UPCOMING RJOY TRAININGS

RJOY is proud to offer restorative justice trainings and consultations to our wide community. We offer several trainings beginning with the foundation: Community Building. Also known to some as “Tier 1”, Community Building can be the most empowering aspect of Restorative Justice Circle Keeping and is a proactive, foundational aspect. It is RJOY’s practice to require those interested in Circle Keeping to know and practice Community Building Circles. This is where community is formed, and where the process is shown. Community Building Circles build trust. Before moving on to Conflict and Harm Circles (also known as “Tier 2”), RJOY expects regular practice in Community Building Circles.

Conflict and Harm Circle Training, is reserved for responding to a specific conflict or harm that has happened. Conflict and Harm Circles are very intentional and require preparation, planning and great discernment on the part of the Circle keeper. A harm Circle requires participation from all sides of a matter: the person harmed, the person who did the harm, and representatives from the community that has been affected.

The GOAL of a Conflict and Harm Circle is to arrive at a mutually beneficial outcome that addresses the needs of both those who experienced harm and those who did the harm, and explores what unmet needs might the person/s have to cause such a harm. From there, accountability is built. There is support for everyone. Conflict and Harm circles ask the question, “…what will make the community whole again?” Our current system is punitive, what was the law that was broken, who broke the law, how should they be punished, without any inclusion of the person or those who are directly harmed by what happened.

In Conflict and Harm Circles, however, it is important to acknowledge that hurt people hurt people. So not only can the person who experienced harm find resolve as much as possible, but the person who did the harm needs support to transform in order to not repeat harm. Finally, acknowledging that the community has been impacted by the situation supports the person/people harmed in knowing they aren’t alone. It also supports the person, or those who did harm, in understanding that their actions have effects for an entire community, and allows the collateral impact of the harm to be expressed and redressed, so healing and transformation for everyone can happen.