Restorative Justice, or "RJ," is a philosophy and set of practices that engage the community in building relationships and repairing harm through inclusive dialogue, deep understanding, and shared power.

This session will provide participants a chance to engage with both the theoretical roots and practical tactics of Restorative Justice Facilitation and Philosophy. Participants will establish a baseline for what, where, and how Restorative Justice manifests itself in our world. Attendees will engage in community building exercises, multimedia presentation, and ample dialogue around the core tenets of "RJ." Finally, participants will have a chance to enter their very own restorative circle, designed in the model that the DC Peace Team uses in the greater Washington, DC community. This will provide attendees with a chance to see, hear, and feel what Restorative Justice in Practice looks like, leading to a deeper understanding of how effective "RJ" can be.

Objectives:

1. Achieve an understanding of the core questions and tenets of Restorative Justice

2. Gain familiarity with the many forms of Restorative Practices

3. Understand the DC Peace Team method of Restorative Circle Keeping

Debra Budiani-Saberi (she/her) is a medical anthropologist and health and human rights activist with a longstanding international commitment to victim/survivor advocacy with trafficked persons. She is also a Mindfulness facilitator for youth (within and outside of schools) and families with an approach that blends an exploration of our inner worlds with our interpersonal relationships and that is rooted in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), neuroscience and social justice. Debra is an enthusiastic member of the Restorative Justice family of the DC Peace Team.

Jeri Fields (she/her) is a former educator who serves in her community as a first responder chaplain with a longstanding commitment to the spiritual well-being of all of God’s people. She is currently enrolled in Vermont Law School, earning a Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice. She is inspired by the transforming and healing powers that occur within circles that offer safe spaces to be brave and vulnerable as personal stories are shared openly with authenticity, deep listening, and respect for others. In her professional and personal life, she is passionate about restorative justice and is a recent and enthusiastic member of the Restorative Justice family of the DC Peace Team.

Maite Rubio (she/her) serves as a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Audit Coordinator in the Office of Response & Recovery. She is a second-year Masters of Public Administration candidate, with a concentration in Social Policy. She graduated from George Mason University, B.A in Global Affairs with a concentration in International Development. Maite is an advocate for social justice and healing.

Sal Corbin offers training in Active Bystander Intervention, Restorative Justice, Unarmed Civilian Protection and conflict mediation. He worked for 15 years in academia as a Psychology Professor before transitioning to nonprofit work. He has done Workforce Development training and program management and is a Training Coordinator for the Maryland Harm Reduction Institute. His vision is to help others build and maintain healthy relationships, with conflict transformation as the primary focus. His extensive background in leadership facilitation supports his efforts to keep showing up and sharing.

This training is brought to Indian audience by Arts4Change International in collaboration with Wild Strawberry, India and DC Peace Team, USA as a pre-cursor to the upcoming Arts4Change Festival.

Arts4Change International believes in Arts serving as a force for social change in individuals, organisations, and communities. Its vision is to leverage the power of creativity and storytelling to address the world's greatest problems.

DC Peace Team empowers ordinary civilians to increasingly serve their communities particularly as nonviolent peacekeepers, and by extension as peacemakers and peacebuilders. The DC Peace Team lives this mission by: deploying unarmed civilian protection and accompaniment units, providing training in various nonviolent skills, and facilitating dialogues and restorative justice approaches.