A Restorative Practices -- a Personal Journey 

My first experiences with Restorative Practices happened at a school that is near and dear to my heart.  From 2007-2011, I was part of the faculty at Hyde Bronx Charter School.  Though the terms "RJ" and "RP" were not used explicitly there, they were part of our every day work, and there I learned how to participate in and facilitate structured circles meant to bring people into closer connection, and when necessary solve problems and repair harm.  I did this important work with students, families, and faculty.  In the years that followed I authored a comprehensive curriculum that used restorative circles to build community for middle school advisories.  In Winooski, VT, I was introduced to the history and culture of restorative practices in indigenous communities, and the ways the powerful ways restorative practices help to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity.  After further study in my Mindfulness and Restorative Practices course in 2022, I am convinced that restorative practices must be a part of every school and that systems within the school must be carefully designed to support authentic engagement and the integrity of this important work.