Restorative Justice On The Rise

What does it truly mean for restorative justice to be community-centered and held? In this powerful conversation, Molly Rowan Leach is joined by Lindsey Frischer ( Southwest Community Justice Coalition ), Cristina Cabeza ( Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices ), and Ames Stenson ( Restorative Rainbow Alliance ) & Englewood Municipal Court RJ Program) for a deep dive into coalit...

LIFER : One Man. One Dog. Transformed. With Director Raul Perez & Brian Michael James. [ Proof Video ] In this extraordinary episode of Restorative Justice on The Rise , Molly Rowan Leach sits down with Brian Michael James , who served 29 years and two months in prison beginning at age 16, and Raul Perez , director of the upcoming film LIFER . Brian opens the conversation with stark clarity: “...

In this episode: Mika Dashman, Founding Director of Restorative Justice Initiative , in its tenth anniversary year celebration whose mission is to build a community of New Yorkers who reflect the diversity of our city to expand healing and non-punitive responses to harm at the personal, neighborhood and systemic levels. Arguably RJI's reach is MUCH beyond New York, with deep international ties cre...

What happens when we feel able to share and connect honestly with other human beings, even in the face of significant differences, views, and even conflict and harm? As many restorative justice practitioners know who actively facilitate any form of circle or conference, or convening with a purpose, there often comes a moment when the sharp tenseness transmutes to....something unexpected, something...

In this episode, we hear from the founder of The Circle Keepers, Martin Urbach, and three youth keepers, centering their voices and ideas about restorative practices, how to build unity across divides, and more. RJOTR believes strongly in this program and was deeply honored to host this very special episode that you won't want to miss. Listen in now to hear how youth -- directly from their voices...

This webinar was recorded on May 9th, 2025. In this episode, social anthropologist and experienced mediator Deborah Heifetz will explore her groundbreaking Map to Compassion — a non-hierarchical framework recently published in MIT’s Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change. She will guide us in understanding how we can sustain curiosity in environments dominated by fear and distrust. Drawing on o...

Author ( Being Restorative , April 2024) and restorative practitioner Leaf Seligman invites us to the tenderness of humility, listening, and towards the values and principles that unite us as a humanity, as we face intense and urgent polarization and violence in our world. Our host Jabali Stewart of Huayruro , himself a martial artist of nonviolence and unification, weaves us in conversation to im...

This episode features Dr. Tema Okun who gives us a brief rundown of the characteristics of White Supremacy Culture, which can be understood in-depth on her website: www.whitesupremacyculture.info Dr. Tema Okun offers her knowledge of relationships that people may have with White Supremacy Culture as well as suggestions to dismantle this broken system. We welcome listeners to step outside of thinki...

**Disclaimer** Audio was recorded with limited resources, please listen with good headphones to properly hear the valuable information in this episode. recorded at Expanding Restorative Justice in Oregon  in 2021.  In 2021, the Criminal Justice Commission created rules regarding the administration of the Restorative Justice Grant Program. Those rules require applicants to propose community based r...

with Shaylie Pickrell Director of Operations & Infrastructure, RJ Facilitator - Restorative Roots Project (PDX, OR, USA) In this 1:15h episode, we drop deeply into the concept that our greatest losses might just be our greatest powers to serve our communities, and our world. We explore key topics such as: The Power of Vulnerability Restorative Justice and Community Referrals The Power of Our S...

Prosecute, or Restore? With Tristen Edwards, Public Defender, Coalition Builder (OR, USA) and Restorative Justice Advocate For anyone questioning the viability of restorative justice as an alternative to violent crime prosecution, here's your evidence. Join us for a conversation that is inspiring and informative. ABOUT TRISTEN: Tristen Edwards is an attorney at Metropolitan Public Defender , where...

Becoming A Trauma-Informed Educator with Joe Brummer and Marg Thorsborne Featured Educator's Podcast packed with over 40 key points in less than one hour, with two of the world's most beloved authors, trainers, and guides in "RJE": Restorative Justice in Education. Joe and Marg hit the ground running in their typical fun, informative style that has won the hearts and minds of thousands worldwide,...

Shifting Narratives: Building Trust and Visibility for The Trans Community with Documentarian (REMARKABLE, 2024) Logan Ward, Hami Samba, and the Restorative Rainbow Alliance's Ames Stenson and Rami El-Gharib This feature panel discussion is in collaboration with the Restorative Rainbow Alliance , Restorative Justice on The Rise , and Director and Producer Logan Ward to uplift the incredible film:...

Dr. Paul Mihailidis on The Role Media Plays in Social Justice, Belonging, and Transformation Paul Mihailidis is a professor of civic media and journalism and assistant dean in the school of communication at Emerson College in Boston, MA, where he teaches media literacy, civic media, and community activism. He is founding program director of the MA in Media Design, Senior Fellow of the Emerson Enga...

Art As Intervention: A Conversation with Pablo Martínez-Zárate In this deeply powerful 45m conversation he dives into: The importance of art as intervention instead of representation The confines of plot in film The invitation of spaciousness in film Questions that arise when expressing oneself How to belong in a digital age Artist and Professor, IberoDocsLab , Mexico Pablo Martínez-Zárate is a me...

The Intersections of Restorative and Transitional Justice with Camilo Eduardo Umaña Hernández - Deputy Minister of Criminal Policy and Restorative Justice for the Ministry of Justice and Law, Colombia [ Website ] Camilo was a plenary keynote presenter at the European Forum for Restorative Justice's 12th International Conference in late May, 2024, in Tallinn, Estonia. His presentation made key link...

KulturBanhof Leisnig is an International Hub for live music, education, and is housed in an historic train station that is active and being structurally restored. Listen to this exclusive interview with Co-Founders Christoph Schoenbeck and Alireza Rismanchian to hear why Music truly is a universal language of belonging, of honoring diversity, and of bringing people together! During this Podcast we...

Building Restorative Cultures with Prof. Ian Marder, Triona Kenny & Katharina Kurz A Discussion based on recent research and hands-on practices in the Criminal Justice and Higher Education Sectors. Celebrating our second podcast conversation with Ian Marder (2012 & 2024) on Restorative Justice on The Rise. Dr. Ian Marder , Assistant Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University, Ireland...

Danielle Sered: Until We Reckon, Five Years In The award-winning “radically original” ( The Atlantic ) restorative justice leader, whose work the Washington Post has called “totally sensible and totally revolutionary,” grapples with the problem of violent crime in the movement for prison abolition “Profoundly necessary.” —Michelle Alexander, The New York Times A Conversation with Bestselling Autho...

#RJ & Heart Coherence with Deborah Rozman of the Institute of HeartMath Personal coherence is a critical aspect of working within any human services position, and perhaps even more critical when offering restorative justice practices of any kind. The clear intersection between facilitator coherence and the potential for optimal support and potential best outcomes is evident, and in this conver...

Restorative Justice: Relational and Presence-Oriented Interview and Conversation with the amazing Jabali Stewart of Huayruro In this hour and thirty minute dialogue we look at: How we must value and truly be relational-focused with adults and the youth we work with. We must slow down and really do the work of relating, or our systems of "RJ" will be built on unstable ground. How some teachers util...

Tim Chapman: Restorative Justice and Voice-A Return to Authentic Power Tim Chapman had a lengthy career in the Probation Service in Northern Ireland rising to a senior management position. He spent 10 years as a lecturer and course director of the Masters programme in Restorative Practices at the University of Ulster. He now teaches at the University of Sassari, Italy, as a Visiting Professor and...

A Conversation with JUDr. Petra Masopust Šachová, Ph. D. of the Czech Republic From Pamplona, Spain (June 2023) at the European Forum for Restorative Justice Symposium Petra sat down with host Molly Rowan Leach for an informal but powerful dive into the particulars of restorative justice, from a local to global perspective. She is the founder and director of the Institut pro Restorativni Justici ,...

Returning To Circle A Conversation with honored guest Dina Thompson, Executive Director and Founding Member, Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition ….on the simplicity …of returning, to Circle. RESTORATIVE MEDIA NEEDS YOUR LOVE! DONATE ANY AMOUNT You won’t want to miss interacting with Dina and we want to encourage questions as we always make time for interaction and dialogue. Dina’s experience...

Restorative Justice and Therapy Dog Teams with Global Visionary Patricia LaTaille and an introduction by Molly Rowan Leach, Host/Founder of Restorative Justice on The Rise and RJ Practitioner/Facilitator including work with Therapy Dog teams. Bringing therapy dogs together with victims and offenders of social and criminal justice to create a healing environment that frees people from their traumas...