Workshop Description: Affinity Circles are intentional, safer spaces to gather with others who share an important aspect of our identity, so that we can talk more openly about our experiences and needs, and think about how we can support each other better. Affinity Circles will be offered for students who identify as LGBTQ, AAPI, Black, MENASA, Jewish, Latine, and White (taking an honest look at what it means to be White).
Participants can expect: Discussion
This workshop is offered:
AAPI - PM
Black - AM
Jewish - AM
Latino/a - AM en espanol
LGBTQIA+ - PM
MENASA - PM
White - AM
Circle Keeper Bios:
Emily Peterson (AAIP): is a Universal Culture & Climate Coach with MMSD. She is the proud mom of 2 children and 2 dogs. She loves to travel and eat good food.
Cynthia Moore (Black): My career began in Madison, at Mendota Elementary School as their School Social Worker and then later I became their PBIS coach. My commitment to enact justice at both the individual and systemic level transitioned into my current role as the District Lead for Culture & Climate. I am a Restorative Justice trainer, and circle keeper working from the Central Office. My vision is to continue to lift and restore justice in education.
TBD (Jewish)
Eugenia Highland (Latino/a): Eugenia nació y creció en la Ciudad de México y lleva 16 años viviendo en los Estados Unidos. Ella es Mamá, creativa, ama cocinar, y sobre todo ama sus raíces y cultura mexicana y costarricense. Eugenia es la Directora del departamento de Justicia Restaurativa para la YWCA Madison. En colaboración con su equipo, trabaja para erradicar respuestas de castigo en la escuela y en el sistema judicial juvenil. También trabaja en colaboración con educadores, trabajadores sociales, y familias, en cambiar nuestra mentalidad y crear juntes una cultura restaurativa enraizada en los valores de la compasión, la dignidad y la pertenencia para todes!
John Peschl (LGBTQAI+) John (he/him) is MMSD's LGBTQIA+ Teacher Leader. John is in his 27th year of education, driven by the urgent need to help create safe learning environments and opportunities of all students, especially LGBTQIA+ youth. Outside of work, he enjoy traveling with my husband, Elliott, taking walks with his dog, Manny, binging tv shows, and reading queer fiction and mystery books.
Mouna Algahaithi (MENASA) is a local facilitator, educator and community organizer. I spent years growing up in Madison on and off and have been here for the last ten years. I graduated from West and it brings me joy to come back and connect with current students. I currently work at PBS Wisconsin as an Early Learning Specialist.
Kat Nichols (White)
Workshop Description: Learn about Focused Interruption's holistic approach and programming to prevent gun violence. Work through scenarios in small groups to discuss and learn how the work fosters healing and resilience in communities, empowering them to break the cycle of violence and trauma.
Participants can expect: Discussion, Q&A, Small Group Work
This workshop is offered: PM, Session 3
Speaker Bio: Focused Interruption is a non profit organization that focuses on gun violence prevention. We have a community Safety worker that focused on supporting the community and bridging the gap between community and police. We also have Leaders of tomorrow program that works inside of MMSD school with students that need more support.
Workshop Description: Israel-Palestine is a controversial topic, and too often we are afraid to discuss it. We will do interactive perspective-taking to understand the needs and concerns of Israeli Jews, Palestinians, and others outside of Israel-Palestine, as well as motivations for their actions.
Participants can expect: small group work, reading and discussion, verbal presentation/lecture, Q&A
This workshop is offered: All day, sessions 1-4
Presenter Bio: Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman is the Rabbi at Congregation Shaarei Shamayim in Madison. She was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2003 and has served this congregation for the last 21 years. When she's not running the congregation, she studies how to teach children, teenagers, and young adults about Israel-Palestine. She wrote a curriculum in 2014 and is currently writing a book on this topic.
Workshop Description: Society’s attitudes toward drug use shape not only laws and policies but also how we determine the worth of individuals—labeling those who use certain substances as "good" or "bad." This workshop explores how race, class, and history influence which drugs are normalized and which are criminalized, ultimately deciding who is deserving of care and who faces punishment. We’ll explore how health-centered approaches, rather than criminalization, challenge these moral judgments by prioritizing dignity, compassion, and human rights.
Participants can expect: Discussion, Hands-on Activity, Problem-solving, Advocacy / Action, Q&A
This workshop is offered: AM, Sessions 1 & 2
Speaker Bios:
Tiffany Koch: WI State Certified Peer Specialist who identifies as someone with lived/living experience with recovery, substance use, and mental health. Mother of two boys 10 and 16. Passionate about Harm Reduction, creative ingenuity, and supporting people who use drugs.
Jake Niesen: For over two decades, I have dedicated my life to supporting people who use drugs, both personally and professionally. From leading a peer-driven nonprofit to coordinating harm reduction grants for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, my work has focused on expanding access to safety and challenging systemic barriers. Now at Public Health Madison and Dane County, I continue to advocate for the health, dignity, and autonomy of people disproportionately impacted by the drug war—because this is my community, my friends, and my family.
Workshop Description: Through storytelling and interactive activities, this workshop will expose the differences between the traditional criminal legal system (which focuses on punishment and exclusion) and a restorative justice approach (which seeks to recognize impacts, repair harm, and address needs). This workshop will discuss the perspectives of harmed parties and responsible parties, as well as the ripple effects and impacts of harm on both individuals and communities. Students should be aware that this is a space where harm, violence, and serious and sensitive crimes may be discussed in the context of restorative justice and the criminal legal system.
Participants can expect: Discussion, Small group work, Verbal Presentation / Lecture, Q&A
This workshop is offered: All Day, Sessions 1-4
Speaker Bios:
Marne Boehm, Erin Lyman, Christin Iniguez, Elise Swenson, Shana Toor
The Restorative Justice Project (RJP) at the University of Wisconsin Law School facilitates restorative justice dialogues between harmed parties and responsible parties in the aftermath of serious and sensitive crimes. RJP is committed to serving the community by promoting restorative practices, developing alternatives to the traditional criminal legal system, and reducing racial disparities in the criminal legal system.