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Transforming Systems Broken By Design

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 thinking that these systems are working for us in any shape or form. 

The live webinar was recorded on January 23rd, 2025 and it is hosted by Molly Rowan Leach, founder of RJotR, and Logan Ward, Restorative Justice on the Rise’s new Social Media Manager. 

Logan then relates a statement from the website to his recently released documentary, Remarkable, Voices from the Trans Community, which covers the similar topic of objectivity’s irrelevance when in dialogue with oppressed (marked) and non-oppressed (unmarked) groups. 

Logan’s film can be found on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PpjhMnVsFk

And the subsequent discussion space can both be found on his website: https://www.loganward.net/film

 

Key notes from this episode:

Dr. Tema Okun recommends that if we are going to engage in restorative justice work we need a:

  1. Shared framework of how oppression works (to help us understand how liberation works)
  2. Shared language — Same definitions for phrases such as “White Supremacy”
  3. Shared history — Same understanding of how we got here

The instructions from Tema’s mother are:

  1. Be love and be loved
  2. Pay attention
  3. Don't be afraid
  4. Find the others

 

ABOUT

Tema Okun

Dr. Okun has spent over 40 years working with and for organizations, schools, and community-based institutions as an educator, facilitator, and coach focused on issues of racial justice and equity. She currently facilitates, consults, mentors, and offers talks for and with leaders and organizations locally and nationwide.

She is the author of the award-winning The Emperor Has No Clothes: Teaching About Race and Racism to People Who Don’t Want to Know (2010, IAP) and the widely used article White Supremacy Culture. She has published a revised version of this article on an extended and expanded website at www.whitesupremacyculture.info.

Tema is a fierce Jewish advocate for Palestine solidarity as a member of the Triangle Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. She is on the board of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and belongs to the Bhumisphara Sangha under the leadership of Lama Rod Owens. She is a graduate of the Spiritual Guidance Training Institute. She is an artist, a poet, and a writer. She lives in Durham NC where she is fortunate to reside among beloved community. Her current project is deepening her ability to love her neighbor as herself. She is finding the instruction easy and the follow through challenging, given how we live in a culture that is afraid to help us do either or both.

Reach her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tema-okun-0a14311a1 

 

Logan Ward

Logan Ward (he/him) is an illustrator, writer, and filmmaker who values dialogue, challenging societal norms, and mutual respect. He graduated with a master’s in Media Design in August 2024, where he studied community-centered and participatory approaches to research and design.

Reach him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-ward-860620218/ 

Check out his illustrations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.ward.draws/

And also on his website: https://www.loganward.net/

 

 

ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE

The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode.

>>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now

(If link broken, copy here) —>   https://linktr.ee/rjontherise?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=4cbfc2f8-fdf0-49a0-bd23-c63cbdf4bc0

recorded at Expanding Restorative Justice in Oregon in 2021.***

***HEADS UP: This episode's audio quality is limited by the resources available at the time of the conference. Though, we are still excited to share this episode because of the quality of conversation. Enjoy!

 

Episode Description

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 restorative justice programs that serve as alternatives to prosecution. This requirement is in alignment with best practices from across the country that speak to the importance of community held restorative justice programs.

This panel discussion will explore the importance of keeping restorative justice programs based in community and separate from the criminal legal process. Panelists will provide background on their experiences with community based restorative justice programs and will speak to the critical differences between the restorative and punitive approaches to harm.

 

 

ABOUT PANELISTS:

Shaylie Pickrell (She/they)

Restorative Justice Facilitator, Office Manager, Equity-Informed Mediator and Co-Founder of Restorative Roots Project

Shaylie@restorativerootsproject.org

 

Danielle DeCant

Deputy District Attorney in Hood River County

Member of Circles of Peace Advisory Team in the Columbia River Gorge

danielle.decant@hoodrivercounty.gov

 

Debra Pennington-Davis

Circles of Peace Program/Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center

Restorative Justice Coordinator

debrap@6rivers.org

 

Laura Diamond (She/her)

Conflict Artistry LLC

Co-owner, Coordinator, Facilitator

Laura@ConflictArtistry.org

 

Emily B. Naylor

Emerging Adult Program / Community Solutions of Central Oregon

Restorative Justice Specialist & Lead Facilitator

Emily@solutionsco.org

 

 

In Partnership with:

Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon

RJCO is a coalition of Oregon restorative justice practitioners and programs.

We promote and support the implementation and practice of restorative justice principles and models in Oregon’s justice, law enforcement, educational and other community institutions.

http://rjoregon.org 

 

 

ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE

The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode.

 

RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place!
>>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now

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 Stories
  • Arts and Restorative Justice
  • Insights From A Former Corrections Officer

ABOUT SHAYLIE:

Shaylie Pickrell (She/They) has a Bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology from Western Oregon University (WOU). While at school, Shaylie worked for the Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention grant with the Research Institute at WOU. Additionally, she was a Victim's Advocate at the Marion County District Attorney's office. After graduation, Shaylie went on to work for Hope Partnership/Janus Youth Programs at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. She is a Certified Equity-Informed Mediator in the state of Oregon. She is now a Restorative Justice Facilitator for Restorative Roots Project which she helped turn into its own non-profit. She has a passion for art and hopes to incorporate that talent into the Restorative Justice process. Shaylie also cares deeply about helping to give voice to youth and others impacted by the carceral system.

Shaylie@restorativerootsproject.org

 

ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE

The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode.

RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place!
>>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now
 

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 she represents
individuals charged with major felony crimes and works on policy issues related to promoting
the use of restorative justice as an alternative to prosecution.

Tristen is a Coordinating Committee Member of the Restorative Justice Coalition of Oregon and leads the coalition’s legislative advocacy efforts. She also serves on Governor Kotek’s Racial Justice Council’s Criminal Justice Reform Committee and chairs the Council’s Subcommittee on the Department of Corrections, which focuses on supporting restorative justice efforts led by incarcerated men.
Tristen holds a strong commitment to diversity and is the founder and chair of the Oregon
Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Tristen has been recognized for her work amplifying the voices of marginalized people and promoting effective and compassionate responses to harm by the Oregon New Lawyers Division, the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, and Oregon Women Lawyers.

 

ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE

The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011

RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place!
>>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now
 

Restorative Justice on the Rise

Media That Matters: Public Dialogue On Justice

To provide connection, advocacy, education and inspired action as a public service to individuals and communities seeking to proactively improve relationships and structures within their spheres and our world.

© Copyright 2017 -RestorativeJusticeOnTheRise.org - All Rights Reserved.

Media That Matters:
Public Dialogue On Justice

Restorative Justice on the Rise is an international live dialogue via Webcast and Telecouncil platform that reaches an international constituency of invididuals, organizations, professionals, academics, practitioners, and more. The mission is to provide connection, advocacy, education and inspired action as a public service to individuals and communities seeking to proactively improve relationships and structures within their spheres and our world.

© Copyright Restorative Justice On The Rise. All Rights Reserved.
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