The Common Ills: Punishment-Free Communities: How Restorative Justice Benefits Young People

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Punishment-Free Communities: How Restorative Justice Benefits Young People

Bioneers Pulse – updates from the Bioneers Community

Bioneer,

Young people across the country and around the globe are dealing with issues many older generations never dreamed of—from the ins and outs of social media to the alarming increase in school gun violence. But today’s youth are stepping up in the face of a cascade of dilemmas, putting their power, energy and moral clarity on the line to demand a livable future. We’re pleased to feature the work and partners of the Bioneers Youth Leadership Program in this week’s newsletter. You’ll get a glimpse at the many inspiring ways youth activists are showing the rest of us how it’s done, innovating solutions on issues from mental health to gun violence to climate change. To keep up with the important work our youth leaders are doing, follow the new @bioneersyouthleaders account on Instagram.

Interested in attending the 2019 Bioneers Conference? Tickets go on sale starting next week! Click here for details.

Concept to Know: Restorative Justice for Youth

Restorative Justice is a cooperative process to assess harm and take the necessary steps to rebuild healthier relationships within a community. Fundamentally, restorative justice aims to shift away from punishment and separation, and to instead work toward healing and integration within a community. Restorative Justice can be applied in schools, the criminal justice system and activist spaces.

In 2010, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) board mandated that all schools within the district implement restorative justice practices. By 2014, 30 schools within the OUSD implemented circles, victim/offender mediation, restorative conversations, and family group conferencing, leading to reductions in suspensions, expulsions and disciplinary referrals.

Bioneers has been featuring cutting edge work on Restorative Justice for years: Check out this interview with Jodie Geddes of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth to learn how she helped bring restorative justice to West Oakland and the lasting effects it’s had. On a national level, Restorative Justice is slowly beginning to gain traction. Fania Davis has long been a leader in this effort and award-winning activist and political analyst Van Jones recently announced that he will be doing a series on Restorative Justice for CNN called The Redemption Project.

People to Know: Inspirational Youth Climate Fighters

Last month, over a million young people across the globe took to the streets in a strike calling for action on climate change.

A leading organization in the youth climate movement is Earth Guardians, founded by hip-hop artist and activist (and Bioneers Board Member) Xiuhtexcatl Martinez. In addition to being a plaintiff in the Our Children’s Trust Lawsuit, Martinez has inspired young Earth Guardians to increasingly make their own news—members of a Bay Area chapter were part of the collection of young people who delivering a letter to Diane Feinstein in the now notorious exchange asking her to sign onto the Green New Deal.

Earth Guardians recently launched the Indigenous Youth Leadership Trainingprogram. The program is an effort to support Native youth who are looking for concrete training and support in building environmental and cultural preservation campaigns in their communities. Learn how you can help here.

Local Partner Spotlight: Attitudinal Healing Connection

Attitudinal Healing Connection (AHC) is a youth development organization based out of West Oakland that has been serving the neighborhood’s young people for three decades. Its work revolves around the principles of Attitudinal Healing, a set of non-traditional mental health practices that help develop the motivation and personal abilities necessary to be compassionately self aware, make healthy choices, and cultivate intrinsic creativity.

In a recent visit to AHC’s center in West Oakland, Bioneers had the opportunity to meet the young people in the organization and get a glimpse at their Self as Superhero projects. Over the course of many months, AHC youth go through a process of self exploration, family and cultural research, as well as a deep dive study of their surrounding community and society. This immersive inquiry-based project culminates in youth painting life-sized portraits of themselves as superheroes with rich backstories and superpowers to address issues such as gun violence, depression, and drug use that they witness in their own lives and communities. Hearing how these young people envision themselves as heroes fighting for justice, peace and health in their communities was a moving experience, and is a powerful practice for stepping into their capacity to be changemakers and protectors in real life as well.

Take Action: Painting Our Power

Join Attitudinal Healing Connection at the annual Painting Our Power ArtEsteem Exhibition on May 18th, 2019 in Oakland, CA, to celebrate its 30th Anniversary and more than two decades of creativity and empowerment. During the exhibit, youth will be unveiling their Superhero self portraits to the community. See you there!

What We’re Tracking:

On April 11th, the Indigenous Waorani people will be taking the Ecuadorian government to court for violating their right to free, prior and informed consent in the proposed auction of their mega-biodiverse rainforest lands to oil companies. In the words of Nemonte Nenquimo, co-founder of Ceibo Alliance: “This is one of the biggest moments for our people, and we need to ensure the integrity of the judicial system. It’s critical the Ecuadorian government and the courts know the world is watching.” Sign and share the Waorani people’s petition to let the government know their ancestral lands are not for sale.
From April 26 to 28, the New Living Expo in San Mateo invites you to a series of workshops, lectures and panels to help you mindfully embrace your health and well-being. Featured presenters include best-selling author and 2020 Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson and medical intuitive Caroline Myss. You’ll also have the chance to peruse an exhibition of more than 180 vendors offering sustainable and wellness products and services and attend a Zero Waste mini-conference and exhibit. Use this link for a complimentary single day admission.
From May 28 to 30, don’t miss the 2019 World Ayahuasca Conference in Girona, Spain! Not only with you have the chance to explore how ayahuasca practices impact individuals and communities around the world, but you’ll also have the opportunity to attend more than 120 lectures and panels with visionaries in plant medicine from around the world. Get your tickets here!