Restorative Justice and Schools: A Ground-Level View

Oscar Reed and Jamie Williams from The Restorative Way and Minneapolis Public Schools Contractors/Facilitators Oscar Reed and Jamie Williams, MA, are Restorative Justice / Practices / Measures consultants with more than 50 years of experience between them working with young people in a variety of school and community settings. They have been trainers, classroom mentors and Circle Keepers for the Minneapolis public schools, suburban districts, charter schools, alternative learning centers, the University of Minnesota Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking (Dr. Mark Umbreit), school districts across the country, HennepinCounty, RamseyCounty, Amicus, the Minnesota Department of Corrections and many other organizations. Their organization is called The Restorative Way…whose mission is to enhance and expand opportunities to help create restorative cultures in schools, communities, businesses, correctional systems, families and faith based organizations. It is also to create opportunities for people to make positive healing connections. Oscar is currently the Multi-Cultural Director at St. Louis Park High School. His “Boys to Men” Circle has been in existence over 8 years. Oscar’s mission is “to help save our children one child at a time” Oscar is a former Minnesota Viking who played with as much passion as he now serves people with. Jamie is currently the Restorative Justice Coordinator for Bayfield School in northern Wisconsin and a support to Project Launch at Red Cliff Early Childhood Center. When Jamie heard the definition of a “calling” by F. Buechner “When a deep gladness in your heart meets a deep hunger in the world,” she knew she was “called” to keeping the Circle strong and present in schools and communities. Jamie’s Masters Degree is in Restorative Justice.