West Virginia Restorative Justice Summit

The conference will be held on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia

Mackenzie and Brenda are working hard at the office and also on a very special project:  The West Virginia Restorative Justice Summit. Registration opened this week for the summit, which will be held on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College from June 14 through June 15, 2024.   The summit will bring together community members, professionals, and justice-impacted individuals to explore their experiences with the educational and judicial systems and explore options for improvement by tapping into restorative justice. Mackenzie is the conference coordinator, pulling together the speakers and exhibitors and planning for meals, housing, and entertainment.  Brenda Waugh is on the advisory panel for the organization sponsoring the conference, the West Virginia Restorative Justice Project, and is taking a lead role in organizing the conference.

Valerie Slater, the executive director of the RISE for Youth Coalition, will be the keynote speaker, working to shed light on innovative approaches to address systemic challenges for programs designed to provide services to youth.  Her session is titled “. Professor Kathy Evans from Eastern Mennonite University i will present two break-out sessions: “The Non-Negotiables of Restorative Justice in the Educational Setting” and “Promoting Healthy School Community Partnerships in the Work of Restorative Justice.” Jim Nolan, a former police officer and professor of criminology at West Virginia University, will facilitate a discussion regarding policing in his session, “Restorative Justice and Police Reform.  Federal Magistrate Judge, Hon. Michael John Aloi, will describe how he brings compassion to his work in his session, “Restorative Justice from the Bench: Not So Random Acts of Kindness.  Amber Blankenship, a formerly incarcerated woman who is now a leader in Re-Entry, will facilitate a break-out session, “REACH back Reentry Navigators - Assisting Individuals Navigating Reentry into the Community Justice.”  Over thirty sessions are offered for community members and persons interested in learning more about restorative justice. Continuing education credits are being sought for the professional attendees in these areas.

The program has been approved for continuing legal education credits and WVCBAPP credits. (Counseling and social work credits are pending.) In addition to the enriching workshops, attendees will have the opportunity to unwind and connect at a live music event on Friday evening featuring the eclectic sounds of Lua Flora, a band from Asheville, North Carolina.

Keynote speaker, Valerie Slater

The summit will begin at 8:30 a.m. on June 14 and conclude at 5:00 p.m. on June 15, 2024. The registration fee is $300.00 after April 15. Low-cost housing is available on campus for an additional cost.

For more information and to register for the West Virginia Restorative Justice Summit, please visit wvrjp.org.