Re-Envisioning Our Legacies: A Defining Moment

The theme of the National Association for Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ) national conference in Washington D.C. from July 29th-Aug 1st, 2024

the photo shows the center of a restorative dialogue circle that is often a format used for training and discussion. Many restorative values, books, and sentimental objects of significance fill the colorful center to help ground participants during circle.

“CCRJP Members sharing the joy of being in the experience together!” Please also use this for the article thumbnail if possible.

We took it to D.C.! NACRJ held their 9th national conference with great community spirit at 1,700 attendees! Over #40 Colorado practitioners represented our Coalition at

our CCRJP booth
during shared meals . . . we had an impromptu lunch with four full tables!
in hosting impactful breakout sessions
in attending impactful breakout sessions
at the 2SLGBTQIA+ First Social Gathering
in so much connecting in between

The camaraderie of being in this ongoing wave together was palpable. From running into people known in the work like Stick Talk in Chicago, Ms. Sharletta Evans in Colorado, and root teacher Fania Davis or connections like Amanda Aguilera who hosted a breakout session on Right Use of Power which happened to be our next RJ2+ event later in August, we felt that truly restorative spirit . . . of being deeply connected.

Sharing Two Stories from the Capital

On the first day, as we were setting up our CCRJP table, materials, and new banner, this energetic and vibrant 4 year old was buzzing around, and oh so curious about who we were, what we had in our suitcase of goodies, and how it was all going to go. They were connected with the table next to us and were undoubtedly familiar with all things circle. They even helped unpack all our goodies for the table including our new ‘values tree’. This brought the most excitement and eagerness to see it all lit up! I shared with them that it would be on full display the next morning and to be sure to stop by and see it. They nodded joyously.

“Shared values and visions from CCRJP booth visitors in honor of shaping our Legacies Forward!”

Sure enough, the next morning they came by and were ready to participate. I had added an example of the prompt to model how it was to go, “See, first, you add a value word on the front then open it and add how you envision it going forward.” Right away, they grabbed a marker and knew just what to write though I was a bit concerned the prompt would go over their head. They understood the assignment, simply drawing a circle . . .

On the last day of the conference, the Keynote Speaker Derecka Purnell, lawyer, writer, and organizer gave a riveting talk weaving restorative justice, social justice, ecological justice into a seamless web of interconnectivity. Derecka spoke to the intersections of climate change, capitalism, and colonialism highlighting how restorative justice predates all of these. They shared that through community connections, we may restore and “not just sprinkle indigenous wisdom on things.” It is simply not enough.

Derecka shared a story about this year being the 80th birthday of beloved Smokey Bear. The catch phrase over the years being “Only you can prevent forest fires”. What we didn’t consider over the decades campaign was the impact of, in effect, cutting off our relationship to fire and its role in maintaining the health of the wildlands. With a no fire approach, the forests have become overgrown, unhealthy, and prone to even more wildfires. Indigenous knowledge and wisdom of working with the whole of the ecosystem and with intentional utilization of controlled burns was wholly lost on us. Fortunately for all, there has been a shift and acknowledgement of indigenous leadership to change our approach to fire and our forests. Bridging this relationship into balance and out of extremes will hopefully become the norm going forward. To learn more about this shift, read this NPR article. Thank you Derecka for your story weaving!

Listening to Impact at NACRJ:

“It was truly incredible to see the inclusion work of the past few years yield so many different identity groups represented. I loved the LGBTQI2S+ meet up and seeing so many queer practitioners join in the larger conversation at NACRJ. It was also awesome to see Colorado be so well represented! It is such a point of pride to be from Colorado and see Colorado as a place leading this work and innovating in so many different arenas!”

~ Laura Beth Waltz (Restorative Rainbow Alliance)”

“A few quotes that have been rumbling around in me since the conference. I’m grateful for their invitation into honest inquiries:

“Can settlers be the arbiters of justice?” – Edward Valandra (pictured above)

“Settler Colonialism is a structure not an event”

“How can we legislate from a place of abundance? How do we build coalitions from a place of abundance? How do we work together to build the restorative pipeline to liberation?” – Questions posed by panelists within the RJ Law & Policy plenary

~ Ames Stenson (CCRJP Board President, City of Englewood Municipal Court RJ Program Manager, Restorative Rainbow Alliance)

Opening Ceremony: Lyla June is a Diné, Cheyenne, and European artist who creates music, films, writings and speeches about Indigenous rights, land stewardship, and healing.

“Sadly, I was only able to be at NACRJ for 1 day due to a quick exit after learning the potential of my house burning down in Lyons. Luckily, that didn’t happen. Even in the short span of one day, I saw so many of our Colorado RJP family and it lifted my spirits. I also got connected to several other amazing RJP practitioners whose presentations I had planned to attend. I loved the opening and the huge message I received from D.C. that our work is about repair on deep societal levels, and is also about joy and the beautiful diversity in our field and our world. I left in a crisis, but took my inspiration with me. “

~ Kelly Taylor Russell (RP Coordinator, Boulder Valley School District)

“CCRJP Executive Director, Cristina M. Cabeza, and Board President, Ames Stenson, at this year’s CCRJP booth!”

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