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
Program News:
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.
Seeking 40 people to give $40 in recognition of our first 40 conferences:
Help us celebrate our success and secure our future by donating $40 in recognition of our first 40 referrals. These conferences have helped to restore community and repair the harm caused by shoplifting, damage to property, graffiti, theft and disorderly conduct. You can support our work by sending your check for $40 to SNG or donate online at sng.org. Please indicate that the donation is for SLRJP. Thank you!
Buy Fair Trade and donate to SLRJP:
Trade Expressions is an online catalogue of Fair Trade handcrafts and gourmet products from hundreds of artisans and small producers living in over 25 developing countries. When you purchase from Trade Expressions you can direct 20% of the price to go to Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Partnership. Click on the link below to see the catalogue and support fair trade and restorative justice.
http://www.TradeExpressions.com/SLRJP
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 2009:
Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis - Office of the City Attorney, Department of Corrections, Basilian Order of the Catholic Church and individual donors.
Internet resources:
MN
Department of Corrections Restorative Justice Unit
MN Restorative
Services Coalition
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