Restorative Works

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Marin Broadbent-Bell, alumni coordinator at Community Matters , to the Restorative Works! Podcast for this special series titled Matters that Restore Community in partnership with Community Matters. Community Matters is an internationally recognized, innovative, and thought-leading organization committed to improving the social-emotional climate of schools and c...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Erica Vogel, CEO of Community Matters , to the Restorative Works! Podcast for this special series titled Matters that Restore Community in partnership with Community Matters. Community Matters is an internationally recognized, innovative, and thought-leading organization committed to improving the social-emotional climate of schools and communities. Founded in 1...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Edwin Freeman to the Restorative Works! Podcast.   What happens when hip hop culture meets restorative practices in the classroom? Edwin Freeman , actor, filmmaker, educator, and founder of the Hip Hop Harmony Program , helps us explore how art, culture, and restorative circles are transforming urban schools. Through the Freeman Foundation for the Arts , he deve...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Ruth Ifakemi Efungbemi Jeannoel to the Restorative Works! Podcast . Ruth joins us and shares her powerful journey of weaving ancestral wisdom, social justice organizing, and restorative justice into practices that transform communities from within. As founder and director of Fanm Saj, Inc. , Ruth describes her work as "catching communities , " a practice rooted...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Dr. Ellen Skilton to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Skilton joins us as we explore how creative expression and restorative pedagogy open new pathways for repair, resilience, and transformation. She shares moving selections from her poetry manuscript Collateral Repair , weaving together themes of grief, love, and unexpected healing. She reflects on her perso...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes back Dr. Nicholas Steffner to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Dr. Steffner shares compelling findings from his dissertation, Building Restorative School Communities: A Study on the Impact of Restorative Practices , including data from the five-year implementation of restorative practices at Ridgedale Middle School in Florham Park, New Jersey. His research docume...

On this special episode of the Restorative Works! Podcast, host Claire de Mézerville López welcomes three leaders transforming school culture in Worcester County, Maryland: Dr. Jenifer Rayne, Principal of Pocomoke High School; Carlton Cartwright, Community School Liaison and Restorative Practices Coach; and Lauren Williams, Coordinator of School Health and Mental Health. Together, they share a dec...

In this special episode Claire de Mézerville López welcomes recent IIRP alumni, Matthew Leaf and Victoria Torres, to the Restorative Works! Podcast .    Matthew and Victoria are experienced professionals in education. They join us to share practical strategies and personal stories that highlight how restorative practices transform school culture. From greeting students at the door by name to creat...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes seasoned restorative justice practitioner and educator, Erin Dunlevy , to the Restorative Works! Podcast . In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere.   We are joined by Erin as she delves into the power of culturally responsive pedagogy and restorative...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Dr. Jasmine A. Lee and Dr. Ciara R. Christian to the Restorative Works! Podcast.  Claire is joined again by co-host and IIRP Lecturer Kiyaana Cox Jones . In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere. Dr. Christian and Dr. Lee share insights from their role...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Robin Riley-Casey to the Restorative Works! Podcast .  Claire is joined again by co-host and IIRP Lecturer Kiyaana Cox Jones . In this series of episodes, we explore the use of restorative practices in higher education through various aspects of the college and university sphere. Join us as Robin shares insights on the power of face-to-face connection and its ro...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes IIRP alumnus Joseph Iacona to the Restorative Works! Podcast . We are joined by Joseph as he takes us behind the scenes of projects in schools, libraries, prisons, shelters, and behavioral health facilities, revealing how restorative practices create authentic collaboration between artists and communities. He shares powerful stories, including a mural co-created...

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, Professor Emanuela Biffi, for the "Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art" podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). Art has the unique ability to connect and facilitate dialogue, making it a powerful tool in restorative justice practices. Throughout the serie...

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, Professor Brunilda Pali, for the "Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art" podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). Art has the unique ability to connect and facilitate dialogue, making it a powerful tool in restorative justice practices. Throughout the series...

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, IIRP Associate Professor, Dr. Fernanda Fonseca Rosenblatt , for the "Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art" podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). Art has the unique ability to connect and facilitate dialogue, making it a powerful tool in restorative justi...

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host Bálint Juhász, for the "Powerful Intersection Between Restorative Justice and Art" podcast series, a special initiative by the IIRP together with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ) . Art has the unique ability to connect and facilitate dialogue, making it a powerful tool in restorative justice practices. Throughout the series, we will...

Building Sociedades Más Justas : Youth Justice in Colombia Claire de Mézerville López and cohost IIRP Lecturer A. Miguel Tello  welcome Lina Hernández Nassif to the Restorative Works! Podcast .  Lina brings a wealth of experience from her work implementing restorative justice programs, particularly with youth in Colombia. Her journey spans from coordinating conflict resolution programs in prisons...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Natalie Walters to the Restorative Works! Podcast . Natalie joins us to share her inspiring journey and innovative approaches to restorative practices integration in school settings. This includes the creation of Practice Academy—an initiative revolutionizing in-school suspensions by keeping students within the educational community, guiding them through reflect...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes IIRP alumnus, Gregg Scheiner, to the Restorative Works! Podcast . Gregg joins us and shares how his inclusive approach to mediation and conflict resolution empowers students and community members alike. He shares impactful stories, such as his work with a Nassau County high school where students and staff engaged in peer mediation sessions, leading to lasting re...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Margaret Clark to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Margaret shares her inspiring journey of integrating Indigenous wisdom into restorative practices, highlighting how these approaches foster healing, accountability, and community connection. Drawing on her Canadian roots and extensive experience, she explains why centering Indigenous voices and values strengthens...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Natasha Akery to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Natasha joins us and introduces her original framework, the "Restorative Compass," a forward-looking alternative to the Compass of Shame. Designed to help students and educators navigate difficult emotions and conversations, the Restorative Compass guides users from reactivity toward engagement, self-compassion, a...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Juan Martinez to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Juan joins us and shares his experience as a dedicated yoga instructor innovating with inclusive yoga practices in unconventional spaces. We explore how yoga and meditation foster compassion and wellbeing within challenging environments, including prisons and centers for vulnerable populations. Juan shares his jou...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Katherine Stanley Obando to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Katherine shares how restorative practices show up organically in her work as a journalist, particularly in rural areas where trust, voice, and relationships are essential. Through El Colectivo 506 , a Costa Rican journalism collective rooted in community, collaboration, and care, Katherine and her team...

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Bianca Johnson to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Bianca joins us and shares her introduction to restorative justice through a pilot diversion program that instantly resonated with her values. Her story highlights how relationships built in the community can open the door for meaningful engagement and real change within institutions. Bianca shares a moving story...

Claire de Mézerville López is joined by co-host, Executive Director of IIRP Canada, Pat Lewis , for a special IIRP Canada series, highlighting the use of restorative practices and restorative justice across Canada. In this episode, they welcome long-time educator and bilingual consultant Peggy Barrette to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Peggy joins us to share her journey of integrating restorativ...