Volunteer statements: “every Circle is my favorite”, “I needed this Circle more than anyone here”

from Kris Miner's blog Restorative Justice and Circles:

Once and awhile I get tired.  I get tired and lonely and frustrated.  I wonder why I am a workaholic and kick myself for doing this to myself.  I keep repeating a cycle.  Then I am in Circle and people say things that catch me off guard.

Suddenly someone is talking about surviving physical abuse as a child.  As most of us look at the paper plates on the floor, because the speaker is explaining how her teachers, police officers and social workers used these values to get her safe.  She expresses this and only starts to tear up at the end.  No one interrupts, no rescuing comments, no affirming “thanks for sharing”.  Because that is how Circle works.  We tell the truth one person at a time.

Dec 11, 2009 Limitations, Support, Practice

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10 ways to live restoratively

from Howard Zehr's article on Restorative Justice Blog:

1.    Take relationships seriously, envisioning yourself in an interconnected web of people, institutions and the environment.

2.    Try to be aware of the impact - potential as well as actual - of your actions on others and the environment.

3.    When your actions negatively impact others, take responsibility by acknowledging and seeking to repair the harm - even when you could probably get away with avoiding or denying it.  (To craft a letter of apology, see the Apology Letter website developed by Loreen Walker and Ben Furman.)

4.    Treat everyone respectfully, even those you don’t expect to encounter again, even those you feel don’t deserve it, even those who have harmed or offended you or others.

5.    Involve those affected by a decision, as much as possible, in the decision-making process.

Dec 04, 2009 Limitations, Definition, Theory, Support, Practice

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