On Wednesday, January 27th, the Brother Jeffrey Gros Institute for Dialogue, Justice & Social Action (Gros Institute) and the Joliet Diocese Restorative Justice Committee hosted “Imagining Restorative Justice in Will County,” an interactive panel event. The program brought together a series of speakers who have been engaged in work around restorative justice (RJ), which the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation describes as a “theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior… [which is] best accomplished through cooperative processes that allow all willing stakeholders to meet… [and] can lead to transformation of people, relationships and communities.”
Panelists shared about the incarceration of their children, the use of restorative practices in schools, and the family-like connections created through engaging in peace circles and other RJ techniques. Participants had a chance to follow up with panelists in smaller groups to explore how restorative practices might be used in Will County communities, schools, and universities.
The event, which was attended by over 100 people, is the launch of an initiative to bring together community partners and the Lewis University community to learn more about and more fully integrate RJ practices in the region. For more information about this initiative or to participate in upcoming events, check out the Gros Institute website or contact Beka Flanagan at bekaflanagan@gmail.com.