Amplify RJ (Restorative Justice)

Amplify RJ (Restorative Justice)

Restorative Justice is often framed as an alternative to punishment in criminal legal and education settings, and but that’s only part of the story. Join host David Ryan Barcega Castro-Harris to learn how to apply Restorative Justice philosophy, practices, and values in your everyday life.

Episodes

March 20, 2025 19 mins

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Last week, I spent 24 hours supporting teachers in running restorative justice classroom circles, and the impact was powerful. In this episode, I’m sharing what I witnessed—the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the small but meaningful shifts that happen when teachers commit to building relationships, not just managing behavior.

🔹 How teachers are integrating circles into their classrooms
🔹 The impact on student...

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Tap in for an important conversation about the election, community care, and building a more just and equitable world, no matter who wins, through a restorative justice lens.

Voting ends in about 24 in most spaces so its not too late, especially if you're considering casting a protest vote.

Vote Harris in a swing state to defeat Trump.

Cast a protest vote in a safe state to put Dems on...

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This episode pays tribute to the late Ted Lewis, a remarkable figure in restorative justice, whose life and work provide profound insights into this balance.

We explore how his bicultural upbringing and Mennonite roots led him into mediation and facilitation. We also reflect on Ted's legacy, balancing systemic change while addressing relational harm on the micro-level. We also explore the "Listenin...

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Eric Butler passed away this summer. We're re-airing this conversation in his honor. He was internationally recognized for his impactful work as a restorative justice practitioner, activist, and educator in Oakland and beyond. He went on to found the “Talking Peace” model of Restorative Justice, a set of practices and philosophy aimed at building relationships through shared values. 

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October 31, 2024 2 mins

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After a long break, I'm back! I'll be back next week with more info and new content, but for the next few days I'm sharing 3 episodes from the archives.
(Today) 10/31/24 You'll here the very first episode of This RJ Life with Cheryl Graves my mentor, elder, OG! She had a stroke this summer and it's important for me to make sure that those who didn't get to hear from, learn from her d...

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(Today) 10/31/24 You'll here the very first episode of This RJ Life with Cheryl Graves my mentor, elder, OG! She had a stroke this summer and it's important for me to make sure that those who didn't get to hear from, learn from her directly get the opportunity to.

Our conversation covers her start in the work, her famous "Aaron" story, and so much more.

You can Support Chery...

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My friend and mentor Shedrick Sanders passed a way last weekend. 

To honor his memory we're revisiting our conversation from Fall 2020 detailing his journey from standing up to bullies as a young boy to becoming an esteemed peacemaker and problem solver. He shared his transformative experiences ranging from teaching math in Ghana to facilitating peace circles in Chicago. Shedrick's incredible knack ...

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Our conversation with Saniah Brown Jones is the last in our series highlighting Restorative Justice in South Florida. She shares her wisdom and experiences as a young person who's been impacted by the RJ work and programing of our previous contributors. This episode is not just about Saniah's growth, but also about how restorative justice transforms lives, builds confidence, and creates spaces for growth and...

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Jose Dominguez is a youth organizer at Power U, focusing on campaigns against the school-to-prison pipeline and advocating for restorative justice practices in schools. 

Our conversation touched on contentious topics like police presence in schools, queer liberation, and homophobia in the church. Jose emphasized the power of grace and communication in addressing these issues. We also explored the importance o...

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Cindy Mahendar is a Training and Operations Manager for the Healing and Justice Center and an alumni of Dream Defenders.

Our conversation takes a fascinating turn as Cindy discusses the alternative initiatives implemented by the Healing and Justice Center. From a mobile crisis unit to a peacemaker team, Cindy and her team paint a picture of a reimagined approach to navigating conflict and harm. Her candid sh...

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Ruth Ifakemi Efungbemi Ajewole Ajeleti Ifaloro Jeannoelis a Haitian American, cultural organizer, holistic healer and writer. She is also a mother and wife. Currently, Ruth serves as the Founder and Director of the growing non-profit, Fanm Saj, Inc based in Miami, FL. Fanm Saj in the Haitian Kreyol language means, Midwife, we’ll say Midwives catch babies and Fanm Saj catches communities.

In this enlightening ...

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"Q" is an experienced facilitator, rooted in restorative practices, who is an expert in crafting containers for community to listen, reflect, create, and witness each other with presence and depth to inspire what is possible. Quincie has collaborated with a myriad of communities, organizations, and universities/colleges to develop and deliver programming that is tailored to a community’s need/curiosity. They...

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JoHanna "J" Thompson is the Co-Director of the Florida Restorative Justice Coalition. Her career has been dedicated to creating collaborative spaces across an intersection of networks, fostering relationships, and maintaining a vision to increase the capacity of influencers, community organizations, programs and campaigns working toward equitable social and transformational justice.

She lends lived ...

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How can you use Restorative Justice when navigating career transitions, being vulnerable with students, and figuring out what it means to be a good teacher? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

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How can you use Restorative Justice when you have to "lead" your leaders, sacrifice your own interests for the good of the community, and compromise values to get the job done? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/AR...

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How can you use Restorative Justice in navigating personal & professional life as a queer educator, creating space for dialogue when students misbehave? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

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How can you use Restorative Justice in building good relationships teacher to teacher, teacher to student caregivers, and within your own family? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

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How can you use Restorative Justice in incorporating dance into education, the struggles of working collaboratively, and building relationships with colleagues? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

Access un...

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How can you use Restorative Justice in setting boundaries with co-workers, life as a black male educator, and connecting with students before getting to content? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

Access u...

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See our beautiful faces and the video clips on YouTube.

How can you use Restorative Justice to bring quality arts education, hold power with people instead of over, and more? Find out on this episode of Restorative Justice Reflections!

Join our LIVE “Restorative Justice Lessons from Abbott Elementary” event July 31: http://tiny.cc/ARJabbott

Access unreleased episodes NOW, connect with other RJ minded ...

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