiree shares her journey for how she got involved as an RJ practitioner in higher education, and through that work experienced first-hand what she describes as a “conflict of ethos” in terms of higher institutions offering a restorative program, yet still attempting to make it fit within the mold of traditional conduct codes. Desiree offers insightful and practical suggestions for ways that educational institutions can move towards a more restorative model of functioning; one that is centered around compassion, vulnerability, empathy, and intentionality.

In this episode, hosts LTomay Douglas and Alanna Ojibway speak with Rochelle Arms Almengor about her chapter in Colorizing Restorative Justice: "Women Colorizing Restorative Justice in White-Led Institutions." Rochelle’s research is rooted both in her own experience as an RJ coordinator working in predominantly White-led institutions, as well as years of research working with other practitioners of color in schools. Rochelle’s chapter looks at both individual experiences navigating these institutions, as well as the broader issue of organizational leadership within schools/RJ programs, where those in positions of power consistently do not reflect the student communities they serve. Since the recording of this podcast interview, Rochelle is in a new position as Assistant Professor of Peace and Social Justice Studies in historic Berea College. To learn more about her and her work, including about the Restorative Roots Collective mentioned in the episode, see rochelle-arms-almengor.com