Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a set of practices that challenges us to develop solutions from our authentic selves. Grounded in indigenous peacemaking traditions from across the Americas, many Oakland practitioners follow the approach of the Tagish and Tlingit First Nations people of Canada. 

In society, an RJ approach opens up possibilities for addressing harm and wrongdoing that don’t involve criminalization. In educational settings, RJ provides alternatives to punitive discipline, which in turn promotes positive school culture including safety, emphasis on learning and creativity, respect, and responsibility.

At Fremont, we integrate RJ at all levels:

Tier I RELATE circles help students, teachers and staff relate to one another, build community, learn and practice empathy.

Tier 2 REPAIR circles, conversations, and mediations address harm and conflict, recover, repair the relationship, make agreements for moving forward.

Tier 3 RESTORE circles welcome students who have been suspended or are returning from juvenile detention/extended absence.  

We also train students leaders to lead circles with their peers in classrooms, advisories, and after school programs, as well as at community events with adults and elders.

While focusing on interpersonal dynamics, we simultaneously address systemic forces of poverty, racial discrimination, intergenerational trauma, and other oppression. Restorative Justice is aligned with movements and campaigns that challenge white supremacy, male dominance, U.S. imperialism, environmental destruction, and economic exclusion. RJ at Fremont is a space to learn, practice, and dream our collective freedom into being. 

Our Team 

RJ philosophy and practice are antithetical to the violence of our contemporary world, and circle-keepers inevitably face resistance from youth who have known danger and mistrust. Circle process often demands a level of vulnerability that assumes a foundation of trust. Sitting in circle can be unfamiliar, awkward, and uncomfortable. For adolescents in a high school context, it may not always be safe to respond to a discussion prompt in front of their peers. There may be social consequences (bullying, teasing, threats) that are invisible to adult educators. 

At Fremont, we are gradually, deliberately, and collectively working to create new and necessary norms of peace, safety, and respect. It takes a village to pull this off. Core staff and community members who have supported in RJ implementation include: RJ Facilitator Tatiana Chaterji, Principal Nidya Baez, Oakland Kids First Program Manager Peter Truong, Community Healing Practitioner Nupur Behera, Health Educator and Violence Interrupter Kiki Reitano, Founder of Mandela Law and Public Service Academy Patricia Arabia, therapist and youth advocate Ebony Sinnamon-Johnson, RJ Program Managers Denise Curtis, Heather Manchester,  and Arnoldo Garcia, (former) Case Managers Eric Dubois and Luis Serrano, OUSD RJ Coordinator David Yusem, (former) Co-Principals Tom Skjervheim and Rosemary Rivera, (former) buildOn Service Learning Program Coordinator Andrew Foy, BACR Afterschool Programs Coordinator Darlene Kato, OUSD Behavioral Health Program Manager Sandra Simmons, (former) Media Academy English Teacher, Co-Founder and Visionary for Sistas of Fremont YPAR Group Fatimah Salahuddin, (former) Parent Liaison and Family Advocate Dawa Mohssen, Arab Student Association Advisor Yahya Cadji, Special Education Department Chair and English Teacher Derick Bandy.

Student Leaders who serve as cultural ambassadors and circle-keepers with both adults and other youth: Brenda Chales Pablo, Holinda Cruz Cardona, Marlon Castillo Molina, Marjory Gereda Velez, Breisy Zacarias Aguilar, Omar Garcia Godinez, Jayla Pablo Martin, Yizel Ceja-Martinez, LaShontè  Blount, Kendal Erving, Citlali Sanchez Udovic, Diana Matias Carrillo, Jessica Pablo Chales, Gladis Pablo Cruz, Angelica Martinez, Ana Hernandez Rodriguez, José Galvez Corral, Francisco Manzo, Magali Ramirez, Edwin Chale Estrada, Xitlali Toledo, Edgar Penaloza, Carlos Chavez.  

Class of 2023: Siurave Quintanilla Vasquez, Jessica Pablo Calmo, Crystal Cadena Mendoza, Kimberly Higareda, Kotah Santiago, Aaliyah Aceituno, Athziri Martin, Johneauah Wesley, Khmaiya May, Gabriel Madrid. Class of 2022: Reem Taleb, Nasser Hussain, Kleyverson Mendez Morales, Socorro Frasco Lopez, Asma'a Alkabsh, Alanna "Dani" Primous, Sharifa Ahmed, Rama Wasel. Class of 2021: Evelyn Diaz-Garcia, Rania Al Halmi, Ingri Mendoza Matias, Long Nguyen, Juana Mendoza-Cruz, Fathia Mohamed, Feyla Manzanares, Aaliyah Gonzalez. Class of 2020: Ahmed Hajaji, Juan Matias Pablo, Kinooz Wasel, Kibria Wasel, Marshay Washington-Estes. Class of 2019: Daniela Guerra-Reynosa, David Contreras.