Title: Restorative Practices 101: A Holistic Way to Build Resilience in Our Communities
Presenter(s):
Nicole Garcia Diaz (she/her)
Jenn Alberti (she/her)
Sophie Cooper (she/her)
Jenna Sutphin (she/they)
Room: Atrium 1107
Session Block(s): Session III
Time: 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
Program Abstract:
If you’ve heard about restorative practices and want to understand more- this is the session for you! This interactive session will explore foundational restorative principles, rooted in Indigenous tradition, such as connectedness, authenticity, accountability, healing, and inclusion. By the end of the session, participants will understand the difference between restorative philosophy, restorative practices, and restorative justice, the data that demonstrates their effectiveness, as well as what these can look like on a college campus. Join us to learn more about creating a restorative environment that builds resilience, sense of belonging, community, and empathy.
Program Description:
Restorative philosophy is a holistic, community-based way of moving through the world while considering our impact on ourselves and one another. As restorative justice and restorative practices have become buzzwords, this session offers clarity on what these words mean (and don’t mean) in action. This interactive session will explore foundational restorative principles, rooted in Indigenous tradition, such as connectedness, authenticity, accountability, healing, and inclusion.
By the end of the session, participants will understand the difference between restorative philosophy, restorative practices, and restorative justice, as well as what these can each look like on a college campus. The session will share data demonstrating the effectiveness of utilizing these principles in an educational context, as well as how restorative philosophy can benefit student development, sense of belonging, workplace culture, and even personal relationships. Examples will be given of how restorative philosophy is being integrated at the University of Maryland, College Park. Presenters will share obstacles, best practices, considerations, and tips for implementation.
In a global moment that feels especially chaotic and challenging, restorative philosophy provides a path forward that encourages us to slow down, process, hold space for the difficulties, and determine an intentional next step together. Restorative philosophy intrinsically builds resilience as it centers nervous system regulation, honesty, healing, communication, and meeting the unmet needs of our community members and ourselves.
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a brief, community-building restorative circle to experience what we will be discussing. In a restorative circle, participants will have the opportunity to connect, actively listen to other circle participants, share their own thoughts and stories in response to questions, and honor each other's humanity along the way. This session guides participants along the path of creating a restorative environment that builds resilience, trust, community, and empathy.