Restorative justice peace circles
The Woodlawn Restorative-Justice Hub partnered with Teens on 53rd in 2018-2019 to host peace circles with the goal of restorative justice, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Crossroads Foundation.
What exactly was our goal? Well, it struck us that there's actually been a lot of talking and planning among civic entities about recurring arrests/damage/etc. around Hyde Park on Halloween... Yet, it's not yielded safety, much less peace, due to underlying differences in perspective, which this could help us engage. So we wanted people to invite friends, neighbors, others in the community — even those with whom you disagree — as peace circles are spaces for you to talk honestly, deeply, and safely. We were especially interested in participation from youth, residents, businesses, and government and security officers, from all over the South Side (not only Hyde Park). We believe that bringing together perspectives could lay the foundation we had been lacking for planning a safer, more engaging Halloween.
Teens on 53rd is a program of the Blue Gargoyle. The Woodlawn Restorative-Justice Hub is supported by Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), known for its youth-led coalition that won a trauma center. STOPchicago.org
What exactly was our goal? Well, it struck us that there's actually been a lot of talking and planning among civic entities about recurring arrests/damage/etc. around Hyde Park on Halloween... Yet, it's not yielded safety, much less peace, due to underlying differences in perspective, which this could help us engage. So we wanted people to invite friends, neighbors, others in the community — even those with whom you disagree — as peace circles are spaces for you to talk honestly, deeply, and safely. We were especially interested in participation from youth, residents, businesses, and government and security officers, from all over the South Side (not only Hyde Park). We believe that bringing together perspectives could lay the foundation we had been lacking for planning a safer, more engaging Halloween.
Teens on 53rd is a program of the Blue Gargoyle. The Woodlawn Restorative-Justice Hub is supported by Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), known for its youth-led coalition that won a trauma center. STOPchicago.org
Area leaders on restorative justice circles for Halloween issues:
“Many have called for youth leadership here. Now we get to organize circles of youth, and create a space for them to find their voices." Haroon Garel, Bronzeville’s Al Siddiq mosque
“Civic organizations keep trying to coordinate a more secure Halloween, but officials and residents lack consensus and vision. Fortunately, the circle process is about bringing people together, in this case, around youth, and around adults. And youth may invite adults into their circles.” Rev. Catherine Jackson, Washington Heights "Imagine the potential of circles in which everyone has a voice -- youth, residents, parents and educators, community groups, business owners and employees, police and security officers, and elected officials." Lissa Romell, Hyde Park's Ridgewood Court |