This Restorative Justice Life

Dr. Carl Stauffer is a senior expert on reconciliation for the U.S. Institute of Peace with 30 years of experience in 37 countries as both a practitioner and academic. His previous work has included:directing the Zehr Institute of Restorative Justice at the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite Universityserving 16 years in South Africa as program director of the Africa Peacebuilding Institute and education and training coordinator for the Letsema Conflict Transformation Program.working with multiple transitional justice processes including peace accords, community-police forums, truth and reconciliation commissions, collective trauma recovery, DDR and ex-combatant reintegration, reparations, memorialization and local community development. Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  Connect with us through our email list, Instagram,  LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Website, and our reading listTransformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Ted Lewis is a Restorative Justice trainer and consultant with the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota.Contact, Learn More, Support Ted!Website: Restorativechurch.orgProjects: Support the Center for  Restorative Justice and Peacemaking Fund at University of Minnesota DuluthOther plug Get your copy of “Listening to the Movement” clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Mia Mingus is a writer, educator and trainer for transformative justice and disability justice. She is a queer disabled Korean transracial and transnational adoptee raised in the Caribbean. She works for community, interdependence and home for all of us, not just some of us, and longs for a world where disabled children can live free of violence, with dignity and love.You will meet Mia (0:55). Mia defines transformative justice in her work (15:10) and discusses the difficulty of TJ in our current soil (34:41). She talks about accountability and pod mapping (46:12). Finally, she answers the closing questions (1:19:51).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn More, Support Mia!Website: Blog:  Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Elena’s work includes creating programs, research, and events that promote socially just solutions to public safety problems. She partners with community members and agencies, law enforcement, detention facility staff and inmates, as well as universities and government in an effort to implement socially just policies and practices that are beneficial to all.You will meet Elena (0:55), learn about the science of restorative justice (14:12),  and hear about the importance of right relationships and mentorship (21:41). Then, Elena shares about the criminal legal system and community partnerships (26:21). Finally, she answers the closing questions (59:29).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn more, Support Elena: Join our Mighty Networks!Sign up for the conference! clips of the podcast: us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Transformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Marlon J. Chamberlain is an advocate for people directly impacted by the justice system. Marlon brings over 20 years of lived and professional experience to his work at Heart Alliance.Marlon has an established track record of creating effective coalitions. Previously, he served as the Englewood Project Manager with the READI Chicago Program at Heartland Alliance. Prior to that, he was a Community Organizer with the FORCE (Fighting to Overcome Records and Create Equality) Initiative.In this episode, you will meet Marlon (0:55), hear about his experience within the criminal justice system (5:05), and how he views restorative justice as an essential step to growth after incarceration. He shares his initiatives and role at NACRJ (30:23) and answers the closing questions.Support Marlon:  clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Joel Friesz was introduced to the field of restorative justice in 2005 and felt an immediate connection. His introduction was by way of his role as a part-time restorative conferencing facilitator serving victims of crime and youth involved in the juvenile justice system. He currently serves as the Executive Director of NACRJ.In this episode, Joel shares his ideas for creating a more peaceful and accepting world.Sign up for the conference! clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: Transformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Vanessa McNorton grew up and continues to live on the south side of Chicago in the Historic Bronzeville community. Vanessa is deeply committed to working with the community, intergenerationally, to be in the right relationship wherever and whenever called. You will meet Vanessa (6:31), hear some anecdotes about her time in schools (15:21), and her experiences with circle processes that span intergenerational lines (32:34). Finally, she answers the closing questions.Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and shareContact, Learn More, Support Vanessa:Website: Conference July 6-9Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Jennifer Viets (she/her/hers) is a Restorative Justice practitioner both in community and in Chicago Public Schools. With an emphasis on using the arts to “reach, teach, and heal,” she has worked as a multi-disciplinary teaching artist and arts administrator for children and families for the past 30 years.You will meet Jenny (0:55), hear about her connections to the arts (3:43). She shares restorative strategies to invite people in (19:03) and to look past a certificate. She shares her past approaches with those who are not yet on board with restorative justice (36:30). She then talks about transformative vs. restorative justice (53:20) and answers the closing questions (1:04:40).Contact, Learn More, Support Jenny:Website: Facebook: our Mighty Networks! Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Originally from the Bay Area, Trisa Edmonson is an educator, artist, advocate, and change maker. Her background is largely focused on young adults with carceral involvement. You will meet Trisa (0:55), hear about her life's work in education and justice (13:20),  the importance of meeting people where they're at (20:40), exploring the impact and conflict among young people (35:20). Finally, she answers the closing questions (1:04:01).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share.Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Dorothy is an artist, quilter, activist, and restorative justice practitioner based in Chicago. Among many other things, Dorothy received a 2017 Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Artist as Activist fellowship and is an Envisioning Justice Commissioned Artist.You will meet Dorothy (0:55), hear about how she got started in this work (5:00) in public service to her roles in teaching (20:45). She then talks about policing (26:28), her portfolio (45:05) and reparations (50:01). Finally, she answers the closing questions (59:18).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Join our Mighty Networks! Contact, Learn More, Support Dorothy!Website: Social: clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Valerie Luna Serrels is a weaver and synthesizer, a mother and mystic. She is also an author of the chapter Radical Relationalism: Restorative Justice with the Earth. She weaves together her background in conflict transformation and restorative justice with Celtic spiritualityThis episode comes just in time to honor Earth day. Valerie discusses the connections to restorative justice from birth and the importance of zooming out to see where we fit in the grander scheme of our earth.Contact, Learn More, Support Valerie!Hagia Sophia: Valley Church of the Wild: Valerie's Chapter:  Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Before we FULLY jump back into new episodes, we're sharing this community conversation with Alisha Maynoush Mernick (PLUS a special guest)! How does your classroom culture inadvertently reflect and reinforce the values and practices of White Supremacy Culture? How can you disrupt these systems through your practices?As an artist, educator, activist, organizer, mom, Persian Sufi, Alisha  has built on the work of Tema Okun & others, to create a NEW reflection tool for educators (K-16) to name & dismantle White Supremacy Culture in their classrooms.This conversation was originally recorded in a webinar on Wednesday April 20.Subscribe to her substack to get the reflection resource and stay updated on all she's writing!Join Alisha's workshop Decentering Whiteness in Arts Education workshop 5/22Join the Amplify RJ "Mighty Networks" community for more conversations and learnings like this!Apply and get more information on the Amplify RJ Summer Intensive For Educators Application Watch clips of the podcast: us on TikTok: with Amplify RJ on:Our Email list, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Website.Check out our podcast: This Restorative Justice LifeCheck out our Reading lists, and see Events/WorkshopsTransformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

While David's on a paternity break we're re-running one of our favorite episodes!Derek Brown is a lifelong North Lawndale Resident who among so many other things is an ex-offender trying to prevent the next offender. He and his family run a Restorative Justice infused Boxing program and he’s connected with so many other community initiatives.Support Derek’s work:Instagram:  Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss an episode!Watch clips of the podcast: us on TikTok: with Amplify RJ on:Our Email list, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Website.Check out our podcast: This Restorative Justice LifeCheck out our Reading lists, and see Events/WorkshopsTransformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

We're on a brief hiatus as I (David) navigate the world as a new parent! New episodes will be dropping in late April. But I ALSO wanted to share about our new community Mighty Networks. Join us at amplifyrj.mn.co! It's a community membership platform that will allows  us to share even more content and experiences. You'll get FREE access to:- Our mini-course: "Restorative Justice, What's That?"- Monthly All Community Gatherings (Sunday Sound-Off) - On-going community discussions, Q&A, & updates -Connections with a global community of RJ practitioners Not convinced yet?Support Amplify RJ and get PAID access to our Community Groups w/ monthly live meetings4/13 & 27 - RJ in Education (2nd & 4th Thursdays)4/21 - "Restorative Reads" Bookclub (3rd Thursdays)4/28 - "This RJ Life" Podcast discussion group (4th Thursdays), with more groups coming soon. Pick a group for just $9.99 a month (your Netflix subscription), and gain access to weekly discussion questions, links to live Zoom meetings, and highlights from the meetings! You can also gain access to all of our community groups for just $24.99 a month (a hearty Postmates meal)!Join us at amplifyrj.mn.co!Support the show

“Stas” Schmiedt (they/them) and Lea Roth founded Spring Up in 2013. Spring Up works to cultivate a culture of consent and liberty for all through storytelling and popular education.You will meet Stas and Lea (0:55), hear about their introductions to restorative vs. transformative justice (7:57).  They have a conversation about sexual assault (21:02) and the shortcomings of school accountability. Finally, they discuss what harm and healing mean (36:00), the implications of racism and collective liberation (1:00:00) and answer the closing questions (1:25:04).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn More, Support! Website:   Social: Harm: Experiments in Accountability::  Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Transformational Trauma and HealingTrauma is a catalyst. It provokes significant change in the lives of survivors, as well...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Garden Basics with Farmer FredThe healthiest food you can eat is the food you grow yourself. We tell you how.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Sum It Up With The SumnersKaToya and Damon encourage married millennials to enjoy marriage, one convo at a time.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify The Selfish Gift : Go Public with Your PurposeHow to level up your life and make the world a better place with your own "selfish gift."Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Modern Therapists' Guide to NothingTwo therapists over-analyzing everything and anything to make it all make sense in the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Eloise Sepeda is a child/adult survivor of family/domestic and sexual violence, gangs, drugs, homelessness, poverty, teen pregnancy &  drop out. She learned the power of holistic rescue, healing, with the support of the community and faith leaders. Mrs. Sepeda and her blended family are overcoming statistics,  thriving and healthy advocates for race equity and justice. Dr. Sepeda uses her professional and personal expertise to provide extensive training and  implementation of trauma informed RJ/TJ practices in a variety of communities. You will meet Eloise (0:55), hear about how she learned to listen (4:23), hear about her past (11:21), and hear about how she got involved with restorative justice (24:44). She also shares about her current work (32:32) and answers the closing questions (56:59).Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn More, Support EloiseWebsite:  Get your copy of Restorative Discipline Practices: A Journey in Implementation by a Community of Texas EducatorsWatch clips of the podcast:  See all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: the show

Edward C Valandra, Ph.D., is Sicangu Titunwan, born and raised on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. He received his B.A. in chemistry from Mankato State University, his M.A. in political science (public policy) from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and his Ph.D. in American Studies (Native Studies concentration) from SUNY-Buffalo.Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Support Edward:Website: Social: www.instagram.com/livingjusticepress/ Buy Colorizing Restorative Justice: Projects: Call of Contributors Colorizing Circle Processes:  Sign up for the 2022 NACRJ Conference:  Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: the show

Kat McKim is a writer who also works in operations at a network of K-12 schools in New York City. She loves working behind the scenes to put all the pieces together and make everything flow smoothly—a passion that perhaps surprisingly applies to both operations and writing. In this episode, Kat shares her experience merging restorative justice with education, handling restorative justice during the pandemic, and the importance of cultivating a sense of belonging for students and teachers alike.Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn More, Support Kat: Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: the show

Fabrice Guerrier is a Haitian-American entrepreneur, science fiction and fantasy writer, and a columnist at Haïti Observateur. He founded the sci-fi and fantasy production company for writers and creatives, Syllble (pronounced Syll-a-ble).In this episode, Fabrice shares about the importance of creativity in movements, the impact of revolutionizing, and his journey bringing restorative values into the creative field and the world.Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share!Contact, Learn More, Support Fabrice!Website: Podcast: Syllble:  Watch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: the show

Janice Jerome is the recipient of many awards, including the 2015 Community and Leadership Restorative Justice award from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ), the Romae Powell award, and the Director's Award of the Juvenile Courts Association of Georgia. Ms. Jerome is the founder of The Restorative Justice Institute of Atlanta, LLC. This organization is dedicated to keeping "justice moving" by inspiring all to examine how to "say hard things in a good way." She received her training from Kay Pranis and Gwen Rivers Jones in 2004.You will meet Janice (0:55) and hear about how she got started in this work (6:25). Janice shares her experience in public administration and criminal justice (14:00). Additionally, she shares about how she brings restorative justice into her home (32:00) and where she is now (38:40). Finally, she discusses community policing (47:02) and she answers the closing questions.Contact, Learn More, Support Janice:Website:  Email: justicemovingtoday@gmail.comWatch clips of the podcast: Follow us on TikTok: all our workshops and courses at Future Ancestor Collective (Community Gatherings): Rep Amplify RJ Gear at  You can connect with Amplify RJ:Email list: Instagram: Facebook: list: the show