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Programs: Restorative Justice

Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership

"Promoting reconciliation and healing within our youth and our community"

A joint project with Seward Neighborhood Group and Longfellow Community Council

Located at:  Seward Neighborhood Group
      2323 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406
      612-338-6205 x108 - - - - Follow us on Facebook

Second Annual Sweethearts and Spirits: Beer, Liquor and Wine tasting hosted by Zipp’s Liquor!

Also enjoy fun snacks, treats and Zipp’s famous silent auction. All proceeds benefit Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership
--> What: Sweethearts & Spirits
--> When: Saturday, February 11th 6:30-9:00 p.m.
--> Where: The Minneapolis Eagles Club 2507 E 25th St.
--> Cost: $20-Single $30-Duo
Tickets available from SLRJP, Zipp’s, at the door or online at Zipp's Liquor
For more information, contact Michele at michele@sng.org or 612-338-6205 x108

Program News

Welcome to new conference facilitators!

The second joint facilitator training for SLRJP and Restorative Justice Community Action volunteers was held on May 20-22, 2011. Welcome to Donna, Heather, Jenny, Karrin, Kate, Sudha and Wanda who have joined the SLRJP roster of volunteer facilitators. The next training will be held November 11-13, 2011. Contact Michele at michele@sng.org for more information.

SLRJP and RJCA volunteers pose for a photo with SLRJP Program Manager Michele Braley and RJCA Community Coordinator Chanti Calibria
SLRJP trainees with Sharon Goens, SLRJP volunteer who led the group in a conversation about Communicating Across Differences.

Benefit concert raises over $2,800!

Thank you to everyone who made the 2nd annual benefit concert a success. A special thanks to Pastor Joetta and the planning committee of Peter from Community of St. Martin and Donna from Faith Mennonite. We are blessed to have many talented musicians in our neighborhood and we are grateful they shared their afternoon with us! Thanks to Linda and Sophia Breitag, Ray Makeever, Robin Nelson, Chris Jones, Bret Hesla and Larry Dittberner! Thank you to everyone who attended the concert. If you missed the concert you can still donate to SLRJP by clicking here.
Select "add a designation" to indicate that your donation is for restorative justice.

Fundraiser
See More Photos.

Donate $80 or more to SLRJP and receive an acoustic folk CD by the duo of Seward resident Linda Breitag and Corcoran resident Bret Hesla. What We Do: Good Time Songs for Peace and Change is “a blend of politics and acoustic folk. It's twelve original songs will wake your head, break your heart, shake your hips: fiddle guitar accordion hambone piano congas feet a cappella and MORE. A party in a 100% post-consumer package. The songs are a snapshot of life & themes in the vibrant Minnesota peace culture at the turn of the century (this one).” Thank you to Linda and Bret for their support of restorative justice! Read more about their music here.

SLRJP is now on Facebook! Sign up to be a fan and tell your friends! You can view our page even if you are not on facebook.

Restorative Justice Program in the News

A recent article in MNdaily.com says "The Seward and Longfellow neighborhoods are working to give local youth offenders a second chance in their communities." Read the full story.

SLRJP Participates in Peace Forum

In March 2010, Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership was invited by Christ Church Lutheran to speak at a forum with the former President of Finland and 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Marti Ahtisaari. The forum was titled, Peace Begins Locally: A Minneapolis Dialogue. Michele Braley, Program Manager and Rebecca Miller and Donna Norbeck, Executive Committee members, met President Ahtisaari after the forum.

The Advisory Committee meets on the 2nd Monday of the month (except July) from 6:30p-8:00p at Longfellow Park (3435-36th Avenue S.).  The Advisory Committee is open to anyone with a stake in the Seward or Greater Longfellow neighborhoods.  Please join us to help develop restorative justice services for our neighborhood.

About the Program:

Crime damages people, communities, and relationships. If crime is about harm, then justice should emphasize repairing the harm.

Our Mission is to build community by providing the opportunity to repair harm by involving the victim, offender, and community in solutions that promote healing, accountability, and reconciliation.

Our Process gives everyone a voice and creates opportunities to make things as right as possible. It is used as an alternative form of discipline, diversion from court, or support for a youth returning from the corrections system. Offenders are held accountable and given the opportunity to make amends.

Conferences are structured face-to-face meetings between youth offenders, victims, their support people, and community members. These offer the community a better way to address crime and disciplinary problems. Conferences are typically one-time events.

Circles are a storytelling process. Every person has his or her story and every story has a lesson to offer us. People heal and touch one another's lives through their stories. Circles often include continued sessions.

What we do…our target clients are youths who are 18 and under in the Seward, Longfellow Cooper, Howe and Hiawatha neighborhoods and the 55406 zip code area. Our program is completely voluntary.

Repairing the Harm
As an alternative to court, we conduct Restorative Group Conferencing through an agreement with Operation DeNovo and the Minneapolis Police Department. We accept referrals of first time juvenile offenders.

In addition, we conduct Peacemaking Circles with referrals from community block clubs, parks, businesses, and schools. These help resolve conflict, prevent and reduce violence, and are used to intervene in harmful events.

Making Things Right
Trained facilitators guide conferences and circles. As part of our process, an agreement or plan is reached through consensus among the participants. Agreements and plans specify tangible actions to be performed within an acceptable timeframe.

When we work with youth we can make a big difference in their lives. We believe in the possibilities of their positive contributions to our community. Through this process our community has a voice and can make things right.

We invite you to join us…
We invite community members, community organizations, businesses, schools, churches, faith communities, and any interested persons in the Seward Longfellow area to join us in promoting reconciliation and healing within our youth and our community. We offer training to all volunteers interested in being a trained facilitator or as a participant representing the community’s voice.

Ways to participate:
• Make use of our process through referrals.
• Join our coordinating committee.
• Participate in a restorative justice process.

If you are interested in having a restorative justice process available, volunteering, or have any questions please contact:

Michele Braley, Program Manager
Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership
612-338-6205 x108
michele@sng.org

Many thanks to our funders for 2011
--Irwin Andrew Porter Foundation
--Basilian Order of the Catholic Church
--Seward Co-op Community Fund
--Community of St. Martin
--City of Minneapolis - Office of the City Attorney
--Longfellow Community Council
--Seward Neighborhood Group
--Hennepin County Bar Foundation
--Seward Civic and Commerce Association
--Faith Mennonite Church
--Christ Church Lutheran
--Kunin Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation
--Individual donors

We'd also like to recognize local businesses who donate goods and services
-- Cake Eater Bakery
-- Ghandi Mahal Restaurant
-- Himalayan Restaurant
-- Mother Earth Gardens
-- Peace Coffee
-- Pizza Luce
-- Seward Co-op
-- Soderberg’s Floral
--True Thai
-- Threadstar
-- Welna Hardware
--Zipps Liquors (sponsor of February 2011 wine tasting benefit)

 

 

Internet resources:
MN Department of Corrections Restorative Justice Unit
MN Restorative Services Coalition

 

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