Civic Ed Project Update
This is an exciting time for the Civic Ed Project. We are currently making plans to expand our Restorative Justice work in schools, which we feel holds tremendous potential for improving school climate and promoting youth civic engagement and leadership. Restorative Justice ("RJ") is a system of accountability that focuses on harms, needs, and oblogations. According to the Center for Restorative Justice, it is "a broad term which encompasses a growing movement to institutionalize peaceful approaches to harm, problem-solving and violations of legal and human rights."During the last two years, the Civic Ed Project has been deeply involved with an innovative Restorative Peer Justice System at Social Justice Academy, which trains students to use peacemaking circles to address disciplinary matters and conflicts that arise at school. In an effort to expand this work, we are currently developing plans for an exciting new initiative that will bring young people and adults together to improve school climate through restorative approaches to school governance.
Working in collaboration with the Center for Restorative Justice at Suffolk University, we will offer an intensive summer training program for high school students. Students in the program will learn the history, principals, and practices of restorative justice within the broader context of peace movements around the world. They will then put their knowledge and skills to use during the school year.
After completing our training, participating students will:
- help faciliate RJ trainings for students, teachers, and school administrators throughout the Boston area;
- serve as mentors to peers and younger students at partner schools, providing ongoing leadership and support; and
- work with the center to promote the use of youth participation and restorative practices in schools.