Restorative Justice On The Rise

Episode 194: Alchemy & Restoration with Shilpa Jain

What happens when we feel able to share and connect honestly with other human beings, even in the face of significant differences, views, and even conflict and harm? As many restorative justice practitioners know who actively facilitate any form of circle or conference, or convening with a purpose, there often comes a moment when the sharp tenseness transmutes to....something unexpected, something that allows for a new understand, a new lens on oneself and the "other", a bridge of sorts where none previously existed...you know it, we know it, you've witnessed and so have we....but what is that? How does it happen? What are the conditions for transforming in the face of pain and suffering, with those who harmed us or those we've harmed?  And what are the basic needs we as humans have, across the world, that we can lift up especially during violent and unthinkable collapsing times? This is a conversation more than it is a structured interview with the incredible Shilpa Jain. Welcome to the Restorative Justice on The Rise Living Room, where we ask deeper questions about restoration, healing, and justice. About Shilpa Shilpa's Substack (full of incredible posts on timely topics) Shilpa Jain is currently rooting herself in Oakland/Berkeley, CA. For the last 11+ years, she served as the Executive Director of YES!. YES! works with social changemakers at the meeting point of internal, interpersonal and systemic change, and aims to co-create a thriving, just and balanced world for all. Prior to this role, Shilpa spent two years as the Education and Outreach Coordinator of Other Worlds and ten years as a learning activist with Shikshantar: The Peoples’ Institute for Rethinking Education and Development, based in Udaipur, India, where she served as coordinator of the Swapathgami (Walkouts-Walkons) Network. Shilpa has researched and written numerous books and articles, and facilitated workshops and gatherings on topics including globalization, creative expressions, ecology, democratic living, innovative learning and unlearning. Her publications include A Poet's Challenge to Schooling, Reclaiming the Gift Culture, Other Worlds of Power, Paths of Unlearning, Unfolding Learning Societies volumes one, two and three, and several issues of Vimukt Shiksha (“Liberating Learning”) and the Swapathgami newsletter “Making Our Paths of Living and Learning”. She is also co-author of “Connect. Inspire. Collaborate”, a highly sought-after facilitation manual. Shilpa has facilitated dozens of transformative leadership gatherings in India, Jordan, Senegal, Lebanon, Egypt, Thailand, Canada, Peru, and the US, working with hundreds of young leaders from over 50 countries. She was founding coordinator of the Global Youth Leadership Collaborative, a network of 15 Jam facilitators from 14 countries that has collectively produced dozens of international gatherings for young changemakers, and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to small-scale grassroots social change innovations worldwide. Shilpa made the decision to leave the trappings of academia, Washington, DC, and the path of “professionalism” to live and work in greater alignment with her soul's calling. Today, she sees her work as contributing to the deep healing of internal, interpersonal and systemic breakdown. Shilpa is committed to using very simple human technologies to uncover ways for people to free themselves from dominating, soul-crushing institutions and to live in greater alignment with their hearts and deepest values, their local communities, and with nature. ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode. RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place! Support 15 years of global independent restorative media efforts here.

Episode 193: The Youth Are Not The Problem. They Are the Solution.

This webinar was recorded in July 2025. In this episode, we hear from the founder of The Circle Keepers, Martin Urbach, and three youth keepers, centering their voices and ideas about restorative practices, how to build unity across divides, and more. RJOTR believes strongly in this program and was deeply honored to host this very special episode that you won't want to miss. Listen in now to hear how youth -- directly from their voices and lived experiences -- are advocating and practicing on-the-ground! Who are The Circle Keepers? The Circle Keepers started in 2017 as a volunteer-run after school program for high school students to learn restorative justice practices such as peer mediation protocols, conflict resolution circles and community building activities as well as to hone their leadership skills, engage in political education, civic participation and produce community service/social justice projects and thus, create change in their school and in their neighborhoods.? Significant Achievements: 100% of student participants surveyed report that The Circle Keepers program made their school experience more meaningful Started youth-led restorative justice cohorts in 8 different public schools, across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Bronx. Helped reduce suspensions by 95% at one Manhattan borough school in District 2 in the span of 4 years (2019-2023) Testified for City Council to successfully restore over $32M of funding cuts towards restorative justice justice programming in NYC Public Schools from 2022-2024. Developed a comprehensive Restorative Justice Curriculum for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12, currently offered as semester long electives in a D2 and a D15 school. Trained over 1000 students as restorative justice peer mediators, Trained over 100 NYC Public School staff in school based restorative justice practices. Traveled to Austin, TX to present a sold-out workshop at the SXSWedu 2023 conference of over 100 guests. Traveled to Washington, DC to meet with Leader Charles Schumer to learn about federal policy and  explored the National Museum of African American History and Culture to develop a stronger sense of Black epistemologies and ontologies. Produced a “Green New Deal for Public Schools” roundtable with Congressman Jamaal Bowman at Sarah Lawrence College. Produced youth led conference for 250+ NYC youth, rooted on the theme of “peace and justice”, bringing together 50+ stakeholders, including youth development organizations, city agencies, elected officials and even private businesses donating food and supplies!? HOSTED BY: Founder & Executive Producer Molly Rowan Leach (she/her), and Social Media and Marketing Manager Logan Ward (he/him), who is also an accomplished Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker (Remarkable, 2024) ABOUT MOLLY: https://restorativejusticeontherise.org/about-us/host-executive-producer/ Molly’s writing: https://medium.com/@mollyleach ABOUT LOGAN: https://www.loganward.net/about Logan’s portfolio: https://www.loganward.net/ ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode. RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place! Support 15 years of global independent restorative media efforts here.

Episode 192: Being Curious and Having Fear w/ Deborah Heifetz

This webinar was recorded on May 9th, 2025. In this episode, social anthropologist and experienced mediator Deborah Heifetz will explore her groundbreaking Map to Compassion — a non-hierarchical framework recently published in MIT’s Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change. She will guide us in understanding how we can sustain curiosity in environments dominated by fear and distrust. Drawing on over 30 years of global peacebuilding experience and somatic education, Heifetz illuminates how our developmental needs, culture, and tribal affiliations shape our emotional responses. Her emphasis on fairness over punitive justice aligns with Restorative Justice principles, inviting inquiry through the question: “What can be done to feel fairly treated?” This focus on fairness elicits deeper, more feelingful inquiries and reveals choices that support repair with the intent on rebuilding relationships and communities. Over many years, Heifetz has worked at the nexus of inner and outer peace. In this webinar, she will offer compassionate approaches to conflict resolution, providing practical tools for balancing emotionally charged needs during challenging times. ABOUT DEBORAH: Deborah Heifetz (she/her) is a social anthropologist, mediator, and professional facilitator with over 30 years of experience in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and somatic education. She developed the systems-based model – the Human Needs Map, a circular matrix representing the interconnections between human needs at different levels of scale and reflecting the synergies and tensions between needs. Her model has been considered a breakthrough framework by founders of Human Needs Theory for its non-hierarchical approach to human needs and for the way human needs and emotions are tied to human development. A co-founder of BraveHearts International, she has worked globally in mediation, sustainability, and leadership training, integrating movement-based and somatic practices like Laban Movement Analysis and Somatic Experiencing with her knowledge and sensitivity for culture and community building. A Chevening Scholar, she recently published The Map to Compassion in MIT’s Journal for Awareness-Based Systems Change.  Heifetz works at the nexus of inner and outer peace. Website: https://heifetzmatrix.com/ HOSTED BY: Founder & Executive Producer Molly Rowan Leach (she/her), and Social Media and Marketing Manager Logan Ward (he/him). ABOUT MOLLY: https://restorativejusticeontherise.org/about-us/host-executive-producer/ Molly’s writing: https://medium.com/@mollyleach ABOUT LOGAN: https://www.loganward.net/about Logan’s portfolio: https://www.loganward.net/ ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode. RJ on The Rise LinkTree: Follow, Subscribe, and Engage in one place! Support 15 years of global independent restorative media efforts here.

Episode 191: Being Restorative w/ Leaf Seligman

Author (Being Restorative, April 2024) and restorative practitioner Leaf Seligman invites us to the tenderness of humility, listening, and towards the values and principles that unite us as a humanity, as we face intense and urgent polarization and violence in our world. Our host Jabali Stewart of Huayruro, himself a martial artist of nonviolence and unification, weaves us in conversation to implore deepening inquiry into what this thing we call ‘restorative’ really is, how it makes its way into the world, and how it ameliorates connection and context.  Tenderness is often considered weak or scary, and yet it is itself a revolutionary act. Leaf’s work within prisons and communities, as well as her personal experiences as a partially sight-impaired person, illuminate the “lens” and approach to this work that grounds individuals much beyond the field of restorative justice, in times of great upheaval and disconnection. Tenderness is a powerful bridge that acknowledges the other, that asks also of accountability of self first, and of others, yet from an understanding of our global interrelationship as a baseline for life, and life well lived. And alongside her perspective, we keep in mind the indigenous of our world who came long before this movement, knowing we are related to all life, humans and animals, trees, waters, skies, and cosmos. With this there is honor in having responsibility to all. This awareness is welcomed throughout our dialogue. Oftentimes it is easy to misunderstand restorative as only relating to conflict and the modern justice systems in our world, yet it is a much larger scope of practices that center our common humanity and ask us to hear from one another in ways that build or rebuild, reshaping trust and meaning, offering powerful and sustaining agency for change on every level imagined. ABOUT Leaf Seligman Leaf Seligman is the author of Being Restorative which was published in April 2024 and is available from the publisher, Bauhan Publishing, and online retailers. Leaf considers herself a daughter of the trees, grateful to live in Maple Nation and be close enough to spend time among beloved copper beeches. She has taught in colleges, prisons, and community settings since 1985. As a restorative practitioner, Leaf draws on her experience as a jail chaplain, prisoner educator, congregational minister, college instructor, and human being. She facilitates peacekeeping circles, immersive learning experiences, and restorative processes of accountability, healing, and transformation. Leaf delights in bringing tenderness everywhere. Her previous books include Opening the Window: Sabbath Meditations, A Pocket Book of Prompts, and From the Midway: Unfolding Stories of Redemption and Belonging. She lives in New Hampshire. Jabali Stewart Jabali is an organizational consultant, a leadership coach, a public speaker, a youth worker, and a circle keeper. He has kept Peacemaking Circles in schools (K through College), businesses, families, government, and community settings. He has trained in and practices the lineage of Circle Keeping connected to Mark Wedge, Kay Pranis, Barry Stuart and Tahnaga Myers for over a decade. Besides Circle, he also practices other Art of Hosting and Participatory Leadership modalities. Jabali is a former independent school administrator, a public speaker, and has also cultivated a practice of one-on-one counsel. He enjoys collaborative problem-solving, and his work is deeply informed by his belief and practice of sensible, love-based leadership. Find Jabali on Linkedin ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode. >>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now Now, find all of our social media links in one place! RJ on The Rise LinkTree (If link broken, copy here) —>   https://linktr.ee/rjontherise?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=4cbfc2f8-fdf0-49a0-bd23-c63cbdf4bc0

Episode 190: Transforming Systems Broken by Design w/ Tema Okun

Episode description: This episode includes examples of relationships that people living in the US may have with White Supremacy Culture and also includes suggestions to dismantle it. This live webinar was recorded on January 23rd, 2025, just three days after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. It is hosted by Molly Rowan Leach, founder of RJotR, and Logan Ward, Restorative Justice on the Rise’s new Social Media Manager.  Logan introduces the episode by giving us a brief rundown of some of the characteristics of White Supremacy Culture from Dr. Tema Okun’s website: www.whitesupremacyculture.info He then relates a statement from the website to his recently released documentary, Remarkable, Voices from the Trans Community, which covers the similar topic of objectivity’s irrelevance when in dialogue with oppressed (marked) and non-oppressed (unmarked) groups.  Logan’s film can be found on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PpjhMnVsFk And the subsequent discussion space can both be found on his website: https://www.loganward.net/film Key notes from this episode: Dr. Tema Okun recommends that if we are going to engage in restorative justice work we need a: Shared framework of how oppression works (to help us understand how liberation works) Shared language — Same definitions for phrases such as “White Supremacy” Shared history — Same understanding of how we got here The instructions from Tema’s mother are: Be love and be loved Pay attention Don't be afraid Find the others ABOUT Tema Okun Dr. Okun has spent over 40 years working with and for organizations, schools, and community-based institutions as an educator, facilitator, and coach focused on issues of racial justice and equity. She currently facilitates, consults, mentors, and offers talks for and with leaders and organizations locally and nationwide. She is the author of the award-winning The Emperor Has No Clothes: Teaching About Race and Racism to People Who Don’t Want to Know (2010, IAP) and the widely used article White Supremacy Culture. She has published a revised version of this article on an extended and expanded website at www.whitesupremacyculture.info. Tema is a fierce Jewish advocate for Palestine solidarity as a member of the Triangle Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. She is on the board of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and belongs to the Bhumisphara Sangha under the leadership of Lama Rod Owens. She is a graduate of the Spiritual Guidance Training Institute. She is an artist, a poet, and a writer. She lives in Durham NC where she is fortunate to reside among beloved community. Her current project is deepening her ability to love her neighbor as herself. She is finding the instruction easy and the follow through challenging, given how we live in a culture that is afraid to help us do either or both. Tema Okun can be reached at temajonokun@gmail.com Logan Ward Logan Ward (he/him) is an illustrator, writer, and filmmaker who values dialogue, challenging societal norms, and mutual respect. He graduated with a master’s in Media Design in August 2024, where he studied community-centered and participatory approaches to research and design. Reach him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-ward-860620218/  Check out his illustrations on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.ward.draws/ And also on his website: https://www.loganward.net/ ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ON THE RISE The world's first restorative justice podcast and public lives platform, since 2011, reaching and connecting 6 continents and tens of thousands of listeners and practitioners per episode. >>>We need your help! Support 15 Years of Global Independent Restorative Media Efforts Now Now, find all of our social media links in one place! RJ on The Rise LinkTree (If link broken, copy here) —>   https://linktr.ee/rjontherise?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=4cbfc2f8-fdf0-49a0-bd23-c63cbdf4bc0