Making our Communities Stronger: Exploring the Potential for Restorative Justice in Central West Virginia

I am excited to share news of my most recent Restorative Justice Workshop. I am working with The West Virginia Restorative Justice Project, in collaboration with several esteemed community groups in Central West Virginia, to create a series of online and in-person events. These events aim to explore the vast potential of restorative justice within various communities across the mountain state.

Setting up the room for the restorative justice workshop in Lewisburg, West Virginia in March, 2023.

Restorative Justice comprises a range of processes that offer diverse approaches to addressing wrongdoing and conflicts in communities. The scheduled events will take place throughout the month of August 2023, culminating in a two-day program in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on August 25-26. The primary focus of this project is to develop strategies and initiatives that can empower communities, fostering their strength through the principles of restorative justice.

Several exceptional programs and organizations will participate in this event. Notably, several dedicated restorative justice practitioners who have been volunteering with the Northern District of West Virginia's Drug Court program will be participating, thanks to the support of the West Virginia Bar Foundation. Additionally, volunteers and staff members from the Pocahontas Day Report Center will contribute their valuable time and insights. Furthermore, community members from the Clarksburg Resilience Collective, as well as ad hoc groups formed in Clarksburg and Phillip, will also actively participate in these enriching workshops and discussions. Several of the participants attended the program in Lewisburg, West Virginia, which also explored the topic of strengthening community with restorative justice.

With an anticipated attendance of fifty participants, this gathering will enable the exploration and implementation of restorative justice-based initiatives within participant’s respective communities, applying the knowledge acquired during the series. Registration for this exclusive event is currently limited to invitation-only, facilitated by the sponsoring organizations. However, should any seats remain unfilled after August 1, 2023, registration may be opened to the public.

I am currently finishing up the program design, that includes two short on-demand videos, two one hour-long online webinars and the two day in-person program.  The program will provide participants with sufficient backgrounds to determine how the communities may be strengthened through restorative justice initiatives that may be unique to each community, while facilitating a sharing of resources and ideas across all members participating.  The program will include sessions on an introduction to Restorative Justice and Talking Circles.  The series will provide an in-depth exploration of victim offender dialogues and circles of support and accountability.   If you have an interest in Restorative Justice, please contact me for updates on this program and how to be added to the waitlist if spaces become open beyond the sponsoring organizations.