Two Dialogues: 2012 and Summer of Peace 2013 with Sissi Mazzetti

Description of both dialogues: Dominic Barter shares poignantly in both interviews first by the tone of his sharing and presence, which in fact illuminates the equanimity that is felt in the actual process he helps guide with his work in Restorative Circles. The first conversation in 2012 offers insights into his own journey and reasons for contributing to our world in this way, and specifics as to what the process entails. In the second conversation from Summer 2013 Dom is joined by his colleague Sissi Mazzetti, whom together have worked tirelessly to hear and support systems within Brazil’s education system. Both practical as well as conveying the actual climate of a circle process, these conversations are both of great value to those working in their own communities, schools, and lives to further both the way of living that this lens illuminates as well as the systems integration.

Brief Bio: Dominic Barter plays with dialogue and partnership, focusing primarily in the fields of education, justice, culture and social change. In the mid-90s he collaborated in the development of Restorative Circles, a community-based and -owned practice for dynamic engagement with conflict that grew from conversations with residents in gang-controlled shantytown favelas in Rio de Janeiro.

He adapted the practice for the Brazilian Ministry of Justice's award-winning national projects in Restorative Justice and supports its application in a further 25 countries. In recent years he has supervised the mediation program for the Police Pacification Units in Rio, served as invited professor at the Standing Group for Consensual Methods of Conflict Resolution, at the High Court of Rio, with a focus on school mediation and bullying, and focused on the development of restorative community. Currently Dominic directs the Dialogue Restoration project for the State Education Department of Rio de Janeiro and partners with the Centre for the Study of Public Security and Citizenship at Candido Mendes University.

Sissi Mazzetti Bio to be updated shortly.
RC (Restorative Circles) Website: www.restorativecircles.org

Dominic on Resolving Conflict through Restorative Justice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bazgiTyieKo

Date of Dialogue: Nov 14, 2013

Description: Another powerful resource for educators, administrators, principals, teachers, school counselors and generally all who are concerned about and/or involved with youth systems and schools. Nancy Riestenberg shares a broad spectrum of insights, talks about resources and implementation of RJP in schools. This interview telecast was a part of a mini-series co sponsored by Living Justice Press on RJ and schools.

Brief Bio: Nancy Riestenberg has twenty-five years of experience in the fields of violence prevention education, child sexual abuse prevention and restorative measures in schools. She has worked with school districts in Minnesota and 20 other states, from Cass Lake-Bena to the Chicago Public Schools, and speaks nationally on restorative measures at conferences and through trainings. She is author of multiple books, including Circle in the Square: Building Community and Repairing Harm in School, a bestseller from Living Justice Press.

More about Nancy and her books at: http://www.livingjusticepress.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={503CE3B2-591E-444D-99AE-09D408C99A94}&DE={5E7400A4-2FB5-4E38-A38A-BC74E9FCD4F0}

Date of Dialogue: May 16, 2013
Description: Don’t miss this informative, explicitly specific, inspiring conversation with Colorado Representative Pete Lee. Pete speaks eloquently to the process and movement that resulted in the passage of the Restorative Justice Pilot Project (then HB 13-1254, now law) and shares his own cultivated facts and insights into why RJ makes sense, and how it worked in Colorado during the momentum building leading up to the passage into law. This interview is of particular interest to those in other states wanting to beef up on important insights and challenges towards creating an RJ bill and ultimately passing it. Rep. Lee shares clues and key insights into some of the major obstacles they faced, and addresses some of the common concerns that came up in opposition to the bill, as well as how they worked to dissolve misconceptions about RJ and its efficacy.

Brief Bio: Colorado Representative Pete Lee (House District 18) has championed Restorative justice in Colorado and was co-sponsor of HB 13-1254, The Restorative Justice Pilot Project, which just passed last week. He also was key in the passage of the first Restorative justice bill two years ago and serves as an adviser to many State councils and organizations in the field.

Rep. Lee has been a public servant in the truest sense for a good portion of his life and is also an attorney.

More about Rep. Lee

Rep. Pete Lee on RJ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFMyHaGo49Q

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Date of Dialogue: April 11, 2013

Description: For anyone who is working within Corrections or Law Enforcement, or interested in how RJ can span across and connect different civic areas to derail violence and provide viable solutions to mass incarceration. This interview is a strong example of how to start and implement an RJ program specifically within LE. It illuminates the nuances, the struggle and ultimately the value and results it has shown over a relatively short time span.

Brief Bio: A nationally recognized expert in criminal justice reform with 30 years of frontline experience as a lawyer, advocate and consultant, Sunny Schwartz has spent her career navigating all levels of the system and pioneering new policy initiatives for prisoner’s programs, as well as alternatives to incarceration. She is the author of Dreams from the Monster Factory, Hard cover Published 2009, Paperback version published 2010, which gives a comprehensive insider’s perspective on America’s failing prison system and recounts her own real-world implementation of a targeted strategy that both saves taxpayers’ money and dramatically reduces recidivism.

Sunny directs the design and operation of prisoner programs in six county jails. During her tenure, she has made significant changes to traditional incarceration operations, transitioning from an ineffectual system rooted in idling and “downtime” to one that requires inmates to participate in educational, vocational and therapeutic programs 10 hours a day, five days a week

Sunny Schwartz Website: http://sunnyschwartz.com

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Date of Dialogue: Nov. 13, 2013

Description: Carolyn gives a sweeping and specific overview of RJP (restorative justice practices) currently being successfully implemented in schools across the country. She shares insights from the bestselling manual and practical handbook she penned with Kay Pranis, Heart of Hope: A Guide for Using Peacemaking Circles to Develop Emotional Literacy, Promote Healing and Build Healthy Relationships. This interview is highly recommended for any school administrator or staff who want to hear more about how to implement, challenges and opportunities, and more.

Brief Bio: Carolyn Boyes-Watson is the founding director of Suffolk University's Center for Restorative Justice and an associate professor of sociology at Suffolk University. Professor Boyes-Watson has been on the faculty since 1993. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's and Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University.

To see video of Dr. Boyes-Watson delivering a Chatauqua Institution Interfaith Lecture on "Restorative Justice" August 8, 2013, click here.

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Date of Dialogue: Jan. 2013

Description: We spoke with Dr. Galtung about many of the deep rooted processes from a global perspective that inform in one way or another the “lens” and approach of restorative justice that is growing in the U.S. and beyond. We looked at Huna traditions and other powerful examples that point to the core need of going to the root of what is causing imbalance and/or harm, and the universal human need to be heard and understood that underlies at the very foundation the process of restoration, balance, and even healing.

Brief Bio: Johan Galtung is a Norwegian sociologist, mathematician and the principal founder of the discipline of peace and conflict studies.[1] He founded the Peace Research Institute Oslo in 1959, serving as its director until 1970, and established the Journal of Peace Research in 1964. In 1969 he was appointed to the world's first chair in peace and conflict studies, at the University of Oslo. He resigned his professorship in 1977 and has since held professorships at several other universities; in 1993 he had been selected as a Distinguished Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Hawaii where he taught until 2000. He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1987.

Johan Galtung Website: https://www.transcend.org

Video: A Day with Amy Goodman and Johan Galtung: http://www.envisionpeacemuseum.org/a-day-with-amy-goodman-and-johan-galtung/

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Date of Dialogue: October 2013

Description: Fania Davis and Destiny Shabazz (a youth participant at RJOY-Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth) share powerful examples of how their program is making significant progress in the Bay Area and modeling a restorative justice program for schools and beyond. Destiny’s insights as to how it works for the youth she is working with, and how it supports and helps transform even the most challenging issues is inspiring, informative, and truly insightful. Hearing from youth voices such as Destiny’s is a great way to find out more about implementation and process, typical challenges and some victories.

Brief Bios: Fania Davis Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Fania E. Davis came of age in the 1950s, during the social ferment of the civil rights era. Two close childhood friends were murdered in the 1963 Sunday School bombing by the Ku Klux Klan. This crystallized within her a passionate commitment to social transformation, and, for the next decades, she was active in the civil rights, Black power, Black students', women's, prisoners', anti-apartheid, and socialist movements. Currently, she is an activist in the international restorative justice movement. She is currently Executive Director of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth.

Destiny Shabazz is a high school freshman in Oakland CA and is an inspiring youth voice for Restorative justice. Her keynote at last year’s National Conference was received with a standing ovation. She is a participant and facilitator in restorative processes with RJOY.

RJOY Website: www.rjoyoakland.orgRJOY Videos (RJ In a Nutshell; RJ in Oakland Schools; more) http://rjoyoakland.org/videos/

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Date of Dialogue: 12-5-13

Description: This powerful dialogue looks at the ground level and national issues we face, as well as the incredible possibilities and actual work happening to transform our criminal justice system. Bryan speaks eloquently to the heart of things, shows us solid evidence, and takes us on a deep dive into the human spirit to boot.

Brief Bio: Bryan A. Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, and is a professor at New York University School of Law. He has gained national acclaim for his work challenging bias against the poor and people of color in the criminal justice system. Stevenson has assisted in securing relief for dozens of condemned prisoners, advocated for poor people and developed community-based reform litigation aimed at improving the administration of criminal justice.

Bryan’s full bio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Stevenson
More about Equal Justice Initiative: www.eji.org

Bryan’s Viral TED Talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice

Bryan on Moyers & Company: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmcAcy4XHKw

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Date of Dialogue: 9-5-12

Description: We covered a great deal of ground during this conversation with Michelle sharing background from her internationally acclaimed bestseller The New Jim Crow, personal insights and motivators for her in her work, and her belief that restorative justice provides a powerful solution to many of the problems we currently face. This dialogue is packed with stats, facts, and inspiring all the way through.

Brief Bio: Michelle Alexander is an internationally-renowned author and lawyer. Her most recent book, The New Jim Crow, has gained global acclaim for its pinpointing of the very real yet hushed critical issue of racial profiling and mass incarceration. She has been featured in major media worldwide, including Moyers & Company, NPR’s Fresh Air, CNN, and many others.

Quotes/Highlights from Transcript:

“It wasn’t long into that work (with the ACLU Racial Justice Project) that I realized that even I, someone who cared a lot about racial injustice and thought that I knew a lot about our criminal justice system, that I was deeply misguided and in a lot of denial about the way in which our criminal justice system wasn’t just in need of reform but had become the primary vehicle for creating and sustaining racial inequality in our time.” (10:08)

“I think that what I’ve come to see and understand better in recent years is that the American dream is just not real for millions of Americans and its not a matter of not trying.” (15:45)

“It (restorative justice) is definitely not a pipedream. I’m so encouraged by the movement that is growing around restorative and transformative justice. I think that one of the reasons why it’s such a crucial part of the work to end mass incarceration and to break this cycle of caste like systems in America is because it helps provide an answer to, well, if we don’t have prisons, if prisons aren’t the answer then what, what are we going to do about the harms and people affected. I think there is kind of real harm that has to be acknowledged and addressed. People do violate each other’s rights, commit real crimes against each other that cause pain and suffering in our communities.” (55:29)

Open-Source Copy of Transcript:

Michelle’s full bio: http://newjimcrow.com/about-the-author

More about The New Jim Crow: newjimcrow.com

Michelle’s joint interview on Moyers & Company with Bryan Stephenson (jus
t below) of the Equal Justice Institute):
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04022010/watch.html

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Katy Hutchison's Biography:
Katy resides in Victoria, BC. She moved back to Vancouver Island sixteen years ago, following the murder of her husband Bob McIntosh. In the course of dealing with the legal issues surrounding Bob's death, she met and married lawyer Michael Hutchison.

After Bob's murder on New Year's Eve 1997 Katy waited for five years while the police worked tirelessly to obtain the evidence to prosecute and convict his killers. During that period, Katy developed her perception of the societal forces and lack of understanding amongst young people that created the circumstances leading to Bob's death. She grew to recognize the need to advise and educate young members of the community about the risks that arise with the combination of young people, alcohol, and a lack of supervision.

Katy currently divides her time between working with her husband Michael in his law practice and her professional speaking career. She sits on the Board of Glenlyon Norfolk School and sat on the Board of Restorative Practices International.

Her book (shown at right) entitled Walking After Midnight: One Woman's Journey Through Murder, Justice and Forgiveness is published in Canada by Raincoast Books and in the US by New Harbinger Publications

In 2010 Katy's powerful story inspired Lifetime Network's movie Bond of Silence

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