By Beverley Bishop-Cheddie, Volunteer
I started my volunteer work at NVMS in late March and at once saw restorative justice (RJ) in action. I received practical training in listening sessions and the way it addressed sensitive issues. I saw its molding power to impact and move people in a healthy relationship with others. My own experience in restorative justice began in Guyana, my beautiful home country, at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs. I am happy to continue this journey with NVMS. With NVMS, I will be a proficient practitioner.
I saw how RJ, when embraced genuinely by community members, can turn guarded mindsets to reflection and progressive alternative behavior. RJ promotes community when its members are affirmed. At the listening session I was in, an experienced facilitator guided the process, after explaining the facilitator role as professional and impartial and describing the process as confidential and anonymous. The facilitator ensured that community members had the dignity of self-expression, and skillfully focused on the aims and ethical standards of communication. Issues were unglued from people giving light to them. Community members spoke freely and voluntarily without smearing others. Some chose to listen only.
It was particularly evident how critical the facilitators’ roles are to the process. They temper emotions, channel attention to the purpose of the listening session, and emphasize the importance of sharing views while maintaining respect. RJ done correctly then is a just, equitable, and fair process that removes the danger of limited voices being heard. It helps people build community amid issues that challenge them.
NVMS places great emphasis on restorative justice training. Some skills are innate, others learned. The combination of the two can provide a solid steppingstone to develop RJ facilitation skills. I am committed to joining NVMS’s diverse, competent, and effective team of knowledgeable and seasoned restorative justice facilitators. I am registered for NVMS’s two-day training that takes place in April and May. I am excited to take on this journey as a community peacebuilder.
For more information about restorative justice and NVMS’s work here, please visit our website on https://nvms.us or contact us at (703) 865-7272.
Thanks for sharing. May this journey continue a transformative and rewarding experience
Roderic
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
All the best in your journey. May you continue to use your skills to make people healthier and resilient
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
Thanks for sharing. Interesting.
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
All the best on your journey. May you continue to use your skills to help persons to be healthier and resilient.
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
Thsnks for sharing. Intetesting
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
Never heard about NVMS before but based on this wonderful article, seems like a great place to work and to have working for those in need of Restorative Justice. Their excellent work needs more publicity! Kudos team NVMS!
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this RJ piece. I am of the opinion that we repeat what we don’t repair.
NVMS’s work is commendable in that regard, and I am elated that you have chosen to pursue becoming a community peace builder.
In my opinion, you have always been exactly that and you possess the innate skills that you referred to in this piece.
I remember, and often quote you by saying “Life is about maintaining relations.” It keeps me out of quite a lot of conflicts.
Keep up the good work at NVMS and personally.
Regards,
CJ.
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
In our world where conflict seems to be the first instead of last option, it is good to know that we have champions of restorative justice working to stem the tide. Great read ..
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
Very insightful article Bev, great to learn of the transformative impact RJ has made in your life…thank you for sharing and best wishes in your upcoming sessions.
Thank you. Please join our email subscription list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OclEEyL.
Thank you for sharing. I love how you articulated the transformative power of restorative justice and the impact it can have on communities. Wishing you the best on your journey.
Sounds like a valuable and rewarding experience! I look forward to hearing more about your journey with RJ.
RJ, it seems, provides a uaedul, localised, community based means of experiencing what Dr. MLK Jr expressed in these words (Christmas Sermon, 1967):
“All I’m saying is simply this: that all mankind is tied together; all life is interrelated, and we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you are ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be—this is the interrelated structure of reality.”
Wish you every success on this journey!